Archives For Botanical garden

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, And Botanical Gardens

November 5, 2012 — Leave a comment

The Huntington library, art collections, and botanical gardens are one of the world’s great cultural, research, and educational centers. A private, nonprofit institution, The Huntington was founded in 1919 by Henry E. Huntington, an exceptional businessman who built a financial empire that included railroad companies, utilities, and real estate holdings in Southern California.

Huntington was also a man of vision – with a special interest in books, art, and gardens. During his lifetime, he amassed the core of one of the finest research libraries in the world, established a splendid art collection, and created an array of botanical gardens with plants from a geographic range spanning the globe.

Library

The Library’s collection of rare books and manuscripts in the fields of British and American history and literature is nothing short of extraordinary. For qualified scholars, The Huntington is one of the largest and most complete research libraries in the United States in its fields of specialization. For the general public, the Library has on display some of the finest rare books and manuscripts of Anglo-American civilization. Altogether, there are about 6 million items.

Among the treasures for research and exhibition are the Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, a Gutenberg Bible on vellum, the double-elephant folio edition of Audubon’s Birds of America, and a world-class collection of the early editions of Shakespeare’s works.

Art Collections

The Art Collections are distinguished by their specialized character and elegant settings in three separate galleries on the Huntington grounds. A fourth space, the MaryLou and George Boone Gallery, hosts changing exhibitions.

The Huntington Art Gallery, originally the Huntington residence, contains one of the most comprehensive collections in this country of 18th- and 19th-century British and French art. It serves as home to Gainsborough’s Blue Boy and Lawrence’s Pinkie.

Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens are an ever-changing exhibition of color and a constant delight. Covering 120 acres, more than a dozen specialized gardens are arranged within a park-like landscape of rolling lawns.

Among the most remarkable are the Desert Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, and the Chinese garden. The camellia collection is one of the largest in the country. Other important botanical attractions include the Subtropical, Herb, Jungle, and Palm gardens.

Photos courtesy of The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.

WHAT: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
WHERE: 1151 Oxford Road | San Marino, CA 91108
WHEN: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 12:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Saturday and Sunday 10:30 am – 4:30 pm | Tuesday closed

CONTACT INFO: (626) 405-2100

DETAILS:

  • Admission: Adults $20 weekdays, $23 weekends | Seniors (age 65+) $15 weekdays, $18 weekends | Students (age 12-18 or with full-time student I.D.) $12 weekdays, $13 weekends | Youth (age 5 – 11) $8 weekdays, $8 weekends | Children (under 5)  free | Groups (15 or more) $11 per person weekdays, $14 per person weekends 
  • Free Day: On the first Thursday of every month with advance tickets, hours on Free Day are 10:30 am – 4:30 pm

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Follow Up:The Los Angeles Arboretum & Botanic Garden

August 15, 2012 — Leave a comment

 

This weekend I set out to explore the outdoors and to get out of Los Angeles. Nature was calling and I found the perfect place to answer her call at the Los Angeles Arboretum & Botanic Garden in the town of Arcadia. The garden is set on 127 acres of lush vegetation featuring local wildlife and historic buildings. Located only 30 minutes from downtown but miles away from the hustle and bustle of city life, the Arboretum is your local garden of Eden.

Upon entering the garden make sure to pick up a visitor map and get acquainted with the grounds. The garden is large and offers much to see. A beautiful highlight of the garden is the Queen Anne Cottage where you can learn about the history and architecture of the time. This is a great place to start your tour and take pictures.

View of the cottage from the lake next to the Prehistoric Forest.

The cottage is surrounded by towering palm trees. A great place to take some shade and relax on a bench.

Behind the cottage is the Baldwin Coach Barn. The interior of the barn is stunning, with alternating slats of cedar and redwood paneling and original iron grillwork. Baldwin housed his private carriages plus those of his guests in this Barn. Generous stall space was provided for carriage horses, and convenient hay and grain chutes were fed directly from the loft above. Coachman’s quarters, originally provided in the upper tower room above the hay loft, have been re-created in the downstairs tack room.

Next, we ventured into the tropical greenhouse. Here you can see an amazing collection of tropical plants on display such as orchids in many delightful colors and forms. The Arboretum’s orchids comprise one of the largest public collections in the nation and are housed and cared for in five greenhouses. The space is humid and has a sweet smell in the air.

Just outside, we found a very unusual but awesome plant hanging from some vines.

The Arboretum hosts many events year round. On this day, there was a cactus contest and sale. We bought a dozen cacti ourselves. Click here for upcoming events.

WHAT: The Los Angeles Arboretum & Botanical Garden
WHERE: 301 North Baldwin Avenue | Arcadia, California 91007
WHEN: Open daily 9 am – 5 pm

CONTACT INFO: (626) 821-3222

DETAILS:

  • Tickets: Adults $8, Students and Seniors $6, Children Ages 5 – 12 $3, and Children under four free
  • Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
  • Admission free on the third Tuesday of the month (No tram on these days)
  • Cashiers can accept payments of cash, and personal checks from California
  • There are NO CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS at this time
  • The tram costs $4.00 per person and operates Saturday and Sunday at noon; 1, 2 and 3 p.m. The schedule is subject to change so please call in advance of your visit

Dear reader,

I appreciate your support and feedback. Please respond to this article now by leaving a comment and/or “liking” it. For exciting, up to date events in Los Angeles, subscribe to this blog via email. You can also share this article with friends and family and visit my Facebook and Twitter pages.

Find what you’re looking for or discover something new with the social calendar.

Thank you!

Mr. Events.

For more event coverage and information visit www.xplorela.com

 

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The Los Angeles Arboretum & Botanic Garden

July 20, 2012 — Leave a comment

Occupying the heart of the historic Rancho Santa Anita, The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a unique 127 acre botanical garden and historical site. Home to plant collections from all over the world, including many rare and endangered species, The Arboretum also houses outdoor historical landmarks representative of the major phases of California history.

Grace Kallam Perennial Garden

Beds of themed colorful blooming perennials and attractive foliage along intimate paths. Each bed has a color theme. The Purple-leaved redbud and the Chinese fringe tree shade the area.

Queen Anne Cottage

Constructed in 1885, this building is an ornate example of Victorian extravagance. Set in a lakeside landscape featuring perennial color and huge Blue Gum Trees. Be sure to look in the windows.

Garden for All Seasons

An interactive garden displaying wildflowers, herbs, and vegetables planted and cultivated by volunteers in the community. This garden is used as an outdoor classroom and demonstration area year-round.

Meyberg Waterfall

Planted with an array of attractive foliage, flowering plants, and a mix of hardy tropicals and temperate plants. This is a favorite spot for photography or just relaxing by the splashing water.

View a map of the grounds here.

Garden Wildlife

The Arboretum is also an animal sanctuary. In addition to The Arboretum’s famous peafowl, visitors will see species of resident and migratory birds, aquatic creatures, as well as numerous species of small reptiles and mammals.

Tram Tours

The tram offers you a front row seat to The Arboretum’s five botanical sections: Africa, Australia, The Americas, The Asiatic, and the Historic Circle. The tram travels from the Madagascar Spiny Forest, a collection of succulents with twisted trunks punctuated with needles, to the soaring vista on Tallac Knoll, surrounding you with the beauty and wonder of The Arboretum’s collection of over 18,000 plants.

Gift Shop and Peacock Cafe

The gift shop houses a fine selection of new gift items and seasonal plants as well as succulent arrangements and crafts handmade by Arboretum volunteers. And, they offer peacock-themed note cards, feathers, hand fans, and T-shirts. Many items, including mugs and tote bags, can be found with the Arboretum logo. They have gardening and nature books for all ages. Sign up for a The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden Membership, and get 10% off your purchases.

The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a rich historical site that includes Native American, Rancho Period, and late 19th century treasures. In addition to concerts and tours, they offer activities and events that cater to every audience. View their events calendar here.

WHAT: The Los Angeles Arboretum & Botanical Garden
WHERE: 301 North Baldwin Avenue | Arcadia, California 91007
WHEN: Open daily 9 am – 5 pm

CONTACT INFO: (626) 821-3222

DETAILS:

  • Tickets: Adults $8, Students and Seniors $6, Children Ages 5 – 12 $3, and Children under 5 free
  • Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
  • Admission free on the third Tuesday of the month (No tram on these days)
  • Cashiers can accept payments of cash, and personal checks from California
  • There are NO CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS at this time
  • The tram costs $4.00 per person and operates Saturday and Sunday at noon; 1, 2 and 3 p.m. The schedule is subject to change so please call in advance of your visit

Dear reader,

I appreciate your support and feedback. Please respond to this article now by leaving a comment and/or “liking” it. For exciting, up to date events in Los Angeles, subscribe to this blog via email. You can also share this article with friends and family and visit my Facebook and Twitter pages.

Find what you’re looking for or discover something new with the social calendar.

Thank you!

Mr. Events.

For more event coverage and information visit www.xplorela.com

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Follow Up: The LAIR

April 25, 2012 — Leave a comment

This past weekend I had the privilege of visiting the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens where I had a warm experience among cold blooded animals at the Zoos newest exhibit, the LAIR – Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles.

The Zoo is also home to more than 1,100 animals representing more than 250 different species of which 29 are endangered. In addition, the Zoo’s botanical collection comprises several planted gardens and over 800 different plant species with over 7,400 individual plants. Needless to say, you could spend an entire day exploring the 133 acre lot, just as I did.

After visiting some exhibits and building the suspense, I made my way to the LAIR. The new exhibit houses the Zoo’s dynamic collection of reptiles and amphibians in themed areas with hand-painted murals including Oak Woodland Pond, Bite and Squeeze, Care and Conservation Room, Arroyo Lagarto, Crocodile Swamp and Desert LAIR. Each area transports you to its respective habitat and you see the critters in their natural environment.

The facility encompasses several visually stunning areas that include habitats for various unique and endangered species. LAIR is one of the few reptile and amphibian-focused facilities to open within the past decade in a North American Zoo. The collection includes the Chinese giant salamander, venomous snakes, poison dart frogs, Gila monster, Fly River turtle, radiated tortoise, and much more such as these colorful monitors. Keep a sharp eye out as many of the creatures are camouflaged and hard to find.

Skylights peek through the mural canopy showcasing a dazzling array of snakes in Betty’s Bite and Squeeze room named after Betty White, co-chair of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association. The serpent species include the Mangshan viper, a venomous snake from the mountains of China; a fast slender arboreal snake from Africa; and the bushmaster, the largest venomous snake of the Americas. My favorite snake was this white Isla Santa Catalina rattlesnake. Ironicaly, the most distinctive feature of this rattler is the lack of the rattle. The base of the rattle is degenerate, so the rattle segment falls off as it is formed.

Next, we ventured into the Southwest Desert Building which represents the semi-arid desert climate of Mexico, Arizona, and my own backyard – Southern California. The Desert LAIR houses snakes, lizards, turtles, and scorpions. Visions of lightening and the sounds of thunderstorms and monsoons wisp through the exhibit mimicking the weather sporadically encountered in these dry climates. Don’t forget your umbrella!

After exiting the exhibit I passed by the endangered species’ pool to get a glimpse of the intimidating false gharials of Southeast Asia that can reach a length of 15 feet long. This area also offers a good photo opportunity.

By now I had worked up an appetite and ventured over to the giraffe exhibit for lunch. The weather was perfect and the meal satisfying. The overall Zoo experience was exciting and enlightening, I recommend visiting the Zoo and LAIR exhibit before they go extinct.

WHAT: The LAIR
WHEN: Monday – Sunday | 10 am – 5 pm
 WHERE: Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens | 5333 Zoo Drive | Los Angeles, CA 90027

CONTACT INFO: (323) 644-4200 or http://www.lazoo.org

DETAILS:

  • Tickets: Adults $16, Children (2-12) $11, Children under 2 free, Senior Citizens (62 and older) $13 and Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA) members are free
  • Parking: free

Dear reader,

I appreciate your support and feedback. Please respond to this article now by leaving a comment and/or “liking” it. For exciting, up to date events in Los Angeles, subscribe to this blog via email. You can also share this article with friends and family and visit my Facebook and Twitter pages.

Stick with me and I guarantee you’ll never run out of things to do because you’ll always be connected, and your friends and family will admire you.

Thank you!

Mr. Events.

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