Huntington Botanical
Gardens
San Marino,
California
March 2008
A trip to
the Huntington is almost a pilgrimage for many plant people.
I’ve visited numerous times and am always awed by the beauty and
diversity of the plants on display. Planting of the 120 acre garden
began in 1903 and the garden is now home to about 15,000 kinds of
plants, many of which are mature and spectacular.
One of the oldest gardens is the Palm Garden, started in 1905. It
now features about 200 species of palm.
The Japanese Garden was established in 1912. There is a beautiful
bonsai area with numerous specimens, some of which must be
ancient.
It would be nice if the signage gave some indication of how old a
specimen is. That would add a real “wow” factor. But maybe that
would somehow destroy the tranquility of the area. A beautiful
arching moon bridge crosses a quiet pool.
Just beyond the Japanese Garden is the Chinese Garden. This garden
opened in February 2008 and only about 4 acres of the proposed 12
have been developed, but it is already worth seeing. The name of
every feature is magical and evocative. In the center is “The Lake
of Reflected Fragrance”. There are several islands connected by
bridges.
There are numerous structures scattered through the Chinese Garden.
This 'Pavilion of the Three Friends' is my
favorite.
There are more than a dozen gardens,
too many to see in one visit. There's the Herb Garden, the Jungle
Garden, the Rose Garden and more. One area not to be missed is the
Desert Garden, filled with mature specimens of plants from the
deserts of the world. Even if you think you don't like cactus and
their kin, I think it is impossible not to be awestruck by this
garden.
Click here to see more photos of the Huntington.
To visit the official website of the Huntington Botanical Garden,
click here.