California: (*) Los Angeles Gardens (Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens/ Descanso Gardens/ L.A. Arboretum)

Visitors to Los Angeles may be pleasantly surprised to learn that the area is home to several expansive and beautiful  gardens providing an oasis amongst the urban chaos.

Located in San Marino, the Botanical Gardens at the Huntington Library cover 120 acres and contain thirteen themed gardens including the Australian Garden, the Camellia Garden, the Chinese Garden, the Desert Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden and the Lily Ponds to name a few.

The Chinese Garden



 

 

 

 

The Japanese Garden



 



Photo courtesy of Randy Robertson



Plum blossoms which bloom earlier than cherry blossoms



The gardens are part of The Huntington Library which houses an extensive art collection and various illustrated manuscripts including the Gutenberg Bible.

Descanso Gardens, located in La Canada Flintridge, is a 150 acre botanical garden with over 40,000 camellia bushes. The property once belonged to the owner of the Los Angeles Daily News, E. Manchester Boddy. The site was ceded to Los Angeles County in 1953.

The county developed the gardens to include a Japanese tea house, a lilac garden and rosarium. The park also features the Descanso Gardens Enchanted Railroad, a 1/8 scale replica diesel train.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cherry blossoms

 

 

 

 

The L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, nestled into the hills near the San Gabriel Mountains offers 127 acres of trees and shrubs arranged by continent of origin. The property was once owned by Elias "Lucky" Baldwin, a prominent California businessman and investor.

 

In 1886, Baldwin constructed the Queen Anne Cottage and Coach Barn for his fourth wife, Lillie.  The cottage was restored in 1951-1953 and today is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

 

The arboretum is reported to be haunted. Visitors have claimed hearing moaning coming from the house as well as odd cooking smells.

 

The arboretum is also home to over 200 peacocks.  They are the descendants of the original birds imported by Baldwin from India in 1880.