The Huntington Library Gardens Experience

A week or so ago I attended a very proper tea (tea....quila!) at The Huntington Library and Gardens. It was all very proper. Afterwards the very very proper ladies walked about the grounds and we observed some very interesting things. I won't bore you with too many sweeping shots- you can find that on the website or in books. Instead I will give you the perspective from the street, the raw nitty gritty underground view. Actually I was just starting to get a cold from my week of partying like a rock star and felt quite weak and woozy so my perspective may be a little bit...underwhelming. Alas, there was no handmaiden or houseboy around to revive me with smelling salts or mist me with Italian rosewater. What a pity.

Glaucous Agave on glaucous Agave. Love blue foliage.


And I love it when Monstera climbs trees in the tropics. It's so exotic. I love the tropics.


Dendrocalamus asper bamboo was backlit by the summer sun.


This African Gardenia was quite simply stunning. I remember this same shrub knocked me off my feet years ago with it's delectable fragrance. Powerful, mesmerizing, graceful. Unforgiveable....


Love the Crinum in Hot Pink- a hot throwback to the 60's in California. You'll find this makes a presence in old gardens.


The masses flock to the Japanese Garden. It is serene.


The Herb Garden was simply abuzz with bees.


Birds like to eat cactus fruit in the Cactus Garden. Feast on, little birdling!


Violet Opuntia becomes more violet with heat, drought and cold stress. Would look so good massed with a blue vertical accent in the background.


Very friendly ducks! Demanding little critters.




And friendly koi- he actually let me pet him and he was enormous. Soundbyte!


Water lilies are always pretty. And edible, too, if you get locked inside the gates at the Huntington after hours.