Huntington Garden, San Marino, California, July 10, 2007

12 Jul '07 3:51 am

We just got back from a trip to Southern California. Here are photos from the Huntington Garden. This garden was made about a hundred years ago by one of our railroad tycoons and then opened to the public. My favorite part is the Cactus garden which is the only part I photographed. This time we had tea in the Rose Garden, strolled through the Japanese garden and then past the new Chinese garden which won't be open but looks intriguing. Then we visited the new conservatory which is educational as well as beautiful and interesting. There is a childrens garden behind it which is very imaginative and fun. Finally we walked through most of the 13 acres devoted to the cactus garden.

12 Jul '07 4:37 am

Just lovely , Mark!! At the moment I was telling you in my Diary I'm waiting for the photos, here they are!! These huge Agaves are SO magectic! Excellent, descriptive captures of these ...thorny babies! And the salmony bloom so cute!!

12 Jul '07 3:46 pm

My Goodness! 13 acres of cactus? ...cacti? I must admit that makes me more than a little nervous Anxious

My only experience with cactus was a rather negative one, firstly by finding what looked like a cute, fuzzy pod next to a very pretty (prickly pear I think now) flowery, shruby plant. Secondly by popping the pod into my thin linen shorts pocket Rolling Eyes

it was not nice and I lost a good pair of shorts in the process...

I must say tho that they do have some of the loveliest flowers Cool

12 Jul '07 4:22 pm

Like you, Pumpkin my earliest memories of cactus are rather prickly. When I was no more than 5 years old we lived in navy housing beside a canyon in San Diego. My older brother and I were down in the canyon exploring and doing whatever mischief young boys can think of when I encountered my first. We were coming up the other side and I was reaching above where I could see to steady myself when my hand closed on the pad of an opuntia. I remember staring at my now 'furry' hand wondering what had happened. It took forever to pull them all out. If it hurt or if there were any long term consequences I no longer recall. However, I think it is the shape of plants and gardens that I respond to most strongly, more than color. Cacti are so scupturally interesting that I can't hold a grudge. They've been forgiven but now I am extra careful, though not always sufficientlly. Still I think roses have jabbed me more times than all the other plants in my garden combined but I've made my peace with them as well .. though I try not to turn my back on any of them.

12 Jul '07 4:52 pm

Cacti have amazing shapes. I took lots of photographs in cacti house at kew, except I kind of wish they wouldn't paint those ridiculous Arizona desert backdrops. They don't do it for any other type of plant collection.

12 Jul '07 5:01 pm

Reminds me of the diaramas in the old natural history displays at the museums when I was growing up. Maybe they do it because they look so spare and insufficient for the space alotted them. Some of them are so outlandish.

13 Jul '07 2:02 am

Thanks Mark, the photos were wonderful and you have given me a new garden destination to visit next time I am in California. I wonder how far this is from Los Angeles? I too have a cactus story that I can now laugh about. When visiting Phoenix, AZ with my husband we went to a beautiful cactus garden. The trip was very enjoyable until my husband insisted that the path we were following had a branch off to the right that looked more interesting that the main path to the left. The further we travelled the fainter the path became. I kept protesting that I didn't think this was an actual path, he kept poo pooing me. I am a strict rule follower and had seen all the signs warning people not to leave the path because the ecosystem in this wild cactus area was very fragile. We ended up on a ridge line overlooking the garden and the "real" path with no way to get back to the trail except right through the middle of this "fragile" ecosystem. I was sure the cactus police were going to be waiting for us at the main path. I have never let him forget this experience.

14 Jul '07 5:47 am

Faith, I found your story funny because I have the same tendency toward rule following. Like your husband, Lia is a little different. She says her father taught them that most rules are just to keep most people in line, that it is okay on a limited basis.

I just downloaded the pictures from Lia's camera and I'd say her's are better this time, though we usually prefer the results with my lense. I'm afraid I don't know the names of most of them.

Huntington Garden, San Marino, California, July 10, 2007

Huntington Garden, San Marino, California, July 10, 2007

Wow!! What a Cacti Expeience!!

Cacti forgiven.

Know what you mean about the paintings.

Huntington Garden

A few more Huntington photos from Lia's camera.