Hunting For Horticulture at the Huntington Gardens

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Author: Emily Birnbaum

Famous for its 120 acres of stunning gardens, the Huntington takes you to another world with its exotic beauty and absolute tranquility. For anyone looking for an escape from reality, a trip to the Huntington Gardens is the perfect refuge.

The gardens were first created by Henry Huntington when he purchased the San Marino Ranch in 1903. Huntington converted the ranch into an eclectic assortment of botanical gardens, purchasing plants from all over the world as well as from local nurseries. Today, the gardens consists of over 14,000 distinct plant varieties and 14 themed gardens.

While exploring the grounds, I first stumbled upon the desert garden with the most absurd looking cacti. Many of the plants looked like creatures from the Dr. Seuss books I had seen as a child. The golden barrel cacti strangely resembled a collection of over-sized sea anemone. Another cactus had the appearance of a tentacled monster, with branches reaching in every direction, twisting around themselves in a ridiculous, yet threatening manner.

After making my way out of the desert, I found myself walking through a bamboo forest which eventually lead to a water lily pond. A duck was preening itself in the middle, completely indifferent to passers-by and flashing cameras. Bright orange Koi fish, along with bull frogs and a couple turtles were other inhabitants of the lush pond. The experience was truly opposite to that of the desert garden.

The Huntington has a garden for every taste and age: Japanese, Rose, Shakespeare, jungle, subtropical, palm, camellia, Australian, children’s and Chinese.

One more gem on the grounds is the Tea Room, which overlooks ten acres of roses. The food is gourmet and the prices match the quality, but for a special occasion, it is well worth the monetary setback. Freshly baked scones, crèmed fruit tarts, and finger sandwiches are just a few of the delights available. Most importantly, the Tea Room is buffet-style, so you don’t have to worry if you crave just one more sweet.

Along with gorgeous gardens and tasty teatime, the Huntington boasts a significant collection of art. The Huntington estate, or the Huntington Art Gallery, contains the European art collection, consisting mostly 18th and 19th century British pieces. The estate displays the collection while preserving the original set-up of the house demonstrating the manner in which the Huntingtons lived. The bedrooms, studies, and offices are all open to the public.

One particularly beautiful spot in the house is the chapel, positioned unexpectedly around a corner in the east wing. When my friend and I happened to find it, she said to me, “There’s something new to discover everywhere in this place!” She was right. We had both stopped in awe of the stunning stained glass window which stretched from the floor to the ceiling; huge, colorful, completely mesmerizing and totally unanticipated.

I truly enjoyed my trip to the Huntington gardens and am planning on returning often. An actualized utopia awaits your visit. The museum is open weekdays from 12 noon to 4:30, weekends from 10:30 to 4:30 and closed Tuesdays.

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