Winter in California: A Trip to the Huntington Garden

When I’m not teaching, commuting or obsessing over horses, I enjoy gardens–especially those of other people. My garden at home has a few bright spots, but I mostly have to battle with the dogs to try to keep anything in my yard looking presentable. When I came home from work on Friday, there was a baby boxwood uprooted by my small rose garden. The roots were still intact so I shoved it back in the ground, filled more soil around it and am now hoping for the best. I forgot to say a prayer for the vulnerable plant (and for the dogs–that God will make them less destructive!). I guess it’s never too late. To further cultivate my love for gardening, I attended a class at the Huntington Garden this past Saturday.

“Getting Your Green Thumb” is a monthly workshop for educators. This month’s topic was composting and soil. I will spare you the worm photos. I was actually kind of dreading this topic because it’s pretty hard to get pumped up regarding dirt, but the instructor made the science info about pH and silt palatable. She shared little anecdotes about her grandfather’s gardening techniques and talked about her students’ involvement in their school garden. I always leave with pages full of notes and am inspired.

The Desert Garden is in bloom at the Huntington Library. I never thought a desert could be so colorful!

Here are some photos from what was Mr. Huntington’s lovely paradise which is now open to the public. This is the same man Huntington Beach is named after. His art collection and scores of acres of gardens are a highlight of the Los Angeles area. If you ever visit SoCal, skip Rodeo Drive and Hollywood (too seedy, not to mention the Mecca of Scientology which is bizarre) and go straight to the Huntington Library.

This tree captured my eye because it almost looked fake! Does this remind anyone else of an Easter egg tree? I can’t figure out what it is. Is it some type of magnolia or tulip?

Nature’s lovely lavender haiku.

More succulents. The large spiky plants with the narrow orange flowers are a type of aloe. I want to write a book called Succulents Don’t Suck. I’m really not an authority on the topic, but I think it’s a clever title.

I have these aeonium at home. Mine don’t have the spectacular chartruese blooms.

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