Back on December 21st, 2019, I spent the day at the Huntington Gardens in San Marino, California. I visited solo, so I was free to take as long as I wanted, wherever I wanted. Several times I just sat still and soaked up the sun and the feeling of being there, reflecting on the outstanding year that had come before.
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My blog post for New Year's Eve 2019/20 was titled An amazing year draws to a close... and I recounted all the wonderful places I traveled during 2019. I ended that post with: "What will 2020 hold? Well it's gonna take a lot to beat 2019... but I can't wait to find out!"... oh honey, if you only knew!
2020—it's not what any of us thought it was going to be, is it?
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As a blogger, there's another change I'm coming to terms with—recently Google completely overhauled their blogging platform. Things that used to be second nature now require thought and work-arounds. The only people who seem to have benefited from the changes are those who blog on mobile devices and rarely upload more than a couple of photos. For those who publish photo heavy posts, these changes are problematic.
I have hundreds of photos to share from my visit to the Huntington. Usually I'd write five or six posts, each with with upwards of 45 so photos, and call it good. But that's not happening anytime soon, at least not until I figure out the quirks of this new system. So I'm starting a new series "Let's drop by the Huntington"...it's gonna take awhile, but I'll eventually share all the photos I want, and maybe it will feel a little like I live nearby and can drop by weekly—a dream of mine. Plus it will be a challenge to comb through my photos and find the smaller stories, short bursts of Huntington magic. At least that's what I'm telling myself. Sound good? Here we go!
Today we're exploring the new entrance, what you see outside (photos above) and what you see just inside the gate, photos below. My last visit here was in 2014, back then they'd started construction on the new entrance and the "California Garden" but it was all torn up and behind construction walls.
According to the plaque there at the end of the rill this is the "Celebration Garden"...
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During my short time watching I observed several people walk out onto those three steps in the center of the rill to have their photos taken. Yes, and there are signs asking people to stay out.
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The California Garden is just off to the right... "Landscaped with nearly 50,000 California natives and dry-climate plants, covering 6.5 acres, the...California Garden reflects the local Mediterranean climate as well as the agricultural and elegant estate history of the 207-acre Huntington grounds."
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Wide open spaces punctuated with agaves, what's not to love?
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There were aloes too, and that extremely picturesque eucalyptus—at least that's what I think it is.
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And more euphorbia than I've ever seen in a single spot.
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Did I mention agaves?
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I'll admit, it kind of drove me a little crazy that I couldn't get out there and look at that eucalyptus up close...
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Weather Diary, June 21: Hi 76, Low 59/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2020 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
My blog post for New Year's Eve 2019/20 was titled An amazing year draws to a close... and I recounted all the wonderful places I traveled during 2019. I ended that post with: "What will 2020 hold? Well it's gonna take a lot to beat 2019... but I can't wait to find out!"... oh honey, if you only knew!
2020—it's not what any of us thought it was going to be, is it?
As a blogger, there's another change I'm coming to terms with—recently Google completely overhauled their blogging platform. Things that used to be second nature now require thought and work-arounds. The only people who seem to have benefited from the changes are those who blog on mobile devices and rarely upload more than a couple of photos. For those who publish photo heavy posts, these changes are problematic.
I have hundreds of photos to share from my visit to the Huntington. Usually I'd write five or six posts, each with with upwards of 45 so photos, and call it good. But that's not happening anytime soon, at least not until I figure out the quirks of this new system. So I'm starting a new series "Let's drop by the Huntington"...it's gonna take awhile, but I'll eventually share all the photos I want, and maybe it will feel a little like I live nearby and can drop by weekly—a dream of mine. Plus it will be a challenge to comb through my photos and find the smaller stories, short bursts of Huntington magic. At least that's what I'm telling myself. Sound good? Here we go!
Today we're exploring the new entrance, what you see outside (photos above) and what you see just inside the gate, photos below. My last visit here was in 2014, back then they'd started construction on the new entrance and the "California Garden" but it was all torn up and behind construction walls.
According to the plaque there at the end of the rill this is the "Celebration Garden"...
During my short time watching I observed several people walk out onto those three steps in the center of the rill to have their photos taken. Yes, and there are signs asking people to stay out.
The California Garden is just off to the right... "Landscaped with nearly 50,000 California natives and dry-climate plants, covering 6.5 acres, the...California Garden reflects the local Mediterranean climate as well as the agricultural and elegant estate history of the 207-acre Huntington grounds."
Wide open spaces punctuated with agaves, what's not to love?
There were aloes too, and that extremely picturesque eucalyptus—at least that's what I think it is.
And more euphorbia than I've ever seen in a single spot.
Did I mention agaves?
I'll admit, it kind of drove me a little crazy that I couldn't get out there and look at that eucalyptus up close...
Weather Diary, June 21: Hi 76, Low 59/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2020 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.