Los Angeles is known for many things, including its: beaches, culture, fashion, and entertainment. However, one thing that LA has lots of, that many people don’t know about, is gardens. Who would of thought? It’s true! Many people consider LA to be a desert and in some cases they aren’t far from the truth. Los Angeles is actually a Mediterranean climate. That means it has wet winters and long summers. Not a bad environment for a garden. Let’s take a look at what’s growing over the garden wall.
LA Gardens
Some of the most diverse gardens in Los Angeles are the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens. Located in San Marino, California, it previously belonged to Henry E. Huntington who had the mansion built in 1903. It is home to 12 gardens and over 15,000 plant varieties. Take a stroll through the pavilions of the Garden of Flowing Fragrance and enjoy the soothing sounds of waterfalls as you have your morning tea. Trek through the beauties of the Desert Garden and feast your eyes on the colorful collection of cacti and strange succulents.
Just a hop and skip away are the Descanso Gardens, located in La Cañada Flintridge. These gardens are an eclectic mix of meadows, woodlands, and chaparrals. For bird watchers, it’s a real hoot! Fly on over and get a look at the different bird species that call the garden home. Visit their Nature’s Table garden and taste the riches of the earth. You can eat almost everything there! From the edible flowers to the vegetables and herbs.
Can’t get enough of trees? No problem, the Arboretum has plenty! Mosey on over to Arcadia where the grass is greener. Laden with plants and scenery so out of this world, you might think you’ve stumbled into Narnia. In fact, the Arboretum’s gardens have been the central location for many films over the years including: Tarzan Escapes (1936), Marathon Man (1976), and Dynasty (1984). Visit the Rainbow Serpent Garden and take a trip down under. Say G’Day to their exotic plants as you follow the winding path through their multicolored display.
Watch your seeds bloom into beautiful art in the gardens over at the Getty Center. It was designed by artist, Robert Irwin. The 134,000-square-foot perpetual art layout is always changing. Travel back in time while enjoying the plaza full of chadars, bougainvillea arbors, and azaleas. Not only is there plenty to see, but there’s plenty to hear and smell as well. With hundreds of varieties of scented plants you can delight all five senses.
Head to the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens and see some of the rarest specimens known to scientists. The plants in this garden make great decorations for the human visitors, but also provide food for the full time animal inhabitants. The zoo gardens also serve as a plant rescue for non-native plants and are home to many different succulent varieties. Their trees and bushes including: mulberry, figs, and eucalyptus, provide plenty of shade and eye-catching displays.
Don’t stop there, there are tons of other wonderful LA Gardens to see, see them all!
What LA gardens are you interested in checking out? Tell me about them in the comments section below!