THE HUNTINGTON BOTANICAL GARDENS
Members of the the La Jolla Village Garden Club enjoyed a day trip in October by bus to the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino. The focus was garden tours led by docents with some time left to see some of the art collection and library.
The Botanical Gardens cover over 120 acres with more than a dozen gardens.
The hightlight was the Chinese garden, known as The Garden of Flowing Fragrance, which features a lake, a complex of pavilions, a teahouse and five stone bridges. The design was inspired by private gardens in Suzhou, China. Chinese architecture and rocks surround a lake with layers of meaning and symbolism. Water symbolizes the ever changing and the rocks are the eternal. Intricately crafted lattice windows in some of the pavilions frame an object or scene. Carvings adorn some of the walls. Certain plants represent various seasons with flowering trees in the spring and bamboo and pines in the winter.
Other important botanical attractions that were visited included the Subtropical, Jungle, Palm, Rose and Desert gardens.
Our garden group also enjoyed lunch at the Rose Garden Tea House that featured scones, an assortment of tea sandwiches, salads and assorted little dessert treats.
A brief look at the art collection in the Huntington residence included the large portrait gallery that features Blue Boy and Pinkie.
An example of the Sevres porcelain used for potpourri is shown.
One of the highlights in the Library is the Gutenberg Bible
One of the highlights in the Library is the Gutenberg Bible
A last look at the terrace of the Huntington residence to complete the day visiting the gardens and art galleries.
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