While the genesis of “When They Were Wild: Recapturing California’s Wildflower Heritage” was The Huntington’s collections of wildflower paintings by Alice Chittenden and Ethel Wickes, other collections made their way into the exhibition through unexpected routes. One collection was originally among the plant specimens of the Pasadena City College (PCC) … Continue reading
Category Archives: Botanical
Just Add Water
It’s just one shot, really. It might not even be in the final show. But creating that one shot took permission from the highest levels of The Huntington art division and several hours of direct supervision over the course of two days by a specialist from Rosa Lowinger and Associates, … Continue reading
At the Top of the List
The Huntington lost a good friend and supporter recently when Carol Pearson passed away in her sleep on March 7, 2013. Carol first came to The Huntington in 1958 to work for the publications department. More than 50 years later, she was still seen frequently on campus, most recently volunteering … Continue reading
ORCHID COLLECTION | Forever Immortalized
Aung San Suu Kyi, Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Abraham Lincoln, and Nelson Mandela have all changed the world in one way or another. And from Cymbidium Margaret Thatcher to Phalaenopsis Aung San Suu Kyi, these leaders have been forever immortalized in the botanical world as well. Having an orchid named … Continue reading
VIDERE | Surface
Videre, Latin for to see, is a video series that plays with the idea of re-seeing. The short works featured here are explorations of sights, sounds, and sensing at The Huntington. “Surface” is a short silent piece about fish, reflection, and not knowing which way is up. It’s a dip through … Continue reading
The Romance of Camellias
As Valentine’s Day approaches, long-stemmed red roses tend to get a lot of hype. But here at The Huntington, February is all about camellias, as thousands of flowering shrubs come into glorious full bloom. And for those who are romantically inclined, the quiet pathways through the camellia forest, shaded by … Continue reading
Mimosas All Around!
Mimosas all around! No, not the one you drink! The Mimosa I’m talking about is Mimosa pudica, “The Sensitive Plant” that is growing in The Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Botanical Science. Some may refer to this plant as “The Humble Plant” or even as “The Shame Plant” because of … Continue reading
ORCHID COLLECTION | An Extraordinary Orchid Blooms at The Huntington
In 2002, a roadside orchid stand in the Peruvian countryside was the opening scene of one of the most infamous chapters in the history of orchidology. An American orchid collector, Michael Kovach, brought back a slipper orchid he had purchased there. Phragmipedium kovachii was known to a few orchid enthusiasts … Continue reading
Garden of Flowing Music
If you happen to be strolling through Liu Fang Yuan—The Huntington’s Garden of Flowing Fragrance—on a Wednesday afternoon, you will likely encounter a performer of traditional Chinese music. In part to bring a taste of this tradition of music to the Chinese Garden, The Huntington invites musicians to perform on … Continue reading
ORCHID COLLECTION | The Star of Bethlehem Discovered!
Astronomers throughout history have searched the skies in hopes of locating the Star of Bethlehem, the famed star of scripture. Meanwhile botanists have found their very own “Star of Bethlehem” among the Orchid family. Angraecum sesquipedale, also known as the Star of Bethlehem to orchid collectors, was first discovered by … Continue reading