Insert description for Mr. Huntington’s Garden.
After months undergoing restoration in Kyoto, Seifu-an has arrived. Our teahouse sort of looks like the most complex kit you might ever purchase at Ikea. Thankfully, Yoshiaki Nakamura and his craftsmen (who completely restored this building during its sojourn to Kyoto) arrive soon to help us learn how it is properly assembled. Continue reading
Plant diseases can be a “so what” kind of thing. But how many of us will miss oranges, lemons, and limes if they completely disappear from our diets? California is being closely monitored for a bacterial disease that could severely damage citrus orchards. For the meantime, The Huntington’s citrus has not been affected. Continue reading
A simple idea planted more than 10 years ago came to life when board members of the California Avocado Society welcomed Brokaw, Rodriguez, and Shepherd family members to celebrate the successful establishment of Shepherd-Brokaw Orchard, the heart of a new Huntington Avocado Collection. Continue reading
After knocking out a comparatively thin pond bottom in the first of these upper ponds, workers encountered a sandwich of moist soil on top of a solid concrete second bottom, one that is clearly the original floor of the pond. Continue reading
One 40-foot container on a cargo ship began its journey at Nakamura’s workshop in Kyoto, where craftsmen who had restored the wooden elements of Seifu-an (our teahouse) carefully packed them away to reassemble here at the Gardens. Simultaneously, the Japanese pond is drained and work continues behind the newly erected construction fence. Continue reading
While out in the Shakespeare Garden yesterday, one of the guards reminded me that April 23 (this Saturday) is the day we celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday. We have replanted the garden just in time to bring a bit more life and color to the clearing over which Shakespeare presides. Continue reading
Botanist that I am, seemingly trivial and arcane plant knowledge sometimes gets in the way of simple, normal experiences. Yesterday was Palm Sunday, which always means to me that people make convenient and curious choices while trying to round up palm fronds for decoration. Continue reading
In the event they never bloom so beautifully again, it is worth posting a photo of a very nice clump of herbaceous peonies that exploded in bloom this week in Liu Fang Yuan. And perhaps with a few words of encouragement, any readers who plan to visit the Gardens in the next day or so should make a journey to the Plantain Court (the main courtyard) in the Chinese garden. Continue reading
The week ahead is a bit disquieting. Challenges abound for everyone. Staff and volunteers will get it all done and the result of all of our activity will be a full day in late April or early May. Continue reading
Some plant names sing for me. Tipuana tipu, because it is so curious and alliterative, is in that category. Moreover, it is a pretty good tree for Southern California and has been blooming nicely in the parking lot over the past few days. Continue reading