Friday, I decided to look around at parts of The Huntington since I had not been there in a while. For one thing, I knew the roses would be in full bloom, and even though I had been there a number of times, I had never looked around the rose garden. They did not disappoint.
Find the bird among the roses.
The building is the newly reopened Tea Room.
This rose has perfume as part of its name and smells divine.
I left the rose area and strolled in the herb garden seen above. Then I found a new kind of artichoke, Opera Artichoke. See below.
Facing away from the rose garden I could see all the way to downtown Los Angeles.
This tree is labeled Naked Coral.
Then I strolled through the tropical garden area.
Fig trees.
After leaving the tropical area, I wandered around cactus and succulent gardens.
Yesterday I drove to this place about six miles south of Julian, CA, a small, touristy, mountain town east of San Diego. Owned by the Nature Conservancy, the ranch abuts Anza-Borrega Desert Park, but this area is not desert. On the way, I drove through at least four Indian Reservations on Highway 76. California has more Native American residents than any other state.
This is Lake Henshaw on Highway 76 on the way to Julian. It is so full now that tops of trees stick out of the water. People told me that last year it was more like a big puddle.
The three mile hike was not long but quite strenuous as we climbed approximately 800 – 1000 ft. in altitude on the hike.
Lots of wild flowers everywhere due to abundant rain this year. We had to find parts of the trail because it had not been used since before Covid and was overgrown.
Views of Lake Cuyamaca which we could see in the distance as we climbed up and down.
The manzanita are in full bloom and luxurious this year. There were other flower the names none of us knew.
Lupine.
We kept climbing up steep slopes higher and higher. The climb was more difficult because lots of loose, little rocks and gravel in many places.
Where we ate lunch at the top which is slightly over a mile high. There are these dead, bleached out branches everywhere, the result of a big fire in 2003 which killed a lot of plants and some of it has never recovered.
Lunch up high among the rocks.
A different type of yucca than grows everywhere in the many other places where I have previously lived.
On the way down from the top. Everything is still quite green here and there were storm clouds in the distance.
Some people call this California lilac. It grows everywhere here and is in full bloom glory.
Originally started by three women–see the name, this woman is the only one of the three left as owner. She said she has been doing this for 20 years. The vineyards keep healthy without the use of toxic herbicides or pesticides. She says the breezes from the ocean help with keeping the vines healthy. She also has olive trees and gardens and a small restaurant–outside. The vegetables, flowers, etc. used in the restaurant are grown there. Below is the salad we had for lunch.
Lunch under the trees.
Wine tasting underground. What you notice when you drink all natural wines is that at the bottom of the bottle there is usually a residue.
The path in and out of the tasting room.
Buildings and fences made of local stone and flowers everywhere.
Stones, some quite large, show up everywhere in this part of Valle de Guadalupe. Some buildings, restaurants, other wineries, houses are build around the rocks with rocks as part of the architecture. I took the following photos from Tres Mujeres.
A lot of Valle de Guadalupe reminded me of parts of New Mexico and also the rocky hills around Temecula, California.
Not only are there over 100 vineyards in this valley but also endless olive groves. Locally pressed olive oil can also be purchased at many of the wineries. The other specialty is cheese. We stopped at one shop, the Cremeria Los Globos where they specialized in many cheeses filled with chipotle, black pepper, you name it. Honey is also produced locally and for sale at many wineries. For the most part, everything is all natural.
Most days I take a walk around my neighborhood. Usually, I do not take my phone so no photos. However, earlier this week after seeing some lovely flowers and sights, I decided to take the phone so I could take some photos. Here is what I found along the way.
This is the back of the Taiwanese Buddhist Center near my house.
Poppies growing wild near the sidewalk.
Flowers near the poppies.
Southern California is bougainvillea heaven.
A lot of these colorful trees everywhere–a type of tree I always associated with way farther east not here.
Succulents and agaves do well here.
So many kinds of trees grow here including all types of eucalyptus which many consider invasive and also a potential fire hazard.
Referred to as freeway daisies because all colors can be found everywhere and all times of year.
This is also rosemary heaven and everywhere the rosemary is in full bloom.
Decades ago three of us attended the same two room elementary school, Clay Center, located at the corner of the intersection of two gravel, country roads, surrounded by rolling farmland in Northwest Missouri.
On Wednesday morning, we strolled though part of The Huntington Gardens and one of the art galleries there.
Ramona, the youngest one of us, is visiting her brother, Craig, who lives in Palm Springs. She loves succulents so we headed to that part of the gardens first.
Ramona and my daughter strolling along one of the wider pathways.
I have been here at least six times in the last six months. I see something new and fascinating every time.After the succulent and cactus area, we headed to one of the art galleries. When I was here before Blue Boy was on loan. Yes, this is the genuine Blue Boy. Craig was so excited to see him and loved this gallery, all of it.Ramona wanted to see the Chinese Gardens so we passed by this portion of the Japanese Gardens on the way.A little water fall.A tiny bit of the Chinese Garden.The lake in the Chinese Garden was full of water lillies in bloom. Most were flat on the water but not these.The three of us together for the first time in decades.
Every year Laguna Beach has a Garden Tour. We decided to take a look and celebrate Mother’s Day one day early–my daughter, grandson, his girlfriend, and I. To be honest the tour was a bit disappointing but Laguna Beach itself definitely was not. We enjoyed ourselves immensely and will return.
We decided to do the cardio tour–yes, that is what they called it. The shuttle drops everyone off at Garden 1, you follow a map, and walk the rest of the tour. The option is to take the shuttle just about everywhere. We did not do that. Here are a few photos I took along the way.
The rest of my family in front of me walking one of the cardio sections.
A door I loved in an alley along the way.
Laguna Beach is very hilly. Many houses are not only like those above but perched at the top of the hills.Some interesting flowers along the way.
The final street of the tour was the street closet to the ocean.
Looking through the gate at the side of one the elegant houses along the sea. Some people apparently prefer more privacy.I found this undulating grass quite fascinating.This and the following photo are of Shaw’s Cove, a rather hidden public beach with waves crashing against rocks and only a few locals. There is a series of steps that lead down to the Cove.
Unlike The Huntington where you can find plants from all over the world, this garden focuses on plants native to California.
Near the entrance.
Not sure you can see here, but the mountain top has a tiny bit of snow left even though in the 80s in the garden.
Many of the plants are labeled. This one was not.
This is the sycamore mentioned in the previous photo.These large trees are everywhere. I did not see a label.Channel Islands Bush Poppies. I have not made it to Channel Islands National Park yet.In this photo the snow on the mountain is evident. Much of this garden is forested and cool.California IrisPoppies and Firecracker Penstemon. Wild Iris blooming everywhere.A small Coastal Redwood forest. Redwood trees grow better if more than one so they can join roots and communicate. I have one in my yard and no space to plant another to keep it company.One of the mountains often referred to as sisters.At my house all the squirrels are brown. Here I saw both grey and brown.California Buckeye. The flowers emit an intense heavenly perfume.The flowers. If I had space in my yard, I would plant one. Wild strawberries.The edge of a sculpture garden with some interesting sculptures.Poppies and Iris.More Iris .Many flowers, many colors growing together.
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