San Gabriel Valley California

An Afternoon Stroll at The Huntington

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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.

Walnut Creek

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emerald surrounds

rushing waters

wandering pathways

Los Angeles County contains many well maintained trails. This one includes Walnut Creek along which a hiker can walk many miles when water is low and easily cross the water crossings. Not this spring. Unless you are on horseback or have tall waders, it is impossible to cross the meandering creek crossings. Along the train in one area is a bridge and a round pen for horses.

Near this area are picnic tables and a meadow.

Reading Octavia Butler-1

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In a recent post I mentioned walking in her footsteps. This is the rainy season so we have not been able to go on that walk yet.. However, this morning I finished reading the last novel of hers that I had not read–Parable of the Talents. It is the sequel to Parable of the Sower. Now I have read all of them. She is buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena, CA, Eagles View Lot 4517. The inscription on her gravestone is the theme of both the books above:

All that you touch You Change.

All that you Change Changes you.

The only lasting truth is Change.

God

Is Change.

Strolling in Bonelli Regional Park

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Instead of walking around the neighborhood, today my neighbor and I took a long walk along one of the paths in Bonelli Regional Park ten minutes from where we live. There are over 30 miles of hiking and bike trails in the park. We took the easy paved walk overlooking the lake.

In summer people swim and boat here. Now it is mostly hiking, dog walking, biking, and fishing.

On this side of the lake many houses, some very large, overlook the lake. A few have vineyards or orchards on the slope near the houses.

Mt Baldy rises in the background. Several of the mountains remain snowcapped.

Several species of ducks, but mostly mallards, and a few geese reside here. In this area we saw a man fishing.

Afternoon at the California Botanical Garden

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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 Iris
Poppies 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.

Spring in LA County

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Flowers grace life with beauty

Flowers bring everyone joy

Flowers invite humans to hike, laugh, love

Flowers sing songs of peace.