the desert garden at huntington

A rainy day in Providence seems like a good time to revisit sunny southern California. We stopped by the Huntington Botanical Gardens in Pasadena two Fridays ago…

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There wasn’t time to explore all 120 acres, but being fond of thorny, spiky, alien-looking plants, I definitely didn’t want to miss the 100-year-old Desert Garden. My friend John will appreciate this post.

Before I share some of the “ow! my eye!” plants, take a look at this massive bamboo just inside the entrance…

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Wowza!

And now, without further delay, I bring you glorious blue skies, oppressive heat and where’s my water bottle?

(As always, click to biggify)…

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In case you didn’t catch it in the shot above, please note: some aloes can grow to become trees? Really? I had no idea…

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There’s no sense of scale in this shot. Those plants are at lease 2′ to 4′ across…

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What the… euphorbia also grows like trees here? 6′ tall. So unfair…

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I love this sea of happy aeoniums…

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And these octopi…

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And these starfish…

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I’ve seen radio towers shorter than this thing! That’s easily 50′ tall…

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And the agaves are crazy huge, as you might imagine. Do not hug them…

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I have no idea what this bizarre specimen is but look closely — green lily-like blooms and it’s about to launch missiles…

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Crazy. Who designs these things anyway?

Do yourself a favor and take a quick 360 spin around the Desert Garden. It’s wondrous. Better yet, go there in person because my pictures do the collection no justice. Bring protective eyewear.

 

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3 Responses to “the desert garden at huntington”

  1. john says:

    I do appreciate.
    If I ever get the significant to go to LA, I shall spend a day there.
    Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens, anyone? Be-stilled my heart.
    Twice.

  2. john says:

    BTW, I never realized how hairy your forearms are…

  3. Brook says:

    ha ha! that’s David, silly. but you knew that. haven’t been to Phoenix Botanical but from the photos i’ve seen it’s pretty spectacular. someday…

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