Post Pandemic Baby Steps ~ The Huntington
“Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life.” – Sidney Sheldon
As we emerge from the cocoon of the pandemic lockdowns and start to gingerly venture out, local attractions are an easy first choice. Libraries have been my happy place since I was that bespectacled teenager who I’ve mentioned before so the the Huntington Library in Pasadena about 20 miles from my home was one of my early choices.
Of course The Huntington is more than a neighborhood library, it’s an experience with lots of outdoorsy activities for those who are still leery of venturing into closed indoor spaces. Of course don’t forget to reserve your ticket in advance even if you are a member.
It’s May in Southern California and while we’ve had a relatively dry winter here we have had enough sprinkles recently that Spring has finally hit us and gardens are in bloom and our senses are inundated with fragrance and color. The gardens here at the Huntington are magnificent so today I’d like to share with you some of the beauty, we feasted on at our recent visit here. Incidentally we did not make it into the library or the art gallery.
Our goal today is the Japanese and Chinese gardens but we have to walk through the outskirts of the rose garden to get there. The roses are in bloom and we couldn’t help but stop every so often to admire a particular beauty as we strolled through these beautiful arbors.
…. and gazed upon the riot of color and people walking through them enjoying the glorious weather and the beauty surrounding them. I feel like I am strolling through a painting and all I need to complete the romance is a parasol and a beautiful summer dress.
We finally come upon the entrance to the Japanese garden and transition from all the glorious color to serene and green.
The Japanese Garden was first created in 1911 by Henry E. Huntington. Elements of the five room Japanese house were created in Japan and shipped to Pasadena in 1904. It was first opened to the public in 1928. Since then its had over 20 million visitors and is one of the most popular attractions at the Huntington.
The tea house located on a ridge above the Japanese house came later when the garden got a face lift, built in Kyoto and gifted to the library by the local Buddhist Temple.
As we stroll along the path that borders the Japanese garden, we’ve stepped into another world with it’s vista of koi ponds, moon bridge and the iconic Japanese house. Today we did not make our way down and across the garden to visit the tea house which is closed. Perhaps another time when the tea house is open and we can participate in a tea ceremony.
"It is a garden that functions on multiple levels at once. It’s a magical place, intimate and inspiring, yet at the same time it teaches us about Japan’s unique landscape traditions, craftsmanship, horticulture, and rituals.” says James Folsom, the Telleen/Jorgensen Director of the Botanical Gardens.
We strolled along the path towards the Chinese Garden, Liu Fang Yuan 流芳園, or the Garden of Flowing Fragrance, one of the finest classical-style Chinese gardens outside of China. Filled with Chinese plants and framed by exquisite architecture, the landscape is enriched by the aromas that both sooth and stimulate the senses. I wish words could convey how this exquisite garden engages all the senses.
Principles of landscape design formulated in Suzhou in the 16th and 17th centuries have been incorporated here. Architecture, waterworks, rockeries, plants and calligraphy are all combined here such that each step through the garden’s pathways and pavilions reveals a new view as if a painted scroll were being unrolled scene by scene.
Rocks are an essential feature of Suzhou gardens. The stones found throughout Liu Fang Yuan are a type of limestone traditionally harvested from the bed of Lake Tai near Suzhou. For more than 1,200 years, these rocks have been renowned for their strange shapes and many holes embodied with energy or qi.
Hopefully this introduction has whetted your appetite for a full post focused on exploring this garden more fully.
Satiated, we headed towards the exit. Along the way we passed the conservatory with it’s cute sign that reads “Plants are up to something” and the beautiful bronze statue of Mercury on a column amidst the flowers.
Let’s not forget a stop at the café for a drink and snack on the beautiful terrace before heading to the car park and towards home.
The last time I came to the Huntington was for high tea with some of my girl friends. While you can’t get the full experience in deference to the post pandemic soft opening you can still pre-order a boxed high tea and enjoy that on the terrace either with hot tea or with wine as suitable to your palate. Clearly a lot of people had the same idea and the terrace was crowded as one sought to find an empty suitably sanitized table.
What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon in Sunny California plus get your feet wet at venturing outside the safe confines of your home in these post pandemic times.