The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens

 We visited the Huntington Library today in the late afternoon. The setting sun on the trees and roses and pools of water was glorious. All the colors and textures seemed intensified. We tried to obey the foot-traffic pattern signs, and Benny wore a mask for about the first fifteen minutes. I thought this was both sad and cute. Towards the end we all tore off our masks and played tag in a stone-fruit grove.

Allen Street in San Marino is lined with Ginkgo trees which are at their finest this time of year.

I love how the Boston Ivy drips off the building in yellow and orange chains. "This garden has a lot of naked statues," Rose observed.

This blooming vine was growing over the trellises that are covered in roses at other times of the year.

More Ginkgoes in the Japanese rock garden. Rose brought "Uni" because she said she was celebrating the unicorn's sixth birthday.

I asked the children to pose in front of their favorite bonsai. Rose chose this oak forest. She would've like to take it home and make a fairy garden in it. 

I don't remember what kind of tree this one was, but gosh, isn't its structure unreal!

I took this one for the Coxes. It's a Cork Oak bonsai.

The big kids . . . and "uni"

The Japanese and Chinese garden are connected by an upper level path, and this lovely pool can be found along that path.

Lee took our picture in the Chinese garden. Didn't it turn out great!

The Chinese garden has expanded to include many more pagodas, patios, and walkways. This one had detailed sea-dragons decorating its roof. The signage in these garden made me chuckle. The way to the bathroom was called, "The Way of Peaceful Sounds."

Lee getting in a little rock climbing behind the Chinese Garden waterfall.

The boys looking out over the Chinese garden inside one of the new pagodas. The setting sun was so beautiful.

Aren't these interesting zig-zag bamboo trees?

The whole motley crew

To visit the Huntington, reservations have to be made in advance on their website, which posts new reservations every two weeks. All drinking fountains were capped off but restrooms were available. They check your temperature and your bag for food before entering. Food is no longer allowed inside nor is it sold at the restaurants. The lady at the front asked Benny's age and when she heard he was two, she insisted we put a mask on him. Phil helped me graciously get through this part until we were on our way and Benny took of his mask himself. We haven't conditioned him for mask wearing yet. No one bothered us afterwards.

The number of rules and regulations slightly cramped our style, hence the wild game of tag at the end, but I think the beauty of the garden was worth it.