Pasadena Touristic: The Huntington Library and Gardens (Part 1): Bonsai

[nanila]

I have many photos to share of my one full tourist day in Pasadena, as I spent most of the day at the Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino. It is quite expensive to get in, so you want to make the most of it. Fortunately there is enough to see both in the gardens and the library that it is well worth the money, assuming you’ve given yourself the entire day to explore it.

I begin with a post dedicated to the section of the Japanese garden that is devoted to bonsai.


When I am retired, I shall build myself one of these, and the carefully placed bench to sit in contemplation of it at precisely the right distance.


Bonsai artfully arranged in a round metal frame.


Bonsai artfully arranged in a wooden frame.


Bonsai cultivated to look like a tiny forest.


Tiiiiiny bouganvillea.


Tiiiiiny gingko biloba.

Comments

[cmcmck]

Pretties!

I do like bonsai.

[nanila]

Yes! They're very restful to look at. Like watching fish swimming in lazy circles.

[hilarita]

smol!

[nanila]

Smol and perfectly formed!

[redsixwing]

Oh so smol!

That forest planting is really lovely.

[nanila]

It is. I wonder how long it took to cultivate. It must have been years.

[redsixwing]

Probably so, to have that much character in that small a pot.

[lurkingcat]

Tiny forest!

[nanila]

That was one of my favourites, too.

[ursajoanna]

Oh, the ginkgo! ♥

[nanila]

Isn't it sweet? There were several dotted around the Japanese garden (full size and bonsai).

[gwendraith]

Stunning. The little forest is gorgeous :)

[nanila]

Yes! I love how many people donated their prize specimens to the collection, too.

[worlds_of_smoke]

I adore bonsai. Alas, with my black thumb, I wouldn't dare try anything more intensive than a succulent. And, half the time, I end up killing those. XD

[nanila]

Sympathies. I wouldn't say I have a brown or black thumb, but I do tend to choose only the hardier house plants, just so if I do forget to water something for a week, it doesn't die.

[cactus_rs]

It's lovely to see someone slightly more competent than yourself take pictures of the same things! None of my snaps of this (or any, tbqh) part of Huntington Gardens were this nice. But it's such a lovely place.

[nanila]

Aw, thanks! Your shots of the Chinese garden are lovely. We had lunch at the dumpling & noodle house. It was SO good.

I shot everything with my phone, as I was feeling too crappy to lug my dSLR out with me. I should have known from that, when I was packing, that I was pretty ill. I *never* fail to take my dSLR with me when I leave the country, even if it's just a very short work trip!

[fred_mouse]

Tiny bouganvillea appears to have full size thorns!

[nanila]

Smol Tree has its defenses at the ready!

[fred_mouse]

And *all* the attitude!

[silveradept]

Those are very beautiful plants. And with a bench at the proper distance for viewing, that has to be good, as well.

[nanila]

Yes, my friend and I sat on the bench to appreciate the smol perfections for a wee while.

[mysterysquid]

Gorgeous. :D

[nanila]

I do enjoy revisiting this post. Thanks! :D

[lark_ascends]

Lovely!!!

[nanila]

The smol trees alone would have been worth the price of entry for me. :)