Japanese Garden at The Huntington. | Photo by vgm8383 via Japanese Garden at The Huntington
Founded in 1919, The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens is world renowned as a cultural, research and educational center. The Botanical Gardens cover 120 acres and feature over a dozen specialized gardens, arranged within a park-like landscape of rolling lawns. After undergoing a year-long, $6.8 million renovation and improvement project, the historic Japanese Garden celebrates its centennial on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. Among the new features in the nine-acre garden will be a ceremonial teahouse set within a new three-quarter-acre, traditionally landscaped tea garden. The Huntington will present an array of programs relating to the Japanese Garden throughout 2012, including classes, children’s activities, performances, and lectures.
1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, 91108
626.405.2100
www.huntington.org
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Located across the street from USC in Downtown Los Angeles, Exposition Park is the home of several top LA cultural attractions and venues, including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the California Science Center and the California African American Museum. The famous 7-acre Rose Garden features over 20,000 rose bushes of 200-plus varieties. Its gazebos, statues and central fountain make the garden a popular picnic, wedding and photography destination. The Rose Garden was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, 90007
213.763.3466
www.expositionpark.org
Downtown LA viewed from the Griffith Park Observatory. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
With over 4,210 acres of natural chaparral-covered terrain and landscaped parkland and picnic areas, Griffith Park is the largest municipal park with urban wilderness area in the United States. Griffith Park offers miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, providing visitors an ideal environment for enjoyable recreation activities. There are numerous family attractions and cultural institutions in Griffith Park, including the Autry National Center, Greek Theater, Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles Zoo and Travel Town.
4730 Crystal Springs Dr., Los Angeles, 90027
323.913.4688
www.laparks.org/dos/parks/griffithpk
Located near the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vermont Avenue, Barnsdall Art Park sits on 11 acres atop Olive Hill, offering breathtaking views of the city and the Hollywood Sign. The site was deeded to the city of Los Angeles in 1927 as a cultural art center. Today, it is home to the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Hollyhock House, the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Barnsdall Art Center, Junior Art Center, and Barnsdall Gallery Theatre. Barnsdall Art Park is operated jointly by the City of Los Angeles’ Recreation and Parks Department, the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Department of General Services. Popular events at Barnsdall include Friday night wine tastings on the Hollyhock lawn, Saturday night outdoor movies, and Sunday art workshops.
4800 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90027
323.660.4254
www.barnsdall.org
Pan Pacific Park, view from The Grove | Photo by Ian Broyles via Flickr
Centrally located across the street from The Grove, Pan Pacific Park was once home to the famous Pan-Pacific Auditorium. Today it’s one of the most popular and family-friendly parks in the city, with features that include barbecue pits, baseball diamond (lighted), basketball courts (lighted/indoor/outdoor), childrens play area, indoor gym (without weights) and picnic tables. Pan Pacific Park is also the site of the Los Angeles Holocaust Museum, the oldest Holocaust museum in the United States.
7600 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, 90036
323.939.8874
www.laparks.org/dos/reccenter/facility/panPacificRC.htm
Blossom at Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden | Photo by Evan G via InstagramNestled within the UCLA campus in Westwood, the seven-acre Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden is an urban oasis that maintains one of the most important living botanical collections in the U.S. The garden is home to over 5,000 species of tropical and subtropical plants from all over the world.
777 South Tiverton Avenue, Los Angeles, 90095
310.825.1260
www.botgard.ucla.edu
Photo by Al_HikesAZ via Flickr
At the heart of the acclaimed Getty Center is the 134,000 square-foot Central Garden, created by renowned artist Robert Irwin. The design features a natural ravine and tree-lined walkway that leads visitors through a sublime experience of sights, sounds, and scents. The walkway traverses a stream that winds through a variety of plants and gradually descends to a plaza with bougainvillea arbors. Continuing through the plaza, the stream cascades over a stone waterfall into the signature floating maze of azaleas surrounded by specialty gardens. Note: The Central Garden will be closed to visitors from Tuesday, February 14, through Sunday, May 27, 2012, for hardscape improvements. The closure affects all areas of the Garden, including the Stream Garden (under the sycamores), the Pond Garden overlook (by the waterfall), the Lower Terrace Garden (featuring modern outdoor sculpture), and all surrounding lawn areas.
1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, 90049
310.440.7320
getty.edu
Photo by Lunasmom via Flickr
Will Rogers State Historic Park was the private ranch of the world famous movie star, radio personality, columnist, philosopher and American Cowboy, Will Rogers. His 186-acre ranch in Pacific Palisades was the place where Rogers could relax with family and friends, pursuing his favorite pastimes of riding horseback, roping steers or playing polo. The iconic Western Ranch House at Will Rogers State Historic Park (SHP) is on the National Register of Historic Places and, aside from his 31-room ranch house, the State Historic Park includes a historic stable, a polo field, riding arena, roping area, numerous corrals, horse pastures, golf course and trails. The park’s famous Inspiration Point Trail provides visitors with fantastic 360 degree ocean vistas of Southern California and provides hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians access to the Backbone Trail.
1501 Will Rogers Park Road, Pacific Palisades, 90272
310.454.8212
www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=626
Korean Friendship Bell | Photo by Mike Chen via Flickr
The 64-acre Angel's Gate Recreation Center offers breathtaking panoramic views of the coastline and Santa Catalina Island from its grassy cliffs, as well as basketball courts and a children’s play area. Don’t miss the famous Korean Bell of Friendship, a gift to the people of Los Angeles by the people of the Republic of Korea to honor veterans of the Korean War in 1976.
3601 S Gaffey Street, San Pedro, 90731
310.548.7705
www.laparks.org/dos/reccenter/facility/angelsGateRC.htm
Occupying the heart of the historic Rancho Santa Anita, the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a unique 127-acre botanical garden and historical site jointly operated by the Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. Home to plant collections from all over the world, including many rare and endangered species, The Arboretum also houses outdoor historical landmarks representative of the major phases of California history. Plants are grouped by geography, with gardens for South American, Mediterranean, South African, Australian and Asiatic-North American plants.
301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, 91007
626.821.3222
www.arboretum.org
Photo by Suiho En
Suiho En (“Garden of Water and Fragrance”) is a 6.5-acre authentic Japanese garden fashioned after “stroll gardens” constructed during the 18th and 19th centuries for Japanese Feudal lords. This San Fernando Valley gem was created by Dr. Koichi Kawana to provide beauty, relaxation, inspiration and a better understanding of Japanese culture using reclaimed water. Dr. Kawana designed more than one dozen major Japanese gardens in the United States, including the botanical gardens at LACMA. Upcoming events at Suiho En include Springtime in the Garden (April 22) and a Japanese Heritage Celebration on May 20th.
301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, 91007
818.756.8166
www.thejapanesegarden.com
Photo by Danielle D. via Flickr
Famous for its lush citrus groves and beautiful rose garden, the 24-acre Orcutt Ranch Horticultural Center is the site of the historic Orcutt residence, built in 1920. The gardens include heritage oaks trees, wandering garden paths, formal flower beds, and a variety of interesting specimen trees, exotic shrubs, and flowering plants. There are several significant oak trees on the property; one of the largest is more that 33' in circumference and is estimated to be more than 700 years old. Nature trails amble through the sprawling orchards, and picnic tables are available for public use.
23600 Roscoe Blvd., West Hills, 91304
818.346.7449
www.laparks.org/dos/horticulture/orcuttranch.htm
