The Huntington Library February 2014

Visiting The Huntington Library Is Always a Treat

Off To Visit The Desert Gardens 2/23/2014 (Page Three)

Page 1 - Arrival & Quick Walk/Tea | Page 2 - Tour | Page 3 - Desert Visit

Now we are off to the desert gardens... A quick walk before heading home! We are pretty good walkers. Greg told us about his grandma....

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Quite different than the subtropical hot houses

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
The decorative cabbage was well in bloom


We qualify... Specially Greg who is the provider of the
cabbage for St. Patrick's Day this uear

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
A sea of yellow.... The bee's were busy at work

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
These little birds were LOUD!

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
The gardeners have been busy

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Irene and Sue head for the "Big House"


We did not go in this time.... Save something for April


Greg and Paul had a great idea.... We were voted down

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Sue explains the silk tree

Did You Know? - The Huntington Desert Garden is part of The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California. The Desert Garden is one of the world's largest and oldest collections of cacti, succulents and other desert plants, collected from throughout the world.

It contains plants from extreme environments, many of which were acquired by Henry E. Huntington and William Hertrich (the first garden curator) in trips taken to several countries in North, Central and South America.

One of the Huntington's most botanically important gardens, the Desert Garden brought together a group of plants largely unknown and unappreciated in the beginning of the 1900s. Containing a broad category of xerophytes (aridity-adapted plants), the Desert Garden grew to preeminence and remains today among the world's finest, with more than 5,000 species in the 10 acre (4 ha) garden.

Mr. Huntington was not initially interested in establishing a Desert Garden. He did not like cacti at all, due to some unfortunate prickly pear encounters during railroad construction work.

But Hertrich was persistent, and, once won over, Mr. Huntington built a railway spur to his garden, to bring in rock, soil and plants by the carload. As Gary Lyons, a later curator, remarked, it's very convenient to have a rail spur, and deep pockets, when you're building a big garden.

A trip to Arizona in 1908 filled three railroad cars for the trip back to the garden.

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Mother Nature has a strategy

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Ice Plant looks blue, grey, and green

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
The colors against the blue sky are striking

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Lime green... Checkout the soon-to-be blossoms at the top

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Talk about red.... Looked like torches

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Where are the dates?

Did You Know? - Human use of palms is as old or older than human civilization itself, starting with the cultivation of the date palm by Mesopotamians and other Middle Eastern peoples 5000 years or more ago. Date wood, pits for storing dates, and other remains of the date palm have been found in Mesopotamian sites. The date palm had a tremendous effect on the history of the Middle East. W.H. Barreveld wrote:

"One could go as far as to say that, had the date palm not existed, the expansion of the human race into the hot and barren parts of the "old" world would have been much more restricted. The date palm not only provided a concentrated energy food, which could be easily stored and carried along on long journeys across the deserts, it also created a more amenable habitat for the people to live in by providing shade and protection from the desert winds  . In addition, the date palm also yielded a variety of products for use in agricultural production and for domestic utensils, and practically all parts of the palm had a useful purpose."

An indication of the importance of palms in ancient times is that they are mentioned more than 30 times in the Bible, and at least 22 times in the Quran

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Many discussions went on about the sizes, shapes and colors
There was however, no teasing..... Right!


We thought the sign was quite amazing

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
The signs say "Please Stay On Path".... Duh?

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Almost looks like Halloween candy

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Full of water... Each leaf was "fat" with moisture

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
We walked at a leisurely pace for about an hour
stopping to comment on Mother Natures fine work

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
The bee's seemed to be busy

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
"Well howdy... Yes, we are here"

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
The tree was beautiful set against the bright blue skies this afternoon

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Anyone up for a shimmy??

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
The red rocks and the green plants...
Could it be getting ready for Christmas???

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Interesting blossoms... They have to stick out so the birds can get to them
without being punctured by the thorns

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Anyone for climbing up and getting a blossom or two

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Paddle cactus blossoms are about to burst forth

Did You Know? - Edible cactus is also known as nopales (no-PAH-les), nopalitos, cactus paddles, or cactus pads. This vegetable is popular in Mexico and other Central American countries, parts of Europe, the Middle East, India, North Africa and Australia. Its popularity is increasing in the United States, where it can be found at Mexican grocery stores, specialty produce markets and farmer's markets.

Edible cactus is characterized by its fleshy oval leaves (typically called pads or paddles) of the nopal (prickly pear) cactus.

With a soft but crunchy texture that also becomes a bit sticky (not unlike okra) when cooked, edible cactus tastes similar to a slightly tart green bean, asparagus, or green pepper.

Cactus pads contain beta carotene, iron, some B vitamins, and are good sources of both vitamin C and calcium.

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Not a cloud in the sky

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Greens and yellows

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
The edges of the leaves were fairly sharp...
They didn't seem to stop the birds

Switching To The Semi-Tropical Gardens (Be On Turtle Watch)

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
The water was very clear today...
We could see the Koi clearly

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
No! These are NOT Sue's geese... They are back at Old Ranch

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
They were fearless.... They would come right up to people

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Beautiful animal.... The bill and feet look dark blue

Did You Know? - Canada Geese are primarily herbivores, although they sometimes eat small insects and fish. Their diet includes green vegetation and grains. The Canada Goose eats a variety of grasses when on land. It feeds by grasping a blade of grass with the bill, then tearing it with a jerk of the head.

The Canada Goose also eats beans and grains such as wheat, rice, and corn when they are available. In the water, it feeds from silt at the bottom of the body of water. It also feeds on aquatic plants, such as seaweeds. In urban areas, they are also known to pick food out of garbage bins.

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Everyone is watching out for turtles

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
"Come on honey.... These people might feed us!"

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
"Sorry Dear... They didn't bring any food... Back to grass and worms"

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
They were not bothered by people

Did You Know? - In North America, non-migratory Canada Goose populations have been on the rise. The species is frequently found on golf courses, parking lots and urban parks, which would have previously hosted only migratory geese on rare occasions.

Owing to its adaptability to human-altered areas, it has become the most common waterfowl species in North America. In many areas, non-migratory Canada Geese are now regarded as pests by humans. They are suspected of being a cause of an increase in high fecal coliforms at beaches. An extended hunting season, deploying noise makers, and hazing by dogs have been used in an attempt to disrupt suspect flocks.

Since 1999, The United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services agency has been engaged in lethal culls of Canada Geese primarily in urban or densely populated areas. The agency responds to municipalities or private land owners, such as golf courses, who find the geese obtrusive or object to their waste. Addling goose eggs and destroying nests are promoted as humane population control methods.

Geese have a tendency to attack humans when they feel themselves or their goslings to be threatened. First the geese will stand erect, spread their wings and produce a hissing sound. Next, the geese will charge. They may then bite or attack with their wings.

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Lovely waterfall... Picture taken with no flash

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Same place but with flash engaged....

Did You Know? - There are many types of waterfalls!

Ledge Waterfall: Water descends vertically over a vertical cliff, maintaining partial contact with the bedrock.

Block/Sheet: Water descends from a relatively wide stream or river.

Classical: Ledge waterfalls where fall height is nearly equal to stream width, forming a vertical square shape.

Curtain: Ledge waterfalls which descend over a height larger than the width of falling water stream.

Plunge: Fast moving water descends vertically, losing complete contact with the bedrock surface. The contact is typically lost due to horizontal thrust of the water before it falls. It always starts from a narrow stream.

Punchbowl: Water descends in a constricted form and then spreads out in a wider pool.

Horsetail: Descending water maintains good contact with bedrock most of the time.

Slide: Water glides down maintaining continuous contact.

Ribbon: Water descends over a long narrow strip.

Chute: A large quantity of water forced through a narrow, vertical passage.

Fan: Water spreads horizontally as it descends while remaining in contact with bedrock.

Cascade: Water descends a series of rock steps.

Tiered/Multi-step/Staircase: A series of waterfalls one after another of roughly the same size each with its own sunken plunge pool.

Cataract: A large, powerful waterfall

Segmented: Distinctly separate flows of water form as it descends.

Catadupa: A cataract or waterfall, originally those of the Nile. The term catadupae refers to people inhabiting near such cataracts; there are suppositions that these people are deaf due to the constant din.

Tide Fall: A waterfall that directly empties into the sea or ocean.
Frozen: Any waterfall which has some element of ice.

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
The sounds drowned out everything else...

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
The birds of paradise were in full regalia

Did You Know? - S. reginae is very popular as an ornamental plant. It was first introduced to Europe in 1773, when it was grown at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Since then, it has been widely introduced around the world, including the Americas and Australia, growing well in any area that is sunny and warm.

In the United States, Florida and California are the main areas of cultivation, due to their warm climate. It is a common ornamental plant in Southern California, and has been chosen as the Official Flower of the City of Los Angeles. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

It is propagated by division or from seeds, and is a low-maintenance plant that is easy to grow in the garden; it is fairly tolerant of soil conditions and needs little water once established. If cared for well, they will flower several times in a year.

They will thrive in rich loamy soil, especially when they get plenty of water throughout the year. They do well in full sun to semi-shade and respond well to regular feeding with a controlled release fertiliser and compost. They are sensitive to cold and need to be sheltered from frost, as it can damage the flowers and leaves.

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
Bam... The orange jumps right out at you

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
The pathway was lined with bright colors

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
"Irene, I've got you on the Greg-Cam"

Visiting the Hungtington Gardens for a birthday celebration 2/23/2014
"Magnificent"

Page 1 - Arrival & Quick Walk/Tea | Page 2 - Tour | Page 3 - Desert Visit