The Finch's And Liles' Visit The Huntington (4/26/2018)
Indeed, we calls it "The British Invasion" and we like being invaded by the Finch's. We laugh and giggle the entire day. Brian and Jan stopped by our house around 11:30 AM and we neaded north on the 605 to the gardens. Brian and Jan are looking forword to a spot of tea!It's about 45 miles as the Odyssey flies.
Top Tea Consuming Countries
- Kuwait
- United Arab Emirates
- Seychelles
- United Kingdom
- Mauritania
- Ireland
Upon arrival we headed for the tea house as we had a 1:15 appointment for lunch.
Along the pathway were California wildflowers in their native habitat!
Odd looking plants but certainly drought tolerant!
Do not fall into these little puppies... Sharp spines everywhere!
Magnificent roses greeted us!
..and William himself!
William sends us on our way
Roses begin to appear as we get closer to the Tea Room!
Love the names... "Rock and Roll"
Passing under the arbor and Tea Room is immediately ahead of us!
We have arrived!
When you ask for caviar, it comes served quite beautifully
This is what Brian was expecting... A Caviar Burger!
"Blimy (short for gorblimey God blind me)... This is pretty good"
Jan agrees and the clotted creme was excellent
Did You Know? - Clotted cream (sometimes called scalded, clouted, Devonshire or Cornish cream) is a thick cream made by indirectly heating full-cream cow's milk using steam or a water bath and then leaving it in shallow pans to cool slowly. During this time, the cream content rises to the surface and forms "clots" or "clouts". It forms an essential part of a cream tea.
Although its origin is uncertain, the cream's production is commonly associated with dairy farms in southwest England and in particular the counties of Cornwall and Devon. The current largest commercial producer in the United Kingdom is Rodda's at Scorrier, Redruth, Cornwall, which can produce up to 25 tonnes (25,000 kg; 55,000 lbs.) of clotted cream a day.
In 1998 the term Cornish clotted cream became a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) by European Union directive, as long as the milk is produced in Cornwall and the minimum fat content is 55%.
What is he up to now???
Jan prepares for a little walk through the gardens
Look out roses... Here we come!
Golden Poppies!
Did You Know? - A poppy is a flowering plant in the subfamily Papaveroideae of the family Papaveraceae. Poppies are herbaceous plants, often grown for their colourful flowers. One species of poppy, Papaver somniferum, is the source of the crude drug opium which contains powerful medicinal alkaloids such as morphine and has been used since ancient times as an analgesic and narcotic medicinal and recreational drug. It also produces edible seeds. Following the trench warfare in the poppy fields of Flanders during World War I, poppies have become a symbol of remembrance of soldiers who have died during wartime.
In the garden walking outfits
The artichokes were so loaded they fell over!
Magnificent Foxgloves
Did You Know? - There are several different explanations that could give reason to how the common foxglove got its name. One of the main ones however is about the shape of the blossom. The flower of the common foxglove looks similar to gloved finger. Additionally, the name foxglove is supposed to be an allusion to a fox's white paws.
Before the common foxglove was used to treat and fix heart problems, the Irish saw a different use for it. The used it as folk medicine. They saw it as a healing herb used to treat a variety of skin problems such as boils, ulcers, and also headaches and paralysis.
Taking in the sights!
The artichokes are visible at the top of the plant
The "wooden" arbor has been four years in the making!
The "Julia Child" Rose... Because of the color!
They reach for the sun!
Jan wonders off admiring the roses
We heard a scream and Jan came running!
Jan shows us where she saw the "Rose Rat"
Jan and Brian enjoying the weather in Los Angeles
Jan keeps looking for her little friend!
A portable workshop... The construction is still underway
Simply beautiful!
NATIONAL RED ROSE DAY. Each year on June 12, people in the United States observe National Red Rose Day. It honors the flower that is a symbol of love and romance, the red rose. The June birth flower is the rose. Red roses were used in many early cultures as decorations in wedding ceremonies and wedding attire.
The bees are busy buzzing bout the bushes
The roses get a little shade from their friend the tree
The five pipe arbors all having climbing roses attached!
Click the image to see a few examples of climbing roses
We caught a glimpse of the Japanese Gardens on our way to China
A fifteen minute meander through the woods...
The colors are fantastic
The flowering trees send their blossoms sky high
Looks like a floating pillow
The "Moon Bridge"
Did You Know? - A moon bridge is a highly-rounded arched pedestrian bridge associated with gardens in China and Japan. The moon bridge originated in China and was later introduced to Japan.
This type of bridge was originally designed to allow pedestrians to cross canals while allowing the passage of barges beneath. When constructed using the climbing ascent and descent this had the further advantage of not using space from the adjoining fields for approaches.
In formal garden design a moon bridge is placed so that it is reflected in still water. The high arch and its reflection form a circle, symbolizing the moon
The water lilies were just starting the bloom
We keep looking for the frog!
A beautiful day for a walk... Very relaxing
Time for a nap!!
Ochna serrulata with fruits and the bright-red sepals
that resemble the face of Mickey Mouse.
Did You Know? - Ochna serrulata (commonly known as the small-leaved plane, carnival ochna, bird's eye bush, Mickey mouse plant or Mickey Mouse bush due to the plant's bright-red sepals, which resemble the face of Mickey Mouse) is an ornamental garden plant of the Ochnaceae family which is indigenous to South Africa. It is planted in southern African gardens and is an invasive species in Australia and New Zealand.
Someone has an imagination!
Just passing time!
Looking for food OR someone to bite!
"I brought my own feather pillow!
Do you see the goose?
No No! Don't jump!
Snapdragons are called "Bunny Rabbits" in the UK
Pink and Fuzzy... Could be a Bunny Rabbit!
The poppies wave good bye as we meander out of the garden
The sunflowers form a fence separating the parking lot
Time to head for home...