Christmas 2012 At The Huntington Library (Page One)

Visiting The Huntington Library Is Always a Treat

It's Time To Visit The Gardens (Return To Christmas 2012)

Page 1 - Arrival And Cactus Garden | Page 2 - Japanese Garden | Page 3 - Chinese Garden & Tea Room

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day    Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day

Join us for our annual Champagne and Shopping Holiday Members? Event. Enjoy holiday music and an opportunity to shop for great gifts while supporting The Huntington. Sip a complimentary glass of champagne or hot cider as you complete your gift list with selections from our holiday trunk shows, including a festive plant sale.

Let's Take A Walk... But First, Champagne

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
Powering up!

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
Champagne was pouring....

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
Poinsettias were beautiful

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
No, these are NOT artificial decorations

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
Cyphostemma juttae is a slow-growing succulent species of Cyphostemma, well known as an ornamental plant. The plant is also known as bastard cobas, wild grape, tree grape, Namibian grape, and Droog-my-keel. This species can reach 6 feet tall and has large shiny leaves.

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
We did not pick them!

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
...nor these

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
Perfect shirt for the day

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
The rain made everything look so clean and green

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
Sue and Sarah coordinate the clothes for their visit to Los Angeles

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
"Yes dear.... Three formals.... Jackets.... Black suit"

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
Sue's "Starfish"

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
The blooms were trying to come up

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
Barrel Cactus

Did You Know? - One should approach a Barrel Cactus with extreme caution. A puncture to human skin from one of the spines is considered a 'dirty wound'. Antibiotics will be needed if the puncture is deep enough (approximately 1/8th inch or deeper); and can take several months for the wound to heal properly. Barrel Cactus plants are one of the more dangerous Cacti in the desert.

Many people mistakenly believe that the common sight of a tipped over barrel cactus is due solely to the cactus falling over from water weight. Actually, barrel cacti fall over because they grow based on the sun, just like any other plant. Water weight is just part of this occurrence. Unlike other plants, however, the barrel cactus usually grows towards the south (to prevent sunburn), hence the name "compass cactus.

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
Reminder: Do NOT site down without looking first

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
Do you see him.... The lizard is looking at you!

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
"Go away... You are disturbing my nap!"

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
The bright red blooms stand out in the garden

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
...and purple ones also

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
Sue always follows the rules

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
Checkout the blimp... He passed right over us....

Did You Know? - The MetLife Blimp Program, initiated in 1987, underwent an expansion in 1994. MetLife currently operates three airships known as "Snoopy One," "Snoopy Two," and "Snoopy J." Structurally, the blimps are the same A60+ model. All of the blimps are permanently decaled with the corporate logo "MetLife" on either side.

"Snoopy One" was launched in Tampa, Florida in February, 1994. "Snoopy Two" was launched from Hillsboro, Oregon in October, 1993. The primary difference between the two blimps is their geographic regions of operation; "Snoopy Two" spends the winter months on the West Coast touring California, Nevada and Arizona. While "Snoopy One" spends the winter and spring months in Florida, Georgia and Texas. "Snoopy J" was launched in Japan in November of 2010.

None of the MetLife blimps requires the use of a home base. Together, "Snoopy One" and "Snoopy Two" combine to travel approximately 120,000 miles a year throughout the United States. Traveling with each MetLife blimp is a dedicated 14 member crew: two pilots and twelve crewmen. The ground crew includes electronic engineers, mechanics, licensed radio technicians, and riggers. In addition to these highly specialized personnel, each MetLife blimp operation requires five ground support vehicles; to move the blimp and crew from one location to the next.

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
A walk up the "pea gravel" path

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day
She has her eye on you....

Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day    Huntington Garden visit December 2012 Members Only Day

Page 1 - Arrival And Cactus Garden | Page 2 - Japanese Garden | Page 3 - Chinese Garden & Tea Room