Tuesday, April 25, 2017

I got to go to the Getty!

Family time, during our January trip to the Los Angeles area, meant visiting somewhere with multiple levels of interest (not just plants). Enter the Getty Center, art, architecture and gardens = something for everyone! Oh and it's free...

Contrary to what it looks like I didn't wait until just the right moment to capture the plaza without people. And there were plenty of people there that day. I guess I just got lucky.

While Andrew and family headed right indoors I headed towards the gardens. Specifically for the tour of the Central Garden and grounds.

Everything came to a screeching halt when I saw this.

The Central Garden is huge, that entire "green-space" in the center, below. How could it be closed?

What the hell? There were some clouds, some rain the day before, but no rain on this day.

There was a security guy in a suit with a ear-piece, like he was secret service, standing at the entrance to the garden. I laughed at the sign and then turned to him for an explanation. Evidently when there has been strong rain some of the soil runs across the paths, the lawn gets wet. They don't want people getting their shoes "muddy" and then walking into the art galleries. I am sorry, but not sorry, that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

You could walk up to the garden, but just not into the garden. I made a point of getting a little beyond the closed sign while I took pictures. Nobody seemed to care (although the security guy kept his eyes on me), and my shoes didn't get dirty.

Melianthus and Dyckia, that's a combination you don't see every day. Well, unless you live in L.A.

Dangerous paths ahead!

Look at all that mud.

The plants seemed happy.

I wonder how long these have been in the ground? Do they change them out seasonally?

Firesticks, indeed.

Finally, coming to terms with the fact I was not going to step foot into the Central Garden itself, I decided to see what I could see by climbing up the stairs and stopping at the various view points along the buildings.

Wow! That's all sorts of sexy fabulous. A Cordyline?

The Bougainvillea covered arbors have long been a fascination of mine. I still can't believe I was so close, and yet not allowed to get near them.

They're amazing! From the Getty's website: "(Robert) Irwin began planning the Central Garden in 1992, as a key part of the Getty Center project. Since the Center opened in 1997, the Central Garden has evolved as its plants have grown and been trimmed. New plants are constantly being added to the palette. Irwin's statement "Always changing, never twice the same" is carved into the plaza floor, reminding visitors of the ever-changing nature of this living work of art."

"Always changing, never twice the same" that seems about right for a garden.

Moving on I had to smile (smirk?) when I saw these. They're Arbutus unedo, aka the strawberry tree.

They produce hundreds of small fruit which ripen to look like a round strawberry. Then they fall to the ground. Where they can be stepped on. Their red fruity pulp then can be tracked into the pristine art galleries on the bottom of visitors shoes...well unless there's a security guard nearby to pick up every fallen fruit.

Okay, take a deep breath. Don't be bitter. Bitter isn't healthy...deep breath...

Moving on...isn't this a lovely vignette?

I do love Bougainvillea.

Aha! Finally.

We're at the desert garden, the garden you can't ever walk into, but rather look at from above. I've seen oh so many photos of this, but seeing it in person is so much better.

It is a little difficult to get a true sense of the scale when your looking down, and out, at the plants. But they must be huge.

The rains look to have caused the weeds to sprout. I would have loved to volunteer to go out there and weed, really...

A memorable image indeed.

But there is more to see...

Aloe trees!

With a Senecio carpet.

I could have spent a lot more time photographing the architecture, but this is a garden blog after all...

Sometimes the plants become architecture...

Imagine those Echium in bloom, blue bloom, against that white wall and with a blue sky. Must be breathtaking.

I've been down there, on the 405, many a time. It's nice to finally be up here, looking down.

In case you're wondering, I did make it into a couple of the galleries. I was particularly excited to visit the "7,000-square-foot Center for Photographs in the West Pavilion" but was rather disappointed in the exhibit on display. Oh well, my visit was really all about the plants, and just like a visit a museum they were to be looked at from a distance, and not touched.

Weather Diary, April 24: Hi 54, Low 44/ Precip 1.05"

All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

33 comments:

  1. Your photos of the Desert Garden are epic. Would you believe that I *still* haven't been to the Getty Center? We tried to go once, in 1997, but in those days you had to make a reservation, and the waiting list was endless.

    The "closed for rain" sign, and your story, made me smile. Yes, rain is an adverse event to some folks.

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    1. Thanks! And I find it hard to believe you haven't been. Just don't go thinking their photo collection is going to be a highlight. They have a very small space (relatively speaking) allotted for it.

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  2. I'm channeling your frustration at not being able to go into the garden. I can still feel it months later in your post. What a stupid policy. Those Firesticks are really glowing! Thanks for sharing the pictures you did manage to take. I love Bougainvillea too. Eventually I'm going to manage to keep one alive over the winter.

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    1. I wish some of our nurseries would bring Bougainvillea up in the summer, the only times I've seen it available (and bought it) was early spring when it was still to cold to keep it happy.

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  3. Closed due to rain? Really? Sorry you didn't get to go into the garden but you still got some great shots. Those Bougainvillea covered arbors have fascinated me as well and I can't imagine being so close and yet so far. The desert garden and the whole campus are amazing.

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    1. Hoov sheds a little more light on the situation, below. Still...crazy!

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  4. I'm so sorry you couldn't visit the garden! it's the best thing about the Getty (IMHO) - their collection is just so-so (heresy for an art teacher!), and I enjoy the gardens the most. I will also recommend the Getty Villa -- a ways away in Malibu. it's wonderful. Hopefully, your next visit will be during one of our many many non-rainy times!

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    1. My brother in law works in Malibu, surely we'll make it to the Villa someday! Thanks for the recommendation.

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  5. I think you did a good job of capturing much of the gardens even if you couldn't go into them.

    I'm sure some aspects of the garden have changed, but the things I remember the most from my visit a dozen years ago or more are still there. I have some of the same shots as you took -- I should pull them up to see how things have changed.

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    1. A dozen years ago would mean pre-blog...let us know what you find!

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  6. I have only been to the original Getty so I probably should not make snarky comments but ..... Strawberry trees and mud on the paths to me speaks to the fact that this garden was designed by someone who is not a plants person. It is dazzling and yet it always looks like it is about design and color in a graphic pattern sense rather than a garden sense. Or maybe that's just me.

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    1. Nope, I am sure you'd find plenty of people who agree with you!

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  7. I seem to be useing "WOW" a lot about your posts lately. Such an amazing place, too much to comment on individual photos, just all amazing.

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  8. From what I remember they do change out the plants, particularly the Azaleas set in a labyrinth the water garden. IIRC the budget/plan called for them to be changed 4 times a year. Because azaleas, in reflective water, in LA heat = crispy azaleas. But because it is "art" and not a garden the artist doesn't care. Yeah. OK.

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  9. How crappy and stupid the rain thing.Hose the damn path off in the am if need be. As a Los Angeles native I formally apologize in behalf of my hometown. Don't they realize who you are ?

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    1. Evidently not. I guess I need to start flashing my credentials.

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  10. What a raw deal! I'm incensed on your behalf! I've heard that the garden is closed now and then (usually for mass replanting) but I've never heard of it being closed due to rain, let alone rain the previous day. Still, you got the most out of your long distance lens. Frankly, my last several visits to the Central Garden have never lived up to my (pre-blog) recollections of my earliest visits but, still, there are plants I'm sure you'd have enjoyed seeing close up. If you ever find yourself there again, call me and I'll meet you there! It's only a 45-60 minute drive, depending on traffic...

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    1. Thanks for the meet-up offer, will do! This visit was the day after you'd just driven to Hoov's, so I doubt you'd have been read to hope back in the car so soon.

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  11. Oh no! Like Kris and KS, I feel compelled to apologise - how inane that the central garden was closed, due to "mud". I am glad that you found those pots of succulents, they are one of my favorite features. I recall being told during several tours that while some plants are permanent, others get changed with the seasons. I hope you get to come back some time that the garden is open. Or you can try the Huntington next time!

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    1. Thank you Renee, I would have loved to go to the Huntington, but I was outvoted.

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  12. Well you got fabulous photos anyway.

    I think the problem is there are some stretches of DG, (decomposed granite) that rain turns into something like a mix halfway between granola and butterscotch pudding that sticks very, very well to shoes outdoors and releases itself as soon as it gets indoors and truly does make a mess. But only gardeners know what DG is, so they call it "mud".

    As Kris said, it's not quite what it was...before the bubble burst in 2008 the investments were returning a bigger budget and the ever changing plantings were wildly experimental and glorious. One spring they had these masses of sweeet-pea towers everywhere--now far less budget so they still change things constantly but the exuberance is much more modest.

    Perhaps the Huntington with the constantly changing entry garden is emulating that to an extent. It's so fun for repeat visitors.

    The big ring of azaleas in full sun always really really bug me. I think maintaining them is where a lot of the budget ends up. Dumb, dumb, dumb, Irwin!

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    1. Wow, "a mix halfway between granola and butterscotch pudding"...that is an excellent description! Yuck.

      As someone who is currently surrounded by an explosion of candy-colored puking Azaleas I say "lame!" to Mr. Irwin. There are so many more interesting things that one could highlight in SoCal...

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    2. Candy-colored puking Azaleas? Please, don't hold back!
      :)

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    3. Oh I could go on, don't tempt me!

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  13. With a sign like that, I would have been extremely tempted to find whatever tiny bit of dirt was on those pristine paths and very deliberately step in it. You got some amazing photos, anyway. I love those tree aloes with the senecio ground cover. Yikes, that shot of 405. One of the reasons I could never move to SoCal.

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    1. And just think, traffic was moving along at a good clip that day. You should have seen it the next, when it really was raining and we were on our way to the airport...

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  14. Hooray for making a family visit with something for all ages and tastes, Bronx cheer for closure of the Central Garden. Like Kris and Hoov, I agree that the early experimental love affair with great plants seems to be over. I know plantsman Jim Duggan was working with Irwin and carried on after him but don't know if Duggan is still in charge.

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    1. I am glad I got to visit, closure or no closure.

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  15. Thanks for sharing your visit to another bucket-list place for me, all clustered in LA and Pasadena. Hope to get there some day soon. I'd be torn between visiting the gardens and the gallery. I have to admit I think the museum would win on my first visit and I'd save my garden time for the Huntington.

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    1. I'm glad I didn't have to make a choice!

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  16. Sad to hear of your frustrated attempts to see the central garden, I've only been twice, the first time with the Hortisexuals. Our group found a lot to criticize about how the plants were used as products to be cycled in and out, it just seemed a rather cavalier attitude that reeked of needless expense and not great horticulture, but reflects the attitude of Irwin and not Duggan, I'm quite sure. I actually did find some features and details inspired, but some of the spatial design just seemed wrong given the site and the views. My biggest beef was the choice of Platanus, which need endless editing to maintain sufficient light at ground level. The choice to prune so endlessly just seems so...French, a la Versailles.In fact, I appreciated the classic and more contemporary landscape design of the landscape architect Meyer's work throughout the museum proper, truth be told.

    I had always thought the level of replacement plantings was not going to be sustainable, even for the Getty. If you haven't been to the Norton Simon Museum gardens in Pasadena, I'd highly recommend it as the ne plus ultra of superb plantings chosen to work with the site and climate.

    Better luck next time!

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