Monday, June 22, 2020

Let’s drop by the Huntington

Back on December 21st, 2019, I spent the day at the Huntington Gardens in San Marino, California. I visited solo, so I was free to take as long as I wanted, wherever I wanted. Several times I just sat still and soaked up the sun and the feeling of being there, reflecting on the outstanding year that had come before.

My blog post for New Year's Eve 2019/20 was titled An amazing year draws to a close... and I recounted all the wonderful places I traveled during 2019. I ended that post with: "What will 2020 hold? Well it's gonna take a lot to beat 2019... but I can't wait to find out!"... oh honey, if you only knew!

2020—it's not what any of us thought it was going to be, is it?

As a blogger, there's another change I'm coming to terms with—recently Google completely overhauled their blogging platform. Things that used to be second nature now require thought and work-arounds. The only people who seem to have benefited from the changes are those who blog on mobile devices and rarely upload more than a couple of photos. For those who publish photo heavy posts, these changes are problematic.

I have hundreds of photos to share from my visit to the Huntington. Usually I'd write five or six posts, each with with upwards of 45 so photos, and call it good. But that's not happening anytime soon, at least not until I figure out the quirks of this new system. So I'm starting a new series "Let's drop by the Huntington"...it's gonna take awhile, but I'll eventually share all the photos I want, and maybe it will feel a little like I live nearby and can drop by weekly—a dream of mine. Plus it will be a challenge to comb through my photos and find the smaller stories, short bursts of Huntington magic. At least that's what I'm telling myself. Sound good? Here we go!

Today we're exploring the new entrance, what you see outside (photos above) and what you see just inside the gate, photos below. My last visit here was in 2014, back then they'd started construction on the new entrance and the "California Garden" but it was all torn up and behind construction walls.

According to the plaque there at the end of the rill this is the "Celebration Garden"...

During my short time watching I observed several people walk out onto those three steps in the center of the rill to have their photos taken. Yes, and there are signs asking people to stay out.

The California Garden is just off to the right... "Landscaped with nearly 50,000 California natives and dry-climate plants, covering 6.5 acres, the...California Garden reflects the local Mediterranean climate as well as the agricultural and elegant estate history of the 207-acre Huntington grounds."

Wide open spaces punctuated with agaves, what's not to love?

There were aloes too, and that extremely picturesque eucalyptus—at least that's what I think it is. (*update, it is! Eucalyptus rhodantha*)

And more euphorbia than I've ever seen in a single spot.

Did I mention agaves?

I'll admit, it kind of drove me a little crazy that I couldn't get out there and look at that eucalyptus up close...

Weather Diary, June 21: Hi 76, Low 59/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2020 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

21 comments:

  1. Lady, you said it! I switched to the new blogger. The page looked all right. But then I tried to add a new post. It was so difficult I gave up. I hate icons. Why don't they just say "save"? instead of something I don't know what it is? And try to add pictures? Forget it! One by one, no way. Thank goodness I found the button to go back to the old style. It will be a long time before I attempt another post. Good thing you have these Huntington photos. I roamed the Huntington in December for many years doing Audubon Christmas bird counts. Best birds were always in the Desert Garden, good thing, too, they've left that pretty much alone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have figured out I can add a chunk of photos at one time, but it takes forever. And I agree about the icons! I am mostly working in the new style, because it becomes permanent sometime next month and I need to figure it out, but it is a relief to be able to switch back to the old style now and then when it just becomes too frustrating.

      Delete
  2. That Eucalyptus if that's what it is, has charisma. The nearest thing i've seen is Acacia podalyriifolia. Also, I do enjoy a good rill.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is just something about a rill...

      Also I got ID over on Facebook, it's Eucalyptus rhodantha.

      Delete
  3. The Huntington is one of the best gardens I have ever seen. The entrance is most impressive! Their collection, divided into sections, wends so well from one area to the next. Even their restaurants are good, ha!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Funny I actually had lunch there and it was good! The first time in all my times of visiting that I took a break and ate.

      Delete
  4. High on my bucket list to visit but not this year unfortunately. Will enjoy visiting through your eyes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Next year! (or whenever we can get back to normal...)

      Delete
  5. Great views of The Huntington's entrance area. I can't recall seeing that Eucalyptus but then it may be a year or more since I've been there. I haven't tried the new blogger platform from the perspective of creating a new post - yikes!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good luck. I'm starting to figure out a few ways of working with it and they seem to be fixing bugs too, which is helpful.

      Delete
  6. I have always wanted to see this garden. Maybe one day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Be sure to allow the entire day... there is so much to see.

      Delete
  7. Those pots by that rill are outstanding!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've only been there once, but what a fabulous place. Typepad is making me so crazy lately that I have thought maybe it's time to stop blogging. Frustrating to have problems not of our making.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seriously, especially now when everything seems fraught with complexity and danger.

      Delete
  9. I am so sorry the blogging platform "upgraded", and understand how frustration it can be. Our technology is constantly "improving"... I was worried you'll announce the end of his blog and SO relived that you didn't. Good for you (and for all your readers) that you are willing to learn the new system. That orange-blooming agave, the entire bloom spike is covered. Yowza!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks chavliness, I can't stop now, it's my lifeline in this crazy pandemic!

      Delete
  10. Good to know it's Eucalyptus rhodantha. I'd always thought it was E. macrocarpa. The two are closely related, but apparently rhodantha is more compact, with shorter leaves and smaller flowers and fruit.

    I think I've figured out the behavior of the new platform. When you upload images from your computer (especially a large number), it takes a while for them to show up in your post. Instead of a progress indicator (wouldn't that be nice!), Blogger shows NOTHING, leading you to believe something went wrong. However, the images *will* eventually appear in your post. It just takes a good while, depending on the number of images.

    ReplyDelete
  11. It's like there's a plot against blogs! JK, sort of...That's the euc I thought was a Leucadendron argenteum so good to know the ID. I remember you were having camera troubles too in December. Sometimes the tech troubles really pile up. Hope it gets easier!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!