The Huntington Gardens (after 5 years away): visiting Australia and the Jungle

Prior to my November 2024 visit to the Huntington Gardens it had been five years since I'd been there, December of 2019. During that pre-COVID trip I remember thinking back on what an incredible year it had been, and looking forward to the adventures 2020 held. Little did I know. 

If you haven't been, this is the area between the parking lot and the entrance...

And this is the entrance proper.

To your right is an open grass prairie—is it really? I don't know, but that's how I think of it— with large agaves, aloes and other plants.

A callistemon hedge borders the entrance walkway.

The entrance pathway leads you down into the Desert Garden, which is of course my primary interest at the Huntington. 

I took many photos there, and will share them soon, but today I want to jump ahead to the Jungle Garden and the Australian Garden. This palm with a jungle cactus (epiphyllum species) climbing it's trunk is a fitting place to start...

Try not to focus on the stupid human carvings on the bamboo but rather the size of the culms and the decorative sheaths.

Unfortunately most of the Jungle Garden was closed for construction during our visit, but this small piece of the pond was still open.

Platycerium grande hanging on the restroom building.

Over in the Australian Garden the grevillea were blooming their hearts out. 

I know this one is Grevillea 'Peaches and Cream'...

I think this is G. 'Moonlight'...

And this one was labeled as G. 'King's Fire'...

Eucalyptus macrocarpa

A nice sized staghorn I spotted on my trek up and out of the Australian Garden.

These last few images were taken back near the entrance, later, as I was leaving the garden for the day.

I'm not a big fan of Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, but I rather like them when they're blooming.

The first photo I shared of the "meadow" was taken just before noon, these last two around 4pm.

It was an excellent day at the Huntington! On Wednesday I'll share photos of the cycad garden (which is much more than just cycads).

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