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Lucky_Baldwins_home_L.A._Arboretum.JPG (170911 bytes) The L.A. Arboretum is located on land that once was the center of Lucky Baldwin's estate.  His home in the southern part of the Arboretum is fully furnished in the style of his era.  The stained glass windows are particularly revealing of his interests.  The coach house for his horses and carriages is nearby.  And the Santa Anita Park horse racing track, which Baldwin founded, is across the street from the Arboretum.

Lucky Baldwin's statement upon first seeing the land that became his Southern California home was reputedly: "This is paradise!"  But he didn't leave the environment as he found it.  Early photos of his home show extensive landscaping:  palms, orange trees and roses are featured prominently.  The photos were used to promote Southern California so he could sell off the thousands of acres he purchased with the fortune he made in the Comstock Mine.

Los_Angeles_Arboretum_Catawampus_sculpture.JPG (100551 bytes) Not far from the Baldwin home is the bent willow sculpture created by the famed artist Patrick Dougherty.  Click on the photo to see the size of the art work.  This house-size sculpture, built in early 2008,  is not permanent, but will be dismantled.

Today the Arboretum is home to a huge variety of trees -- some planted by Baldwin, most added later.  And, in recent years the Arboretum has expanded its mandate to become a Botanic Garden.

Australian_acacia_in_bloom.JPG (146730 bytes) In the northern part of the Arboretum is an enormous collection of Australian trees and shrubs, including eucalyptus and cabbage palms. The  acacia in this photo thrives in hot, dry climates and the colors are the national colors of Australia: yellow and green.

Adjacent to the Australian collection is the newly expanded African area which features both trees and perennials from sub-Saharan Africa.  

 

Los_Angeles_Arboretum_cactus_gardens.JPG (133278 bytes) Nearby are new cactus and succulent gardens planted in a scale for residential use -- basically demonstration plantings.


Tropical_Forest_L.A._Arboretum.JPG (232657 bytes) On a hot summer day, the Tropical Forest section is cool and refreshing.  It surrounds a natural lake that in periods of drought has been known to dry up.   Presently, the lake is full to the brim.

Visitors to the Arboretum will also find an orchid house,  demonstration patio gardens and  the old Hugo Reid adobe.  Reid owned the property before Baldwin.

Peacock_at_L._A._Arboretum.JPG (122540 bytes) Peacocks and peahens roam the Arboretum and adjacent areas at will.  And sometimes they put on a dramatic show.

To visit the Arboretum's official site for hours, fees, and events, click here.

Take these Hot Gardens online botanical garden preview tours, too:    
Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanic Garden  - near Pasadena, California
Descanso Gardens - near Pasadena 
Arlington Garden - Pasadena
Huntington Gardens Desert Garden  - near Pasadena
Getty Villa Gardens - Malibu
South Coast Botanic Garden - near Los Angeles  
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden  - Claremont, California
Tucson Public Gardens - Tucson, Arizona
Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden  - Phoenix, Arizona
Shore Acres Gardens  - Coos Bay, Oregon
Balboa Park Botanical Gardens - San Diego, California
San Luis Obispo Creek Park - San Luis Obispo, California
Japanese Garden - Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California
Tropical Garden in the Dominican Republic   

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Angels_Trumpet_Brugmansia_Balboa_Park_San_Diego_small.JPG (14530 bytes)

 

This Angel's Trumpet is one feature of the Alcazar garden in Balboa Park. Preview the new Arlington Garden's Mediterranean garden in Pasadena.  On your way to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, visit a historic restoration.

Ideas for replacing your lawn with ground cover shrubs.

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