During troubled times, what we often long for is nature, and that’s doubly true after several months of being confined in our homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, with the promise of a vaccine in the near future, one of my best recommendations for anyone visiting the Los Angeles area is the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California. We discovered this refuge just before the lockdowns began, which at least gave us the comfort of our memories.
When people are no longer isolating, this will be the place to go for long walks on easy pathways through vast, spectacular gardens that go on for 120 acres and cover six continents. Most of the species are named, so this is the perfect place for gardeners and anyone interested in learning botany. However, the most fun is just to stroll. You'll see myriad colorful plants at any time of year and enjoy the birdsongs from the trees and shrubs around you.
Some of our favorites were the Palm Garden, the Desert Garden filled with cacti and succulents, the Jungle Garden, and the Subtropical Garden. The Japanese Garden includes a traditional teahouse and moon bridge, and the Chinese Garden of Flowering Fragrance is situated on a small lake. Because it’s all outside, you can still distance yourself from others and find solace in a safe and comforting environment.
