the huntington library, art collections and botanical gardens

流芳园是最新和正在建造的中国花园,也是美国西岸很新很美的花园·小桥,流水,凉亭,太湖石,锦鲤,处处是景,Huntington 可以比美北京的恭王府气派,除了,流芳园外尚有一日本,Desert,Jungle,Rose, Palm等数个花园,另外他的主宅,图书馆,收藏品馆,管理是中国需学习的,工作人员大部分是志工也是其特色之一,另外每月第一个星期四可免费入园,但需上月一日九时上网预定,每家可预定五张,但每次几乎都是秒杀,入场券平日$20周末$23,

一座美不胜收的庭园,原本就足够一看,美轮美奂的苏州花园,又添加了许多美景,看起来更加完整了,新建的亭子和石船,倒影中真是美景连连!!!

杭亭顿图书馆，其实是一个代称，实际上是一位铁路大亨-亨利杭亭顿（Henry Huntington）的宅第，位在洛杉矶老城Pasadena，正确的位置应该说位在圣马利诺 (San Marino)，这一带的居住环境优雅清静，已经可以说是豪宅，The Huntington Library更是豪宅中的豪宅，后院还有温室花园，一座日式花园，里面的布景盖了间和式木屋，木造拱桥在一水池中，园中的小径放著石灯笼，紧邻著日式房屋旁的庭院里还设计了一座日式禅枯山水，这位富豪的生活品味还真是东西兼并，图书馆里的藏书有60多万册，已经可以成为一所大学级的图书馆了，私人收藏能达到这样的数量真是不难想像杭廷顿的财力雄厚，而且馆藏还开放藏书阅读研究申请，每年都吸引相当多的学者或学生来此阅读资料作学术研究，馆里的镇馆之宝-古腾堡圣经，世界第一本活字印刷圣经，来Pasadena时，别忘了来欣赏一下

今天我在Huntington Library。比我想象的要差。日本园虽然各种元素集中，但堆砌的痕迹太明显，得其形而失其神。中国园感觉做工不够细致，而且大部分园区仍在施工状态；几幅对联倒是不错。美术馆，我水平有限，欣赏不了。沙漠植物区倒是不错，内容极其丰富。如果以植物园论，我觉得Arboretum不比它差。

每天开放的时间很有限，中午快到12点的时候开始可以进门，4点半就清场了。非会员要交15刀门票。我运气很好，碰到一个韩国老太太，她是会员，可以免费带一个人进去。门外其实已经很Amazing了，喷泉绿地树林，还有白色的欧式建筑。基本上以植物园为主，分热带、沙漠、日本、中国、玫瑰、...大概十几个区吧，记不清楚了。植物园之间没有明显的界限，可能走着走着就从沙漠仙人掌走到森林里去了。开始的时候我把大部分时间都浪费在沙漠植物那边了，拍照拍了很久，后来才发现只是冰山一角，sigh。Japanese Garden还有天皇来访的纪念木牌；Chinese Garden有一些仿苏州园林，很像颐和园。Rose Garden的玫瑰种类很多，但是我十月去的时候很多都枯萎了……有一个很有意思的Botany Lab，在室内模拟各种气候培养植物，比如高山气候、热带雨林气候，还有解剖之后的一些植物。艺术品主要陈列在几个白色的欧式贵族宅子里面。我去的时候有点晚了，只能走马观花一下。有关于美国历史的，有欧洲中世纪的大批生活用品（可能就是宅子主人的）。还有一些科普展览，有可能是临时的。出口也就是入口，有一个展览品出售的地方。很多国内不值钱的写上一两个汉字的石头在这儿卖的很好……总结：时间一定要安排好，重点要事先有研究，否则会暴走的很累（我踢过业余联赛，但还是觉得这地方太大了） 照片随后上传，太多了btw: 这个图书馆附近的小区是富人区，可以逛街看看，没什么人，都是豪宅。走到SanMarino和Huntington Drive有个StarBucks可以休息一下

because there is so much to see. You can easily spend a whole day there. The desert garden is spectacular. There are the Japanese,Chinese, rose, herb & children's gardens and more. There is not just one museum, there are a number. The mansion has Blue Boy & Pinkie. Another has just American artists. And there are special exhibits. There has been construction there lately but it won't get in the way of your visit. I'm excited to see what they are building. Don't miss it if you are in the area.

This is as good as it gets with lovely gardens and a fabulous treasure chest of many forms of art. The collection of paintings rivals many of the best museums and it is such a treat to see so many really special works as well as magnificent porcelain and furniture. It is all beautifully displayed and such a pleasure to view. There are a couple of cafes situated around the gardens and an excellent gift shop. This is just not to be missed and the location is nearby by to gracious and exquisitely maintained gardens.

Wikipedia says the Huntington is among the wealthiest cultural institutions in the US. I didn't realize this when I went to visit and was expecting something much less amazing. it was simply awe inspiring. We went initially to view Blue Boy and Pinkie - i had no idea there were so many more lovely paintings to view. We spent hours in just two galleries. The botanical gardens were equally impressive. Each "attraction" can stand on its own. You almost need a day for the galleries and a day for the gardens. There is no way we could have seen everything in one day.There were a few places to eat spread throughout . . . but I wish I would have taken some snacks with me. Also, be prepared to walk for miles if you want to visit the various gardens.Trying to put into words the beauty of the gardens and portraits is impossible. You have to see it for yourself.

From Beverly Hills it certainly takes more then n hour to get there, but then it is certainly worth the effort on a Sunny day. We had a great walk thru the Chines and Japanese Garden, admired the exotic big Desert Garden. In the greenhouse we saw the biggest flower of the world on display : "The Corpse Flower", of which foto is enclosed hereby. We concluded this fantastic visit with English Tea in the Rose Garden Room with delicious small food of which the spoons were best. Obviously were were there very early in season no roses yet, but absolutely worthwhile to do.

For some reason, I'd never heard of the Huntington Library et al until I was planning a recent trip to LA. I was looking for other museums beyond the two Gettys and this showed up in my search. Thank goodness I clicked on it.They have Gainsborough's Blue Boy! I grew up looking at Blue Boy and Pinkie in prints. The prints were almost de rigueur for mid-century living rooms. But Blue Boy is only the tip of the iceberg. You could spend days on end discovering your way around this wonderful attraction. Unfortunately, it's only open between 12 and 4:30. Not nearly enough time and the people I was with slowed me down. If I lived in LA, I would have a season pass/membership and I would be there at least weekly. Go! Go! Go!The price of admission is 20-23 dollars according to when you go. You might think this is a little steep for a half day ticket, but I don't care what it costs, you need to see this place.I made a beeline for the Huntington Art Museum. OMG!! It may just be the most beautiful place I have ever been in my life. It was the Huntington family home, back in the day, but now it is a museum. Elegant, amazing, gorgeous, breath-taking - all of that and even more than that. It's like every decorating dream I've ever had come to life. I ADORE the decorative arts and this was decorative arts in situ! Be still my heart!! Even if I had not recognized a single painting in the place, it would have still been one of my favorite art museums EVER - and I've been to a lot of them.Then there was the room with Blue Boy and PInkie. They hang there on the wall gazing across the room at one another - and they are big, very big. Most people are surprised because the Mona Lisa is so small. This was the exact opposite, I'll be honest with you, there was a portrait of an opera singer in the same room that I thought was a more magnificent piece of art, but to stand there in the presence of those two famous paintings was almost shocking. I had to sit down. I tried to explain to my grandniece what an amazing thing she was seeing, but I could tell she thought Aunt Jane was losing it.I was there with a large group and the natives were getting restless, so we went out to see the gardens. Do not do what I did. I thought it would be easier for everyone to take it in if we just strolled by on the paved trail. Repeat!! Do not do this. The edges are lovely, but don't give even a hint of what treasures lie down the footpaths. Take your time and wander all you can.By the time I figured out I'd goofed up, the younger crowd was bored and ready to move to the next activity. Thankfully, we didn't follow them out. We let them go and started wandering the small garden paths. If I'd been amazed in the Art Museum, I was stunned by the gardens.The first we wandered into was the Japanese Gardens. Lovely, but they led to the Chinese Gardens. OMG!! I've run out of superlatives, but I doubt any could do it justice anyway. I've been to a lot of Japanese and Chinese gardens in my life, but these took the cake. It was like my Chinese Garden fantasy come alive. WOW!We tried to squeeze in as much as we could in the time left, but we didn't even scratch the surface. The Huntington House Art Museum was devoted to European Art. There's an American Art museum on the grounds also and a Special Exhibition museum too. Needless to say I didn't get there, nor did we even scratch the surface of the Library.I've also got to tell you the gift shop is a wonder. I bought my best friends a gorgeous bracelet there, but I pretty much wanted one of everything I saw. Don't pass up the shop thinking it's just another souvenir shop. It's a lot more than that.

The Huntington has one of my favorite places in the whole world....the cactus and succulent garden is way cool. Add the new and absolutely wonderful Chinese Garden and you've got a place you should not miss. And when we visited, it was only half complete, so it makes me want to come back when that's done. Don't bother with Blue Boy and Pinkie and go for the gardens. Did I mention the camellias, in bloom now, and the Japanese garden? Plan on sitting down and getting tea or eating in the middle of your visit, because the site is huge.

We became members in 2012, and keep renewing because this is a great stopover any time of year when we head to LA or locations east. We usually stop in and have lunch in the newly expanded Chinese Gardens. Do not miss their fried shrimp and teas. We were greeted with the new entrance and beautiful gift/book shop on our visit February 2015. We were a little early for the cherry blossoms, but the extensive camellia walkway by the main lawn was in full bloom mid-February. No visit is complete without a perusal of the Greene and Greene room, and the art presented in the Huntington's mansion, built to display their collection, fully planning for it to be a museum after their deaths. Blue Boy and Pinkie have become old friends, as has Lady Hamilton.The gardens are extensive, so allow a few hours to wander through the Australia, succulent, cactus, bonsai, and Japanese Gardens, just to name a few of this amazing landmark. We caught the tail end of the blooming stinky plant in the conservatory on one visit. The library collection includes a Gutenburg bible and original Audobon plates. I always find a new interesting factoid in the science room and in the temporary exhibits, which keeps us returning several times a year.

I took my three young kids here for an afternoon, and cannot wait to go back! It is absolutely spectacular. The front is a bit disconcerting, because there are massive renovations underway, but the gardens are so expansive that you don't notice or hear the heavy machinery once you walk past. We had a lovely (and not particularly overpriced) lunch at the cafe, enjoyed the self-guided audio tour through the mansion, loved the Asian gardens and learned so much at the conservatory. The children's garden is magical, too, but we didn't have nearly enough time to explore it. It is a little pricy, especially considering that the nearby Getty and Getty Villa are free, but this place has a very special magic, and if you can afford the entrance fee without hardship, it is very worth the experience. Also - the newly-renovated gift shop is spectacular. It's a beautifully curated collection of items both lovely and educational. We'll be back in LA with my mom in a couple months, and a return visit to the Huntington is at the top of our to do list!

Some of the nicest gardens in the world, featuring a great variety including desert, rose, herb, Chinese, Japanese. The quality of everything is superb. The art and furniture collection is also excellent with a emphasis on English portraiture and American. Arrive early and stay all day, have tea and lunch.

Despite the fact that it has been undergoing major construction projects for the past several years, which are disruptive, this still is one of Southern California's treasures. For an ideal experience, try to avoid the crowds on free days and weekends (when admission costs more anyway). And allow yourself plenty of time to wander -- there's a lot more to see than many visitors realize, and from Labor Day to Memorial Day, it's only open to the general public in the afternoon. Although there are several buildings displaying art and rare library materials, for most of us it's the gardens that draw us there and make the biggest impression.