Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Hugo Reid Adobe

I think it'd be nice to mosey across this porch and have a sit-down after a long day's ride. I'd kick the dust from my boots, politely ask the lady of the house for a glass of iced tea and drink it under the wisteria.

When this adobe was built in 1839, the lady might not have had ice. Then again she might have, because that particular lady, Victoria Bartolomea Reid, was pretty well off, seeing as she and her husband owned the 13,319-acre Rancho Santa Anita.

Right now the Hugo Reid Adobe is closed so you can't poke around inside, but you can mosey across the porch. The house is one of several historic buildings on the property of the Los Angeles County Arboretum, which totals 127 acres. Doesn't sound like much compared to the whole Rancho, but believe me, it's plenty good for a day's mosey.

12 comments:

Destitute Rebel said...

seems like a wonderful place, must have been lovely when people were actually living in it, great photo.

claire said...

i love the coloring and texture of the wood. i'm a sucker for that kind of thing

Katie said...

I'll join you on the porch for a lemonade under the wisteria Petrea! Another place I must visit when I next venture down to LA. Cool photo, and now I want to go read more about the Hugo Reid Adobe. Thanks for also including all the info!

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, DR. This kind of building makes me nostalgic for times I didn't live in.

Claire, I'm a sucker for this stuff, too! Some of this wood has been there since 1839. Amazing.

Katie, glad you like the info. I like the keep the post short, but link to things in case people want to know more.

freefalling said...

Have you seen the red spikey (spiky?) plant on the Arboretum website?
It's awesome!

Petrea Burchard said...

Ararat, that's one big website. I saw some lovely purple stuff, and some magenta, and green and yellow and red, but I couldn't find red spiky. Can you be more specific?

Anonymous said...

Ararat- If you're talking about the picture next to the section about the library, that's an aloe in bloom. Unfortunately I don't know the particular species. They bloom here in the winter time, with yellow or orange flowers arranged in spikes or whorls. :-)

freefalling said...

On the front page - little photo.
Link to the library.

freefalling said...

oh - I just saw Elizabeth's comment.
I've seen aloes at the market but they didn't have any flowers - I think they would look superb in my garden - I'll have to give one a go!

Petrea Burchard said...

Ah yes, thanks, Elizabeth. Testament to my theory that Dr. Seuss got his caricature inspiration from southern California plant life.

USelaine said...

For three years of my childhood (in the sixties!) we lived not far from here, near the Temple City Methodist church. We would come here several times a year, and play hide and seek, or have jungle fantasies in the bamboo "forest", with the peacocks calling in the near distance. Nice photo and information. I was too young to appreciate the history.

Petrea Burchard said...

Hi uselaine,
You'll be glad to know the peacocks still call. An oddly mournful sound they make--or maybe it's petulant.