If I'd only read my Huntington Library Calendar when it first arrived, I wouldn't be telling you this at the last minute: "Beginning April 4, the Japanese Garden will be closed to visitors through next spring so that renovations can begin to this much loved, 99-year-old landscape." So if you want to gaze serenely at the Japanese house, gawk at the fattest koi in the west or wander across the bridges while the koi gawk back at you, you'd better do it by April 3rd.
The garden's going to be great when they reopen it. The house will be renovated and a traditional Japanese teahouse--donated by the Pasadena Buddhist Cultural Center--will be added. I don't know what else they're going to do. The garden looks plenty gorgeous to me as it is. Maybe they'll restore the central, arched bridge to its original color of bright red. I hope they don't trim that willow.
In the intervening year we shall have to content ourselves with the other 111 acres of gardens at the Huntington: the Desert garden, the Australian garden, the Herb garden, the Chinese garden, the Shakespeare garden, the Children's garden, the Camellia garden, the Lily Ponds, the Subtropical garden, the Jungle garden, the Rose garden...how positively dreary.
15 comments:
庭はきれいです。
Will we be able to eat at the teahouse? Do you know? Alas, it is always about food with me.
私はダイビングに同意する
(he he, that didn't come out quite as I wanted).
What a shame it's closing. Why does it have to take so long? Are they employing the same contractors that are beautifying Fair Oaks Boulevard in South Pasadena?
The koi have already been caught and put in the Chinese garden lake - they'll love the extra room.
Hee hee, Bellis. That's too funny in translation.
I really need to take a trip to the Huntington Gardens one of these days.
If only a Japanese garden will do, you can always go up to Lotusland; I like theirs even better.
Oh, you witty people. I never would have thought of using Google translate to write any of the post, but it's fun to use it to read your comments.
Margaret, I don't know if there will be food at the teahouse. I hope so, but the tea room isn't far away. Though truly, the "traditional Japanese house" has always been a bit of a disappointment to me because the table is set for tea and it looks inviting, but you can't go in.
Bellis, good question. I doubt they'll employ the mini-brained, ham-handed morons who are "repairing" Fair Oaks in South Pasadena. The new teahouse has been sent to Kyoto, where it's being restored by the same family who built it. The house that's here on the grounds will be overseen by a "noted preservation architect." They don't say who's doing the gardens, but the Huntington employs their own experts.
Vanda: call me and bring your camera. I can take you for free and I get a photography lesson out of it.
Hiker: Traitor! But wow: http://www.lotusland.org/
I've never heard of Lotusland before.
I feel like a jerk for not mentioning the earthquake and ensuing trauma in the post. This renovation has nothing to do with that and has long been planned for the garden's centennial.
Such a beautiful spot and one many enjoy for quiet reflection. Your photo is wonderful!
Wow!!! Looks like a day trip to LotusLand in the future!!!
Don't worry Petrea...it will never replace the Huntington!!
This is just so WOW!
Thanks for the compliments on the photo, friends. Funny: I was thinking how they set the stage so that everyone who goes there takes this same shot!
But it's a lovely garden, and a "wow" view all the same.
Actually, I thought you'd photographed the calendar page. I've always been drawn by that unnaturally green grass. It's always such a surprise - especially in the parched days of a Californian summer.
The corner of Fair Oaks and California must have looked so much nicer when the Japanese house and gardens were there rather than Boston Market.
Bellis, as I am not a lover of chain restaurants I admit I think that corner would look better with anything on it other than Boston Market. Or nothing on it.
The renovated property will be worth waiting for!
Absolutely, PIO.
Post a Comment