Half day at L.A. Arboretum

The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a unique 127 acre historical museum and botanic garden which I haven't visited for over a long time. We saw the Arboretum’s famous peafowl everywhere. The Arboretum peafowl roaming the grounds are descendants of a pair imported  by Lucky” Baldwin from India in the 1880’s.  Males (peacocks) have a bright blue neck, but only during the mating season (Spring) do they display their long trains.  Both peacocks and the brown-colored peahens (females) can fly short distances, often roosting in trees at night.

CARNIVOROUS PLANTS GREENHOUSE. Commonly called pitcher plants, the Arboretum houses many different species. Although the often colorful pitcher may look like a flower, it is actually a leaf that has been modified into a pitfall trap. In general, the pitchers of these plants lure insects with the odor of nectar. Once inside, the insect cannot escape because of the smooth walls coated with a slippery wax. Eventually, the insect falls into the water and its struggles to escape stimulate the release an enzyme that will digest the insect. The plant is then able to absorb the nutrients and distribute them to other parts of the plant.

TROPICAL GREENHOUSE. As we entered the warm, humid Tropical Greenhouse we saw orchids and other tropical plants in a jungle-like setting. The orchid collection contains over 1,700 species making it one of the largest species collections of orchids in the world. If you look closely at one of the orchids and you will notice a colored or spotted "lip" which tells pollinators where to enter. We saw one vanilla orchid.  The fruit (vanilla bean) is an elongate, seed pod about 5-10 inches long. We were told about 8-9 months after flowering, the pod turns black and gives off a strong aroma. Do you know that the orange bird of paradise is the official flower of the city of Los Angeles? And don't be mixed up with the much taller giant bird of paradise (not a banana tree).

THE AUSTRALIAN SECTION.  As we entered the 19 acre Australian section is characteristic of Australian Chaparral,  This section is also home to many species of Eucalyptus bottlebrush. We strolled along The Rainbow Dream Snake path which is an interpretation of the Aboriginal creation story, and was designed to incorporate children’s mosaic tiles and art work.

THE MADAGASCAR SPINY FOREST. Eighty percent of the plants found in Madagascar are found nowhere else in the world. The plants in this section have special adaptations that allow them to live in a harsh, drought-prone environment. These adaptations include extended root systems that take in water from a wide area, trunks and branches that are able to store water, as well as spines to protect it from water-seeking animals, small leaves or no leaves, and waxy or hairy coverings that prevent water loss.

SOUTH AFRICAN SECTION. There is a large collection of Aloes and other succulents. There are over 250 species of Aloes in the world, mostly native to Africa. Although most Aloes have some medicinal or commercial value, the most commonly known is the Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera). Aloe flower nectar is a favorite of hummingbirds!

TROPICAL FOREST. A few redwoods and cypresses are seen here. We also spotted the world’s fastest growing plant: bamboo. Even though bamboo grows very tall and may have a very hard stem, it is actually a grass and not a tree. By the Baldwin lake, we saw mallard ducks, coots, Canada geese, and living in the pond, carp, and several species of turtles.

THE TULE POND. Tule Pond was named for the tule (giant sedge) growing along its banks.  These were used by the Tonga people for construction of their thatched homes.

THE MEYBERG WATERFALL. Listen to the water tumbling over the rocks below.  Every hour 48,000 gallons of water cascade over the falls into the pool where it is recycled to the top of the falls. The steps to the right of the waterfall lead to Tallac Knoll. We were told from there you will find some of the most spectacular views of the Arboretum and the San Gabriel mountains. I'll definitely do it next time.

HERB GARDEN. The herb garden is laid out in many sections, including medicinal plants, plants for cooking, and dyes. By the way, we did find the fossil fish imbedded in the pavement.

Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin (April 3, 1828 – March 1, 1909) was a prominent California businessman and investor. Having generated most of his wealth through both savvy and lucky mining investments (for which he received his nickname), Baldwin accumulated large landholdings of 63,000 acres in southern California, where the communities of Arcadia and Monrovia are now located.

QUEEN ANNE COTTAGE. Lucky Baldwin's Queen Anne Cottage was built in 1885-86 as a honeymoon gift for his fourth wife, 16-year-old Lillie Bennett. This marriage did not last and it was soon converted by Baldwin into a memorial to his third wife, Jennie Dexter, who had died in 1881.  Cooking, dining facilities, and Baldwin's personal quarters were located in a modernized eight-room version of the old adobe house found on the property at the time of purchase (1875).

TONGVA HOMES. The earliest known  residents of what is now The Arboretum were the Native American group known as the Tongva. The Tongva slept in brush shelters such as these, constructed of willow poles and thatched with layers of tule reeds.

HUGO REID ADOBE. Hugo Reid, a Scottish  adventurer and  naturalized Mexican citizen,  was the first private owner of the 13,319 acre Rancho  Santa Anita. Most of the cooking for the Reid family was done in the outdoor courtyard  at the adobe stove and  oven. Much  of what is known  today about the Tongva people is because of Hugo Reid’s writings. However, the adobe and its courtyard are currently undergoing renovation.

THE DEPOT. This train depot was originally located on today’s Colorado Blvd. near Baldwin Ave. (the site of the present 210 Freeway). It was moved to The Arboretum in 1968 in a “Save the Depot” effort spearheaded by the local Arcadia businesses and residents. The depot, built in 1890 to serve Rancho Santa Anita and the nearby community of Sierra Madre was an active passenger and freight depot for 50 years.


The depot, costing an estimated $5000 to build, was described by a local newspaper in 1890 as "an elaborate two-story depot built with one hundred thousand bricks from the nearby Lucky Baldwin brick yard".

THE CYCADS AND THE TYRANNASAURUS REX. Interestingly enough, cycads were some of the first plants to develop adaptations to protect themselves from large herbivores (dinosaurs). These defense mechanisms include tough spiny leaves and toxins within the body of the plant.

Today, these slow growing cycads persist looking much like they did when the dinosaurs roamed. Although cycads are protected by international law, many species are considered rare and endangered.

On the way back, we saw Chorisia (Floss Silk Tree) which should have pink or white flowers and the content inside the pods are like cotton, to be used by Tongva people for insulation purpose.

Thanks to the wonderful docent Melinda who gave two of us a very personal and informative tour around the whole garden. It's really worth the visit.