My wife and I and 15 yo son will be in the Santa Monica, Passadena area for 4 days just after Memorial Day. We like gardens, (not the 15 yo, he's just along for the ride, but has to go where we go). Any suggestions. We will have a car but obviously do not want to spend hours driving. Thanks. WK

Don't miss the Huntington Gardens in San Marino, right on the Pasadena line. Another hidden treasure is the Robinson Gardens in Beverly Hills ( near Santa Monica.) The gardens are open by appointment only and limited to a small number of visitors as the estate is still occupied.It is NOT open every day, so call and find out the days and times. It's really lovely and the docents who conduct the tour are quite knowledgeable. Also, in Pasadena, the Norton Simon museum had a sculpture garden. Enjoy

Bill,
Here's the Robinson Gardens tour information and phone number:

310-276-5367
Tuesday through Thursday tours are at 10o and 1o

Friday at 10o only.

Try to see it as it not only a very interesting garden , but a piece of Los Angeles history.

Bill,
I seem to be your only advisor here ( my husband is an avid gardener . I just supervise).

Try the Descanso Gardens in La Canada (near Pasadena) and the Arboreteum, also in the Pasadnea area. There is a Japanese Garden in Westwood; I think it's part of UCLA, but it's not on the campus. The University would know the time and place. If I come-up wioth anything else I'll let you know.


'

Huntington & Descanso are both great, the Huntington also has the extra treat of an art gallery & rare book collection.

The LA County Arboretum, about 10 miles east of Pasadena (Arcadia?) is also quite decent (at least it was on my last visit 6 yrs ago).

For trivia buffs, various scenes from the old TV show "Fantasy Island" ("boss - zee plane!") were filmed at the Arboretum.

The aboretum was still great during my recent visit. :

NOTE: The Huntington's summer hours (10:30-4:30) don't start the day after Memorial Day. The arboretum is just a few miles to the east, on Baldwin Ave., south of Colorado. The Huntington has a great web site:
http://www.huntington.org/
The arboretum:
http://www.aabga.org/memberpages/losangeles/

In reference to the previous post, Descanzo Gardens is at:
http://www.descanso.com/