Several intrepid Culver City Art Group members braved the heat and smoke on Sunday, August 29 to meet at the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in Pasadena. The last time our group descended on the Huntington five years ago it was a stinking hot day around 105 degrees. So, being gluttons for punishment, we ended up picking a similar day. Added to the heat was the smoke from the adjacent Station fire that ate up 150,000 acres of the Los Angeles area. But soaking in the beauty of the gardens, we hardly noticed what was going on just next door. As an artist, or any kind of creative person, if you can't find inspiration in this place, you just aren't going to find it anywhere!
First we roamed around the gardens with the intention of hitting the galleries later on as the heat intensified. The Botanical Gardens contain more than 14,000 different kinds of plants in more than a dozen themed garden areas. We spent a good amount of time in the Desert Garden and Conservatory reveling in the gorgeous cactus and succulent varieties. Many years ago when I had a house my pride and joy was my cactus/succulent garden. As the sun and heat devastates any kind of flowering plant on my front balcony, perhaps it’s time to grow a mini succulent garden in pots—worth a try! I will report back. 
We visited the peaceful lily ponds and the stunning Japanese Garden where I enjoyed a welcome cooling Silver Jasmine iced tea. By now the plume cloud of smoke hanging over the next ridge of mountains was unavoidable. Magnificent in its own way, of course it was bringing heartbreak and destruction on its wings. It‘s impossible to do justice to the Huntington in one afternoon, but on this trip we visited areas we had not seen on our last excursion. And there is still more to see. We ended the afternoon in the new (to me anyway) Scott Galleries of American Art from the Colonial Period through mid 20th century—not quite my cup of tea. Then the refurbished (since our last visit) main Huntington Gallery (which was the residence) housing Gainsborough’s Blue Boy. The heat by then had penetrated our bones, and we were ready to leave.
On the way out I had to stop for a quick sprint around the exhibit on Samuel Johnson in Library Hall. As one of my favorite historical English characters I’m always interested to learn a little more about him. Some wonderful books, manuscripts, and paintings tell his story—I was happy I didn’t miss that.
As there are so many places to go and so many places to see in our Southern California playground, perhaps it will be another five years before we delight in the Huntington again. If it is, so be it, but I hope not!
(Photos copyright roslyn m wilkins)
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