the huntington desert garden

A big garden with tons of species to see. Definitely worth a visit if you are visiting the Huntington. It is lively and blooming this time of year. Clear paths, a lot of turns , I got somewhat lost but overall very nice garden. I enjoyed it.

The variety of plants within this garden is amazing. The way the paths flow from one large bed to another is lovely -- definitely a highlight of the Huntington Gardens.

There are some amazing specimens in this collection. Unless you are a desert plant expert, you'll undoubtedly see plants you've never seen before. Many are in mass plantings that provide a field of color and texture. Bring a camera!

We went to check this beautiful desert collection they got and it sure is nice to discover and see the big selection they got .. Must see

If you like gardens, you'll love this. I could spend all day walking the grounds. They do a spectacular job maintaining and planning the gardens. Different times of year boast different displays so it's worth going back MANY times.

As a gardener and garden writer, I travel the globe visiting gardens. The Huntington Desert Garden comprises the most spectacular display of cacti and succulents in 60 different beds that I’ve ever witnessed. With the lack of water a major issue for California gardeners, examining these 5000 species of drought resistant specimens is a lesson in water conservation combined with beauty. 5 STARS

There are many other gardens to visit at The Huntington but make sure you don't miss the Desert Garden. Surprisingly compelling once you start to walk done one of the paths. The diversity of cacti and other succulents will keep you looking for more. If you are lucky enough to be there when the cacti are flowering you will be treated to spectacular colors arrayed among the spiny plants. The Huntington charges an entry fee of $20 for an adult (seniors get a better rate) but parking is free and the cost of admission is worth taking in all the natural and man-made beauty at this destination.

Took some friends from Oregon here in February who could not believe the color and blooms at that time of year when they were still under months of grey. Amazing collection of succulents and cactus.

We always enjoy visiting the desert gardens at Huntington Library. It has a wide variety of desert plants and well worth several hours by itself.If one wants to see the desert gardens in particular, do it first. There is so much to see at Huntington Library and given their hours, we love to see them but always end up here at the end of the visit day and thus have to "rush" through a bit to see this spectacular desert garden at the Huntington Library.There is an admission fee to see Huntington Library - but once paid for - the desert gardens are included in the price.

The Huntington Desert Garden is just a small part of the Huntington Library grounds. $20 admission for adults weekdays ($23 w/end), $15 seniors ($18 w/end), $12 students ($13 w/ends). Parking is easy & it's free (at least is now). You need a full day to explore. Similar to the Getty museum and/or Getty Villa in its setup. What's there: Gardens (Botanical, Australian, Children's, Chinese, Conservatory, Desert, Herb, Japanese, Jungle, Lily ponds, Palm, Rose, Shakespeare, Subtropical), Art (American, European & changing exhibitions), Library Exhibition Hall, outdoor sculptures. There's restrooms and cafe there - reasonable priced ($8 for a nice salad with salmon, $4 for fruit cup & cooked panini to name a few). Current exhibitions that were on today (July 24 2014): History of Science Exhibition. Take water, sunscreen & hat - lots of open spaces & it's located in a generally warm spot of LA. Be prepared for lots of walking - pretty flat, easy, though. I could go back there on a yearly basis, as there is so much I could spend more time looking at & exploring.

I’ve always been drawn to cacti and succulents, and had little pots of them lined up on my window sill when I was a kid. So, it’s not surprise that the area of any botanic garden that contains these desert plants will be my favorite. That’s the case at The Huntington, where the Desert Garden is my favorite area to explore.I think the Desert Garden is the largest single garden at The Huntington. There’s plenty to enjoy by walking along the main path that takes you around the park, but there are also many smaller pathways for you to explore. The variety and sheer number of cacti and succulents you’ll see is amazing, and with every visit you’ll see things you didn’t notice before.

This world class collection of desert plants and succulents will amaze at every turn of your walkway. The easy way to view is to take the free docent guided tour of the Huntington Library gardens and the guide will point out the important plants. Interesting is that the red rocks placed around the cactus and other plants was brought in by Mr. Huntington, a railroad magnate. He simply had trains of railroad flat cars loaded up in Arizona and shipped to the facilty's delivery spur track (he had constructed) for transloading to the grounds.

I just love this place. Every time I visit this area, I have to stop by the Huntington Library. Every time, there is something wondrous for me to see. This time it was the blooming cacti! I could not believe all the different flowers cacti had! The humming birds and bees were having a ball! There were all different sizes and shapes of flowers to see. I was truly amazed at the beauty the desert had to offer. We also visited the Chinese and Japanese gardens which had their own beauty in January. A must see for the whole family. Make sure you bring your cameras because there are lots of great pictures waiting to be taken!!

The overall Huntington Library and Gardens are amazing. And the Desert Garden is the cherry on top. It's a stunning collection of cacti and succulents that would be worth visiting on it's own but is all the more amazing when you consider it's just one of several incredible gardens you can visit while at the Huntington. While technically in tiny San Marino, please know that the Huntington is at the south end of Pasadena and under 10 miles from downtown LA.Don't miss it!

Be sure to visit this Garden, even if you are very familiar with the desert. This has a huge selection of desert flora and will be interesting and different every season.