HuntingtonBotanicalGardens Archives

LA’s Best Urban Adventures to Safely Explore Now

With beautiful weather on the horizon, it’s time to get out and discover new places to safely explore near Circa. Los Angeles is bustling with urban adventures, from immersive drive-thru entertainment to Instagram-worthy outdoor art installations, gorgeous gardens, and even a decadent drive-thru Fair Food festival. Did you know the LA Zoo just reopened? Many of the animals are endangered species, and support for the zoo helps to save these creatures from extinction. You might even meet a meerkat or two. Please note that many venues require tickets to be purchased in advance. Check websites for details.

Jerry Moss Plaza urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

A Quiet Scene Installation The Music Center 135 N. Grand Ave. Los Angeles 90012

The Music Center is presenting a new public screening and sound installation exhibited on LED screens at the Jerry Moss Plaza, in collaboration with non-profit radio station dublab. The screening includes more than 100 short film finalists and winning entries from A Quiet Scene, an audio-visual project created by pioneering ambient music artists and brothers Roger Eno and Brian Eno. The video project arose from a public competition by record label Deutsche Grammophon in support of the brothers’ first collaborative studio album, Mixing Colours, which was released in 2020.

Stranger Things urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience ROW DTLA 777 Alameda St. Los Angeles, CA 90021

Attention all Stranger Things fans. It’s time to travel back in time to 1985 and become a Hawkins resident – in real life. Adventure calls, so gather your friends and drive to the Starcourt Mall. Immerse yourself in the thrilling world of Stranger Things, where you will take part in a drive thru experience like no other. Unlock the story of Hawkins in this unique format as you savor some of the best moments from this Netflix series, and maybe even witness some unforeseen and unusual occurrences.

Electric Mile urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Electric Mile Santa Anita Park 285 W Huntington Dr. Arcadia, CA 91007

Explore the Insomniac Worlds on your voyage through Electric Mile, a drive thru audiovisual adventure from the minds behind Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC). Journey through seven unique worlds of Insomniac’s most iconic festivals and brands, including EDC, Beyond Wonderland, Nocturnal Wonderland, Escape, and Countdown, complete with music, lights, art, visual effects, installations, and more, in a COVID-friendly environment.

LACMA Miss Forest urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

LACMA Outdoor Installations 5905 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036

Although LACMA’s indoor galleries are closed and the museum is undergoing a major renovation, three iconic, large-scale outdoor installations – Chris Burden’s Urban Light, Michael Heizer’s Levitated Mass, and Yoshitomo Nara’s Miss Forest – are available to view. Miss Forest (LACMA Version) (2020), is Nara’s largest outdoor sculpture to date and the newest iteration in this series. Created for LACMA’s exhibition Yoshitomo Nara, the sculpture is currently installed at the southeast corner of BCAM along Wilshire Boulevard. More details HERE

LACMA Levitated Mass urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Levitated Mass by Michael Heizer

Located in LACMA’s backyard, this ginormous 340 ton chunk of a granite lies over a concrete trench that you can walk through to get a closer view, or stand under the oversized rock. The artist originally conceived of the art piece in 1969, but only recently did he find the right boulder to actualize his vision for this art installation. The boulder was found in Riverside and transported to LACMA in 2012, and has since become a “rock star” in the art world. It’s free to check during LACMA’s operating hours and is a great piece for “forced perspective” shots.

Museum of Dream Space urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Museum of Dream Space Beverly Center 8500 Beverly Blvd. #656 Los Angeles, CA 90048

Museum of Dream Space (MODS) has reopened with special safety guidelines. MODS is the first museum mainly exhibiting digital art in the United States. The design concept of MODS is inspired by art design from renowned artist Yayoi Kusama (famous for infinite rooms) and the development of digital art. The aim of MODS is to provide an immersive, magical and unique art appreciative experiences to the visitors. The uniqueness of MODS is to break the limitation of physical media, extend the art by digital technology and to provide the largest freedom of visitors experiencing the arts, which realize the physical extension of the arts.

The Huntington Library Chinese Garden urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Huntington Botanical Gardens 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108

New views await in the The Huntington’s Chinese Garden. Visitors can now explore an additional 13 acres of gardens and pavilions in the newly expanded Liu Fang Yuan, the Garden of Flowing Fragrance. In 1903 Henry E. Huntington purchased the San Marino Ranch, a working ranch with citrus groves, nut and fruit orchards, alfalfa crops, a small herd of cows, and poultry. Today, the estate is home to 16 spectacular themed gardens spread across 120 acres, including Desert Garden, Camellia & Rose Gardens, Japanese Garden, Jungle Garden, and Herb Garden. The gardens are open but galleries remain closed. All visitors including members must reserve tickets online in advance.

Lita Albuquerque Red Earth urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Lita Albuquerque Red Earth Huntington Botanical Gardens1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108

As part of its Centennial Celebration, The Huntington commissioned an art installation by Los Angeles-based artist Lita Albuquerque. Installed near the southern entrance to the Japanese Garden, Albuquerque’s Red Earth features an approximately six-by-four-foot rock slab coated with bright red pigment and surrounded by bamboo stalks affixed with copper-colored bands. The work contrasts dramatically with the cool greens of the shady bamboo grove and is intended to mark its specific location in time and space. Red Earth incorporates color and light to convey motion and stillness “because only through stillness can we discover the motion of the cosmos,” says Albuquerque.

Fair Food Fest urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Fair Food Fest Rose Bowl Drive Through 1001 Rose Bowl Dr. Pasadena, CA 91103

Fair Foodie Fest is hosting their free drive through event at the Rose Bowl Stadium every weekend through February. Customers can enjoy free admission to a safe no contact drive thru fair experience featuring all of your crave-able fair food favorites for purchase including giant turkey legs, Krispy Kreme donut cheeseburgers, roasted corn, Hawaiian teriyaki chicken pineapple bowls, taco plates, BBQ, and more. Attendees who register and claim their free car entry ticket will receive a free mini powdered sugar funnel cake (limit 1 per car, while supplies last). Free tickets are available HERE

LA Zoo urban adventures near Circa apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens 5333 Zoo Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90027

The LA Zoo is back. And lots of adorable babies were born last year, including a litter of meerkat pups, a baby gorilla, a cute condor chick, and a sweet little bighorn lamb. Come and see how these young ones are growing and thriving. Many of the animal are endangered species, and support for the zoo helps to save these creatures from extinction. Throughout the closure, the zoo continued to provide the 1,400 animals with world-class care, even without visitors and the critical revenue they provide. Advance timed-entry reservation is required for all guests including members.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: Stranger Things

Photo #2: The Music Center

Photo #3: Stranger Things

Photo #4: Electric Mile

Photo #5: LACMA

Photo #6: Levitated Mass Photo by Tom Vinetz

Photo #7: Museum of Dream Space

Photo #8: Huntington Botanical Gardens

Photo #9: Huntington Botanical Gardens

Photo #10: Fair Food Fest

Photo #11: LA Zoo

Explore Beautiful Botanical Gardens

Looking for a refreshing respite from the summer heat? The Los Angeles area is home to some of the world’s most beautiful botanical gardens, many just a short distance from Circa apartments. These foliage-filled natural retreats present a vast array of native flora and fauna, as well as spectacular species from all corners of the globe. You might just meet a peacock, commune with the koi, or even encounter a resident turtle! Some botanical gardens require advance ticket purchase – check their websites for details. Watch for visitor guidelines at all locations.

Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden near Circa apartments in downtown Los Angeles

Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden 270 Arlington Dr. Pasadena, CA 91105

The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden was created by Kinzuchi Fujii for Charles and Ellamae Storrier Stearns in 1935. Fujii designed and built Japanese landscapes across Southern California in the first half of the 20th century. The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden is his only remaining garden and the only intact example of a major Japanese-style garden created before World War II for a residence in Southern California. This pond-style stroll garden features a fifteen-foot waterfall and a formal teahouse on approximately two acres of land. The garden is considered by many to be a masterwork and it demonstrates the adaptability of Japanese culture in modern America.

Arlington Garden near Circa apartments in downtown Los Angeles

Arlington Garden 275 Arlington Dr. Pasadena, CA 91105

Pasadena’s only dedicated free public garden, Arlington Garden is a three- acre community-built Mediterranean garden in the heart of Pasadena on Caltrans-owned land. The site is leased to the City of Pasadena and entrusted by the city to Arlington Garden in Pasadena, a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation. The garden includes thousands of California-native plants such as poppies, sunflowers, cactus and succulents, orchards of orange and olive trees, and many more species. Arlington Garden is not only friendly to people and pets, but also serves as a refuge for Pasadena’s native fauna. Birds, bees and butterflies are particularly abundant and can be seen throughout the year. Arlington Garden is open every day except Tuesday. Please wear a mask and practice social distancing.

Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden near Circa apartments in downtown Los Angeles

Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden UCLA 707 Tiverton Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90095

Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden is a living museum that maintains one of the most important living botanical collections in the U.S. Over 3,000 types of plants grow in the garden and a wide range of environments are found within its borders, from the dry desert and Mediterranean sections on the eastern end to the shaded, lush interior. A stream and series of ponds run through the center of the garden, which is home to koi and turtles.

South Coast Botanic Garden near Circa apartments in downtown Los Angeles

South Coast Botanic Garden 26300 Crenshaw Blvd. Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274

Unique from the start, South Coast Botanic Garden is one of the world’s first botanical gardens to be developed as a masterpiece of creative land reclamation and environment improvement. The mission of South Coast Botanic Garden is to serve the community by providing a unique horticultural and wildlife habitat experience, and to represent a model of excellence for land reclamation and sustainability. This continuing experiment in land reclamation has drawn horticulturists from all over the world, including Prince Charles of England, to study the feasibility of similar projects. Today the garden is host to over 200,000 plants, and numerous wildlife residents, including hedgehogs and peafowl.

Exposition Park Rose Garden 701 State Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037

The Exposition Park Rose Garden is a historic 7-acre sunken garden located in Exposition Park in Los Angeles. It has been called “one of the city’s best-kept secrets” and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. You’ll discover green spaces scattered around the USC-adjacent property, but the most charming section lies in the lovely Rose Garden.

Huntington Botanical Gardens near Circa apartments in downtown Los Angeles

Huntington Botanical Gardens 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108

Huntington Botanical Gardens is offering Huntington Evening Strolls! Beat the heat of the day and enjoy a leisurely evening walk through the gardens Friday – Sunday from 4:30–7 p.m. through Labor day. Advance tickets are required. In 1903 Henry E. Huntington purchased the San Marino Ranch, a working ranch with citrus groves, nut and fruit orchards, alfalfa crops, a small herd of cows, and poultry. Today, the estate is home to 16 spectacular themed gardens spread across 120 acres, including Desert Garden, Camellia & Rose Gardens, Japanese Garden, Jungle Garden, Herb Garden and more. The Huntington has reopened most of its 130 acres of gardens, with new safety measures in place, but the galleries remain closed. All visitors, including Members must reserve tickets online in advance.

LA Arboretum near Circa apartments in downtown Los Angeles

LA Arboretum 301 N Baldwin Ave Arcadia, CA 91007

The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is a unique 127-acre botanical garden and historical site located in what was once the heart of the historic Rancho Santa Anita in the city of Arcadia. Did you know The Arboretum is also an official wildlife sanctuary? In addition to the famous peafowl, visitors will see species of resident and migratory birds, aquatic creatures, and numerous species of small reptiles and mammals. Tickets are now limited to preserve safe distancing and all indoor spaces are closed. Members are required to reserve free tickets. Non-members must buy advance tickets online to ensure entry.

Descanso Gardens near Circa apartments in downtown Los Angeles

Descanso Gardens 1418 Descanso Dr. La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

Descanso Gardens is an urban retreat of year-round natural beauty, internationally renowned botanical collections, and spectacular seasonal horticultural displays, located just 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles. The principal collections include California native plants and oak woodlands; one of the largest collections of camellias in the Western Hemisphere; a rose garden with specimens from all corners of the globe; and significant presentations of lilacs, maple trees, cherry trees and iris. Members can enter without an advance ticket, but visitors who are not members and guests not covered under a membership will need advance tickets with timed entry.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden

Photo #2: Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden

Photo #3: Arlington Garden in Pasadena

Photo #4: Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden

Photo #5: Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks

Photo #6: Huntington Botanical Gardens

Photo #7: Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden

Photo #8: Descanso Gardens

Earth Day Turns 50: Celebrate With Virtual Tours & Live Streaming

On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans made their voices heard for a healthy, sustainable world and the modern environmental movement was born. Celebrate by communing with nature online. Some of the most beautiful gardens and parks are offering virtual tours and live streaming, including Huntington Botanical Gardens, Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, and Theodore Payne Foundation. Google Earth has breathtaking virtual tours of 31 National Parks in the U.S. You can even watch live animal cams and get a glimpse of Aurora Borealis Northern Lights, all from the comfort of home.

Huntington Botanical Gardens Virtual Tours

Locate and learn about thousands of flowers, plants, and trees in over 120 acres of stunning gardens with The Huntington Botanical Gardens virtual tours. Explore the Rose Garden, Chinese Garden, Camellia Collections, Japanese Garden, Conservatory, Dinosaur Plants, Mediterranean Plants, and Children’s Tour. Each tour is chock full of gorgeous photos, detailed docent narratives, maps and site plans.

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve Live Stream

Each spring, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve comes alive with the seasonal surprises of the Mojave Desert Grassland habitat. The wildflower season generally lasts from as early as mid-February through May, with a variety of wildflowers creating a mosaic of color that changes daily. Encompassing more than 1,700 acres, poppy blooms carpet the property’s undulating hills, and the reserve has captured its peak via live camera so you can enjoy the flower show at home!

Theodore Payne Foundation Native Plant Online Garden Tour

Theodore Payne Foundation’s Native Plant Garden Tour is a two-day festival featuring tours of some of the most beautiful gardens in the greater Los Angeles area. This year the festival has gone digital! Through videos and photography, the foundation has captured the season in all its glory and uploaded the content for everyone to enjoy. Virtually visit 42 gardens, including strolls through the landscapes of private homes in Santa Monica, Del Rey, Long Beach and more.

Watch Cute Animal Cams

You don’t have to travel very far to enjoy the benefits of some animal observation. Watch giant pandas, bears, puppies, otters, jellyfish, giraffes, and other critters frolicking on animal cams from major zoos and wildlife parks. Check out these 10 live cams.

View the Aurora Borealis Northern Lights

Welcome to nature’s most amazing light show. Located at the Churchill Northern Studies Center in Churchill, Manitoba, this live cam is located directly underneath the aurora oval – one of the best places on earth to watch the aurora borealis, the spectacular atmospheric phenomenon better known as the Northern Lights. Late winter and early spring are the best times for the aurora, so be sure to stop in now.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: National Zoo, Washington DC

Photo #2: Huntington Botanical Gardens

Photo #3: Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve (Courtesy of California State Parks, 2019)

Photo #4: Theodore Payne Foundation

Photo #5: Seattle Aquarium

Photo #6: Churchill Northern Studies Center

Spring Fling! Celebrate the Season in LA

We’ve all sprung forward with Daylight Saving Time, and March 20 – the first day of Spring – is right around the corner. It’s time to get out and celebrate the season with a Spring Fling!

Take a hike and commune with the wildflowers – after all the heavy rains, Southern California is experiencing a Super Bloom! Explore downtown LA’s hidden treasures on a walking tour or bicycle adventure. Shop for fresh produce at a local farmers market. You can even spend a day of fitness working out with your pooch! You’ll always find inspiration when you live in DTLA1

Natural History Museum 900 W Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Discover L.A.’s wild side at L.A. Naturefest, a fun-filled two-day festival at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. There’s a surprising amount of nature in Los Angeles, and the more you know how to look for it, the more you’ll see. You’ll be blown away by the plants, animals, and the people devoted to protecting and studying them. Festival highlights include over 35 exhibitor booths with local organizations; hands on nature crafts and activities; free giveaways from Tree People; and seed packets from Big Green. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet live animals and talk face to face with scientists and nature experts.

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve 15101 Lancaster Rd, Lancaster, CA 93536

Thanks to the recent rains, California is experiencing a Super Bloom – a rare happening in which all the desert flowers bloom at once! Each spring, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve comes alive with the seasonal surprises of the Mojave Desert Grassland habitat. The wildflower season generally lasts from as early as mid-February through May, with a variety of wildflowers creating a mosaic of color that changes daily. Eight miles of trails through the gentle rolling hills make the park a wonderful place to hike and smell the flowers. Poppies open up in mid morning, and curl up in the late afternoon/evening or if it’s cold, so check the weather forecast before arriving. No dogs, bikes on trails, drones, or picking flowers.

Theodore Payne Foundation 10459 Tuxford St. Sun Valley, CA 91352

Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers & Native Plants is a true force for change in Southern California. While preserving the legacy of Theodore Payne – a pioneering Los Angeles nurseryman and horticulturist – their goal is to transform the region into sustainable, healthy communities. Located on 22 acres of canyon land in the northeast corner of the San Fernando Valley, the full-service native plant nursery, seed room, bookstore, art gallery, demonstration gardens, and hiking trails are open to the public year round. Friendly on-leash dogs are welcome, and there is no admission charge.

Huntington Botanical Gardens 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108

In 1903 Henry E. Huntington purchased the San Marino Ranch, a working ranch with citrus groves, nut and fruit orchards, alfalfa crops, a small herd of cows, and poultry. Today, the estate is home to 16 spectacular themed gardens spread across 120 acres, including Desert Garen, Camellia & Rose Gardens, Japanese Garden, Jungle Garden, Herb Garden and more. They also offer popular botanical programs such as 2nd Thursday Garden Talks, Garden Tours, Music in the Chinese Garden, Japanese Tea House Tours. Don’t miss the Annual Spring Plant Sale, coming up Sunday April 28.

Green Muffin Walking Tour Freehand Hotel 416 W 8th St. Los Angeles, CA 90014

Modeled after the popular European walking tours, Green Muffin Walking Tour is LA’s newest tour servicing historic downtown Los Angeles. Their mission is to provide an educated and humorous tour of downtown Los Angeles that anyone can afford (all tours are free and the guides work on a donations only basis). Green Muffin gives 5% of all their donations to aid the homeless on Skid Row and provide warm clothes and food. The tour kicks off at the Freehand Hotel lobby every weekend at 10AM and lasts approximately 90 minutes. Highlights include The Bradbury Building, Grand Central Market, Walt Disney Concert Hall and more! Look for your guide wearing a shirt with a green muffin on it. No need for reservations. They can accommodate up to 20 people per tour. Bring comfortable shoes, money for lunch, sunglasses, and a popular joke from wherever you are from.

The Crafty Pedal: A Woke Bike Shop 520 E 15th St. Los Angeles, CA 90015

The Crafty Pedal is DTLA’s only late night cycling and craft boutique. With a love for traditional craftsmanship and elegance, along with an appreciation for new and innovative modern designs, The Crafty Pedal provides the best of both worlds, integrating classic vintage charm with modern day durability, performance and comfort. By offering reclaimed high end brands, they make owning a nice bike obtainable. Every bicycle is uniquely one of a kind and custom built to your specifications. Ready to put the pedal to the metal? Check out their L.A. Bike Friendly Directory.

Puppies & Planks L.A. State Historic Park 1245 N Spring St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

National Puppy Day is March 23, 2019! To celebrate, Puppies & Planks is putting on the first ever outdoor fitness festival for humans and dogs!. Created by YouTube fitness guru Cassey Ho of Blogilates, and presented by PETCO, this outdoor event will feature a full day of fitness, pups, shopping, food, and more! Bring all your friends and fam for a fun day in the park with vendor booths, Instagram photo stations, giveaways, and lots of cute dogs. Start the day off with a 3K dog walk around LA Historic Park! General admission is free. Buy one class and get an all-access pass to all of the classes on the schedule. The first 500 people who reserve an all-access pass will receive an exclusive swag bag filled with goodies from the sponsors. Your entire ticket purchase (100%) will be donated directly to LA Animal Services and other local rescue organizations.

Historic Core Farmers Market 5th St. (between Broadway and Spring)

Historic Core Farmers Market, LA’s newest addition to the DTLA farmers market scene, is held every Sunday from 9AM – 2PM. In addition to fruits and vegetables, you’ll find farm-fresh eggs (free range and sprout-fed); breakfast and brunch items; sweet pastries and empanadas; Mediterranean dips and spreads; flowers and floral arrangements; natural homemade skin care products; and dog food and pooch products. Along with fresh local groceries, there’s a selection of prepared food and drinks including fresh juices and lemonade; coffee; tacos and breakfast burritos; pupusas, barbecue, curry, and much more!

Certified Farmers Market @Pershing Square 532 S Olive St. Los Angeles, CA 90013

Every Wednesday, Pershing Square Farmers Market, presented in partnership with Raw Inspiration, sells garden fresh fruits, vegetables, and special delicacies. Raw Inspiration’s mission is to educate children and adults on the importance of a healthy diet, especially on the importance of eating fresh fruits and vegetables daily. To accompany that mission, they have set up a program where growers can distribute their produce at neighborhood farmers markets. In and around Los Angeles, it is estimated that nearly 2,000,000 visitors enjoy Raw Inspiration’s farmers markets every year, and that number continues to increase with every new market opening.