The “Art” of Gardening Shines at LA Arboretum & Botanic Garden in California

It’s wonderful to see so many different plants which thrive in the dry West Coast climate of California. Photos by Doug Oster Trib Total Media

There’s nothing better than combining art and gardens. The LA County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is wonderful place with a great vibe.

Bluebird skies and warm, California sunshine welcomed me to the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden. A fascinating landscape which pairs eclectic art with mature plantings.

In the shadow or the San Gabriel Mountains, the garden is the antithesis of the lush spaces we’re used to in the east. Plants here have survived and in some cases thrived through years of drought.

Different though can be wonderful. There are plants here I’ve never seen before, others are huge specimens of familiar species.

Tall banana trees with thick trunks greet visitors to the Prehistoric Forest where some of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby’s “Road” movies were filmed.

The Queen Anne Cottage was used in the 1970’s television show Fantasy Island.

The Queen Anne Cottage was used in Fantasy Island.

For me though, it was the combination of intriguing art, some of it almost hidden among the plants, that make this garden so special.

A metal sculpture seems like it should be heading for space in a 50’s Sci-Fi flick, but isn’t out of place here. There’s a cool vibe which permeates through the whole garden. A giant bedazzled blue skull stops you in your tracks and put a smile on my face, taking center stage from the flowers blooming in the back of the border. But that’s OK, in other areas the art bows to the beauty of the plants.

Ready for takeoff commander. “Plan 9 From Outer Space” might have found this useful as a prop, and that’s a good thing. Having fun in the garden with cool pieces of art adds something special.

I love it when gardens take chances and display works of art. Not everyone loves it, but that’s the point. Not everyone has to.

It always comes back to good gardening though and a perfect example is the placement of a brugmansia tree, it’s creamy white trumpets hang in front of the Meyberg Waterfall. The flowers sway in a slight breeze created by the powerful flow of water splashing on a rock wall.

The Meyberg Waterfall is the background for hanging brugmansia flowers.

Pretty pink anemone dance in the perennial garden and plumes of ornamental grasses soak up the bright sun.

Anemone (windflower) dance in a gentle breeze.

Ornamental grasses make a bold statement along the main path of the garden.

Every garden has  lessons to teach for those who want to learn. This one was no exception.