Stroll Through a Japanese Garden - Huntington Library (FYI: Garden Closed for Renovations)NEW

[updated 5-5-2011: Japanese Garden Closed for Renovations]
On April 4, 2011,  the historic nine-acre Japanese Garden at The Huntington closed for a year-long renovation leading up to its centennial in spring 2012. The adjacent Zen Garden and Bonsai Court, to the south of the garden, will remain open during construction. The nearby Chinese Garden will not be affected by the closure.

Renovation plans call for a complete historical restoration of the Japanese house, repairs to the central pond system and water infrastructure, renovation of the original faux bois (false wood) ornamental trellises, improvements in accessibility, and modifications to the landscape and hardscape.

One of the highlights of the project will be the installation of a ceremonial teahouse, donated to The Huntington by the Pasadena Buddhist Temple. Built in Kyoto in the 1960s, the teahouse, called the Arbor of Pure Breeze, will be rebuilt on a picturesque ridge on the southwest side of the Japanese Garden surrounded by an authentic tea garden.  

The teahouse was the subject of a feature article in the Winter 2010 issue of Huntington Frontiers magazine, "Greater Meaning to the Whole"

The renovation is funded in part by an endowment bequest from the late Mary B. Taylor Hunt, a longtime San Marino resident who, along with members of the San Marino League, was an ardent and active supporter of the Japanese Garden for more than 50 years.  Another major estate gift, made jointly by Deane Weinberg and Michael Monroe, also supports the renovation. In addition, major grants have been made to the project by The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation and The Rose Hills Foundation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Free Garden Tours At Huntington Library
Free tours of the gardens are available with general admission or membership. Tours are offered Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday between noon and 2 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Times vary depending on volunteer availability; please check in at the Information Desk on arrival for the day's schedule of garden tours. Sorry, free tours cannot be reserved in advance. No tours available on Tuesdays and Free Days.

Japanese Gardens Page
http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary.aspx?id=512

Free Day
Admission to The Huntington is free to all visitors on the first Thursday of every month with advanced tickets. Hours on Free Day are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens are an ever-changing exhibition of color and a constant delight. Covering 120 acres, more than a dozen specialized gardens are arranged within a park-like landscape of rolling lawns.  Among the most remarkable are the Desert Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, and the Chinese garden. The camellia collection is one of the largest in the country. Other important botanical attractions include the Subtropical, Herb, Jungle, and Palm gardens.

To the north of the Scott Galleries sits the Botanical Education Center, featuring the Helen and Peter Bing Children’s Garden, the Teaching Greenhouse, and The Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Botanical Science. The Conservatory provides children and families with exhibits designed to capture the imagination, engage the senses, and teach some of the fundamentals of botany. The Children’s Garden is most suitable for kids ages 2-7; the Conservatory is designed for middle-school-age students.