The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens was originally the estate of railroad magnate and land developer Henry E. Huntington. https://www.huntington.org/ Part of the site was a working ranch; the gardens were started in 1904 and several themed areas were developed until Huntington’s death in 1927. The original 600-acre site is now 207 acres (84 ha). Additional gardens were added beginning in the 1960s, including the 5-acre (2 ha) Australian Garden, which was planted in the 1940s as a test plot for Eucalyptus for ornamental use. The trees were later thinned and an understory of Australian shrubs was added and the garden was opened to the public in 1960.
Despite Southern California being one of the world’s five mediterranean climate regions (winter rain, summer hot and dry), the wonderful plants of Australia’s southwest grow poorly in California’s heavy alkaline soils☹. Kathy will show photos of the large range of Australian plants grown at the Huntington – be prepared for some surprises and dazzlers!