In mid-May we had a chance to go up to Claremont, home of the Claremont Colleges, to see John’s niece graduate from Pomona College. (Congratulations Chrysanthe!)
Claremont also happens to be home to one of the premier California native plant gardens in the state, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. With all the competition from the graduation festivities we barely made it over, but we managed to pack in one more thing to do on a busy graduation afternoon.
Here’s Part I of my photos from the trip.
The garden had an end-of-spring vibe gong on. There were flowers, but the floral orgy of late winter and early spring was past. Today the season belonged to late penstemons, wooly blue curls and various sunflowers (Encelia, Venegesia, Helianthus). And if there was a drop-dead gorgeous OMG plant it had to be the California buckeyes going at it in full force in broad daylight. They should be ashamed.
The first big gesture at the garden is the wildflower meadow. Lots of penstemon here, and a perky dose of yellow from the desert marigold.
What garden doesn’t have an issue with bugs? Here they were hosting an outdoor installation of David Rogers’ Big Bugs, some really big insects made out of natural materials.
With a visitor who’s 6 foot 9 inches tall for scale, here you can see the size of these things.
The penstemon wasn’t limited to life in the meadow. Someone with a big bag of seeds made sure any empty spaces got a sprinkling of penstemon. It makes for a gentle transition into the browns and grays of the summer native garden.
Nice shady places to sit…
Canyon sunflower.
Lots of folks visiting a native plant garden want to see how these plants can be arranged in a garden. The Cultivar Garden here showcases horticultural selections of the more garden-worthy natives. In the background is buckeye, once again, with sage in the foreground.
And a wider view of the Cultivar Garden. Who wouldn’t want to have a garden like this?
More images to follow…
That wide shot is so inviting…I want to wander that path into the picture. I love the big bug, but it brings back memories of a season of nightmares after having seen ‘Them!’ at a tender age.
I’m drawn to the woolly blue curls, first by the name, then the colour!
I made a long side trip to Rancho Santa Ana some years ago BC (before camera) and it knocked me out. Wooly blue curls were everywhere. Thanks for great photos that bring back memories.
Oh, I’ve always wanted to go there! Last year we were so close, and then we found out the Rose Parade was on the day we wanted to visit, and we went home a day early. But one day I’ll make it down there…. Great photos. Can’t wait for more.
Like TownMouse, I’ve always wanted to go there. I always get excited when I see photos from there. Someday I’ll do a trip and hit up the famous garens down there that I’ve heard so much about. That last photo is about as classic California native as you can get.
That praying mantis is remarkably realistic, other than the size. I don’t think I’d want to get too close to its claws!