Guide to the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden
Located in the city of Arcadia awaits a day full of outdoor adventure and fun-The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is 127 acres of over 12,000 different types of gorgeous plants. Perfect for visiting by botanists and day trippers alike-the Arboretum is casual and relaxed and full of natural beauty.
The Arboretum is open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm (last admission at 4:30pm). Admission: Adults: $8.00 Students and Seniors: $6.00 Children 5-12: $3.00 Children under 5 and members: Free. Admission is free the third Tuesday of every month. No credit card payments are accepted at the Arboretum at this time. There is plenty of free parking. Make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes!
History
Three thousand years ago, the site of The Los Angeles Arboretum was known as Aleupkigna, "the place of many waters." With the arrival of the Spanish, the land and the natives of the area were out posted to Mission San Gabriel. The modern history of The Arboretum began in 1875 when Elias Baldwin purchased the grounds. The Los Angeles Arboretum opened to the public for tours on January 9th 1955 albeit originally only on Sundays. Located on the Arboretum land are several historical structures including Queen Anne's Cottage (1885), Hugo Reide Adobe (1840), Santa Anita Depot (1890) and more.
Lay of the land
The majority of the over 12,000 plants at the Arboretum are organized in large geographical named gardens; such as the Americas, Asia, Africa and Australia over 127 acres. There are many wonderful smaller pockets of gardens as well; such as the garden for all seasons, Organic Vegetable Garden and herbs of the world. The Arboretum is the perfect place to wander at your leisure for the day and soak in a day's worth of sun. Make sure to pick up a map from the information desk.
Peacocks
Besides the natural beauty of The Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, the resident Peacocks of The Arboretum are a sight to behold. The peacocks were originally brought to the Arboretum grounds by Elias Baldwin in the early 20th century. They hang out generally near the entrance of the Arboretum by the aptly named "Peacock Café."
The "must sees"
Although every plant is a sight to behold inside The Arboretum and although walking the entire 127 acres of grounds is well worth your time. However, let us say you don't have much time and you're interested in seeing what you can in under an hour. The Meyberg Waterfall-a gorgeous spot for picture taking and picnic lunching. The view from atop the Meyberg Waterfall-take the hike up to the top and see Los Angeles from above, it is gorgeous. You'll also see the most gorgeous lily pond above the Meyberg Waterfall. Don't forget to stop at the Prehistoric Forest and Baldwin Lake-both pretty spots where lots of movies have been filmed, including Tarzan.
Tours and Classes
Thiry-minute Tram tours are available at $4.00 a person on Saturdays and Sundays at 12, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. "Plant Nerd" tours, School tours and Walking tours are also available. Check the website for more details. There is also a bounty of classes to be taken at The Arboretum from Children's classes to Yoga.
Desiree Eaglin loves exploring all that Southern California has to offer with her two children. She blogs at Sarcastic, Funny and Brutally Honest. You can find her on Twitter too.
