Allen's Hummingbird on Aloe

Allens Hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin, feasting on Aloe nectar at the Huntington Botanical Gardens.

Paphiopedilum rothschildianum

Paphiopedilum rothschildianum, on display at the Huntington Botanical Gardens.  The wild species is from high upon the slopes of Mt. Kinabalu in Borneo.  Select, line-bred specimens of this orchid species may sell for thousands of dollars, and are significantly fuller in shape and larger than the original wild species.  Seed-based propagation generally reduces pressure on wild populations of orchid species, particularly as horticultural varieties are improved through selective breeding to be both easier to grow in cultivation and also typically more attractive, as select traits are reinforced through line breeding.  This particular specimen is already several generations behind current breeding trends, as can be easily seen by web searching for photos of this species.

Western Fence Lizard on Marble

Western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis. I really liked the contrast between the black lizard and the speckled marble.

Mallard on Rock

Mallard on rock, Chinese Garden, Huntington Botanical Gardens.

Cherry Blossoms in January!

The Cherry Blossoms were the earliest blossoms in the Japanese Garden at the Huntington Gardens. When the wind blew, the petals fluttered down like raindrops.

Magnolia 'Little Gem'

Magnolia hybrid, likely Magnolia 'Little Gem,' in bloom at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. I have loved Magnolias since I first saw the double rows of them in bloom along University Avenue in Palo Alto, California. Their flowers are positively huge with a stiff leathery texture contrasted by their pristine white color and plastic-like stamens. These are particularly striking with their hot pink centers.

Apparently, ancient Magnolias evolved more than 20 million years ago, before bees became a major pollinator. Thus, the Magnolia evolved to be pollinated by beetles, including the heavy, leathery segments (tepals) that prevented significant beetle damage. You may see similarly tough flower segments among water lilies which are also pollinated by beetles.

Echinofossulocactus tegelbergii

Echinofossulocactus tegelbergii, blooming in the cactus greenhouse at the Huntington Botanical Garden. Once established, these require very little water, particularly in times of extreme heat or drought.

Stuck and Slipping Fast

Nepenthes x Mixta with guest at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. Nepenthes are carnivorous pitcher vines native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. They make up for the poor nitrogen content of the local soil by trapping and digesting insects. When I shot this photo, I was initially a little annoyed by the stray rubbish that distracted from the beautiful colors of the pitcher rim. However, on closer inspection, I realized that the litter was really what appears to be a roach wing. On even closer inspection, I realized that the roach was still there, clinging for dear life wedged underneath the rim of the pitcher while attempting to avoid the slippery interior surface and the ensuing digestive death. Ironically, sometimes the imperfect pictures are the really interesting ones.

Star Magnolia: Magnolia stellata

Star Magnolia, Magnolia stellata, Huntington Botanical Gardens, California. These beauties are native to Japan. The flowers are known to vary from year to year, depending on the day and night temperatures prior to flowering. The plant forms a large shrub up to around 20 ft. in height and blooms in the late Winter or early Spring.

Huntington Conservatory

The Huntington Conservatory at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. I suspect it was designed to look like an original conservatory that had long since been removed. The conservatory has two wings and a central rotunda. The rotunda goes down about a story or two into the ground with a beautiful pool in the center filled with tropical fish and surrounded by flowering tropical vines. The sides of the recessed area have tropical flowering trees, vines and orchids. Mists rain down on regularly timed intervals and huge fans keep a gentle breeze blowing constantly. It is truly an enchanted space.

Bygone Days of Opulence

Carved Marble Bench/Chair, Huntington Botanical Gardens. I found this beautiful, carved marble bench under a large spreading tree right next to my parked car along the roadside at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. I really loved the way the sun played upon its intricately carved surface, creating deep shadows along the white, age-stained marble.

The Gardens were owned by the Huntington family who made a large fortune in the railroad business. The gardens remind me of the incredible wealth and opulence of the very rich in that era gone by. Perhaps the very rich still have immense gardens containing stunning statuary and most of us simply are not in a position to know. Perhaps.