Gardens Archives - TravelsandEscapes

Getty Center

The Getty Center in Los Angeles is a campus of the Getty Museum and other properties included in the Getty Trust. Opened in December 1997, this $1.3 billion museum and grounds encompass a permanent art collection, sculpture gardens, and collections on loan.

This Los Angeles landmark, the Getty Center’s architecture highlights both nature and culture. Modern designs coexist with stunning gardens and dramatic views of LA. Sitting on a hilltop in the Santa Monica Mountains you get views all the way to the Pacific Ocean, the San Gabriel Mountains, and streets in downtown LA.

The permanent art collection in the Getty Center includes pre-20^th century European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculpture, and decorative arts. There are also 19^th and 20^th century American, Asian, and European contemporary art. Throughout are impressive displays of modern sculpture.

World class exhibits change, featuring art from museums around the world and from Getty’s own collections.

Recently, we spent a day at the Getty Center. With four pavilions to explore, outdoor gardens to wander through, and lunch at The Restaurant it was a full day.

We boarded a computer-operated tram to ride from the street level parking to the top of the hill. Exiting the tram, the 1.2 million square feet of travertine tiles reflected the sun light in a soft glow. All 16,000 tons of this tile came from Bagni di Tivoli, Italy, just east of Rome. Impressive, tastefully accomplished, and a feeling of pure art…it was all of that.

This was the beginning of an amazing day filled with art, gardens, and beauty.

Natural light is utilized throughout the Getty Center as many exterior walls are made of glass. Not to let in too much light, a computer adjusts louvers and shades as the sun moves around. Special filters in the Pavilions prevent damage to the art.

As we made our way through all the Pavilions, there were favorite displays where we spent more time. Every gallery and every Pavilion included a feast for our eyes. When it was time for a short break, we stopped for a cup of coffee at one of the outdoor coffee stands. As we sat in the outdoor courtyard, all around us was architecture to appreciate and sculptures to enjoy. Coffee never tasted so good.

After a delicious lunch at The Restaurant, we wandered through the Central Garden, a treat in itself. It is more like an actual living work of art. Plants change with the seasons, an impressive lawn begs to be sat on, and flowers bloom in their brilliance. When we were there, late summer plants and flowers lined the walking paths and offered yet another feast for our eyes.

The Getty Center Garden is truly a place to relax and recharge. A walkway crosses a stream, the stream heads to a waterfall, and the pool at the bottom is surrounded by brilliant and fragrant plants.

More than 500 varieties of plant material are used in the landscaping at the Getty Center. We spent time wandering through it all and then made our way to the garden between the East and West Pavilions. This desert terrain garden, full of succulents, offers yet another panoramic view of LA.

Our day was complete as we headed back down the tram to the parking area. Sculptures and trees lined the railway system. Deer relaxed under the bushes. They even enjoyed the Getty Center and its beauty.

If You Go: The Getty Center is located at 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA. Admission is free to this amazing art center.

For more travel ideas check out https://travelsandescapes.net/

A Day at Denver Botanic Gardens

When we decided to visit the Denver Botanic Gardens, we did not realize it was recognized as one of the top five botanic gardens in the US.

After spending several hours there, wandering most of their 24 acres, it is easy to see why they receive that recognition. With the wide diversity of plants from all over the world, there are several gardens within the facility.

The first area we explored is Garden of the West with its regional garden areas and plants native to this area. The Bristlecone Border, one of three gardens in the Western Panoramas, is a demonstration of Colorado’s subalpine ecosystem from 10,000 feet to 11,500 feet. Gnarled bristlecone pines are accentuated by a variety of native grasses, flowers and shrubs.

In the Cactus and Succulent House, tender cacti and succulents representing 20 families are displayed in this quaint glass house. Unusual, desert-adapted old-world exotics lead into native species of North America, Central America and South America.

The Conservation Gardens area spotlights Colorado’s rare and threatened plants and their companions, primarily from the southwestern portion of the state. Featured plants often correspond with those studied in the Gardens’ Research and Conservation Department.

Receiving no supplemental irrigation, the Dryland Mesa Garden is a showcase for arid-adapted plants. The garden features cacti, agave, yuccas, trees and shrubs that are suitable for our region. Peak bloom is from mid-May to mid-June.

This western-themed garden, Dwarf Conifer Garden, highlights the subtle variations in color and texture of dwarf conifers, a category of cultivars well-suited for small spaces. These slow-growing evergreens, perhaps best viewed in winter, gain only 1-6 inches of height annually.

The Welcome Garden serves as a gateway to the Gardens, offering year-round interest while hinting at what is possible in your yard. Among its features are flowing water, a gathering space and native plants intermingling with ornamental cultivars.

Next, the Ornamental Gardens with perennial and annual favorites of gardeners. We walked through herb gardens, daylily gardens, fragrance gardens, rose gardens, romantic gardens, sensory gardens, and scripture gardens. Well tended with beautiful flowers we felt like we were in someone’s back yard garden.

Since it was hot in Denver that day, the Shady Gardens provided a welcome relief to cool down. The Birds and Bees Walk allowed us to sit and watch hummingbirds and bees dart among the blossoms. Just the spot we needed after walking on a hot day.

In the Water Gardens, an extensive waterway system meanders through the Gardens and feeds seven water gardens. Together, they display more than 450 aquatic plant species and varieties. The Gardens is a world leader in aquatic gardening and the display of aquatic plants.

The Four Towers Pool is a pond adjacent to the Science Pyramid. There is a changing array of aquatic plants including papyrus, swamp hibiscus and cannas along with hardy and tropical waterlilies. The tower fountains in this pool are the entry point for water recirculated throughout all of our waterways running west to the Gates Montane pond.

The Monet Pool was my favorite spot of all. It is the Botanic Garden’s largest water garden and features a stunning collection of aquatic plants including hardy and tropical waterlilies, Victoria waterlilies, pickerel plants, cannas, iris and more. Peak bloom occurs from June through September each year. We learned an annual Water Blossom Festival is held in early August.

Now to explore the Pyramid. The Science Exhibition Pyramid explores the ways in which the lives of Colorado’s living things are intertwined through landscapes and the finite resources we share. Interactive activities and stories allowed us to see and hopefully understand the bonds we have with nature. My favorite was a hologram of a globe showing how hurricanes, drought, and more affect different areas of our world.

Take some time next time you are in Denver and visit the Botanic Gardens. Plan to spend at least three to four hours. You may take in water or you can buy drinks and food at two cafes within the facility. At this point in time, masks were not required outdoors if you were vaccinated.

If You Go: The Denver Botanic Gardens are located at 1007 York Street, Denver, CO. The hours are 9 to 7.

For more information check out https://www.botanicgardens.org/