Los Angeles County Arboretum

The story

Tucked into the hills near the San Gabriel Mountains, the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden spreads across 127 acres in Arcadia.^2,4 It is an arboretum, a botanical garden, and a historical site all at once, set in what was the heart of the historic Rancho Santa Anita.^2,4

Springs and ponds here once drew waterfowl, other animals, and Native Americans to a year-round source of water.⁴ Baldwin Lake is the one pond that remains, and ducks and Canada geese are regular company there.⁴

History

The land sits on a surviving portion of Rancho Santa Anita, which was one of Southern California's Mexican land grants.⁴ Unusually, the rancho lay above a large part of the Raymond Basin aquifer.⁴ Hugo Reid and Victoria, the Tongva woman he had wed, received the grant in 1839.⁴ Reid built an adobe home by the lake that year, and it is now a California Historic Landmark.⁴

Ownership passed through a series of hands before Elias Jackson Baldwin, known as Lucky, bought Rancho Santa Anita in 1875 and built its buildings and grounds.⁴ Baldwin started a winery and also ran a private water company and a brick works.⁴ A rail partnership meant passengers could arrive from Los Angeles and other places.⁴ In 1879 he brought three pairs of peafowl to his ranch, which Wikipedia describes as the first reported introduction of the birds into the continental United States.⁴

The arboretum itself began in 1947, when California and Los Angeles jointly purchased 111 acres around the Baldwin site.⁴ A greenhouse was up by 1949, and the initial 1,000 trees went into the ground in 1951.⁴ The garden opened to the public in 1956.⁴ Construction and renovation of its greenhouses and gardens continue to this day.⁴

What to see and do

Come for the gardens, the lake, and the historic buildings, and give yourself room to wander.^1,2,4

• Baldwin Lake

  The lake surrounding the Queen Anne Cottage is a major attraction, with ducks and Canada geese found there regularly.⁴

• Peafowl

  A flock of peafowl descends from the birds Baldwin imported from India, and the peafowl is a symbol of the city of Arcadia.⁴

• Plant collections

  The collection is arranged by region of origin, with dedicated gardens showcasing flora from South America, the Mediterranean, South Africa, Australia, and Asia and North America.⁴

• Specialty gardens

  Displays include the Aquatic Garden, Meadowbrook, the Garden for All Seasons, the Prehistoric and Jungle Garden, Native Oaks, an Herb Garden, and a palm and bamboo collection.⁴

• Santa Anita Depot

  This Santa Fe Railway depot, built in 1890, was moved here in 1970 and is furnished with railroad memorabilia.⁴

• Tours and trams

  The Arboretum lists tours and trams among the ways to explore during a visit.¹

• Peacock Café and Gift Shop

  Both are listed among the places to stop during a visit.¹

Why it matters

The Arboretum says its mission is to cultivate its natural, horticultural, and historic resources so people can learn, enjoy, and find inspiration.² Management of the site is shared between the Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation and Los Angeles County's Department of Parks and Recreation.^2,4 The County of Los Angeles recognizes the Tongva, Tataviam, Serrano, Kizh, and Chumash Peoples as the original and continuing caretakers of this land.² Dozens of movies and television programs have filmed scenes here going back to 1936, including portions of two Jurassic Park movies.⁴

Getting there

The Arboretum is at 301 North Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia, south of the 210 Freeway.¹ Drivers exit south on Baldwin Avenue to reach it.¹