Henry Huntington never saw his cactus garden in all its glory. He died in 1927. Eighty three years later the cactus collection at the Huntington Museum and Gardens, in Pasadena, California, is considered to be one of the most important in the world for its age and size. I had seen photographs of the garden and it was on my list of gardens to see.
My opening photograph had to be of Aloe arborescens, which was in full bloom. Bees, heavy with brown pollen sacs and rufous hummingbirds flitting among the open flowers.
In 1902 Henry Huntington moved to Los Angeles, where he purchased the San Marino Ranch, transforming it into the current Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. Between 1907 and 1908 William Hertrich was given the job of developing the cactus and succulent garden on a small area of the Raymond Fault scarp. Today the collection has grown to cover over 10 acres and it is truly spectacular. Many of the cactus were already mature when they were planted and today have attained a size larger than any found in the USA.
Hundreds of barrel cactus are massed together to create an amazing sight. the following are a few of the sights from the cactus and succulent garden.
I wonder if these agave with their glaucous leaves are A. ovatifolia? Although labeling of plants is very good I couldn't identify this one.
Mammillaria compressa
Dyksia forestiana x
