Huntington Library Art Collections and Botanical G

Just went January 14, 2012. I've visited the library and gardens every 2-3 years for the past 28 years. Honestly, the gardens look horrible. Don't know if money is an issue but the grass is dead, full of crabgrass, trees are overgrown, plants are dead, debris everywhere. There are a few Home Depot looking flowers planted in small sections, but overall the gardens looks dirty, old, and abandoned. I know there were windstorms recently but not even the major walkways are cleared and cleaned just for appearances sake. Don't go if you want to see the Japanese and Chinese gardens because they are renovating that section and it's closed. Library, paintings, sculptures, furniture, books and everything inside the buildings are beautiful. Outside it looks like the grounds of a haunted mansion.

This place is truly fantastic. \t\n\t\nThe gardens are lovely and range from English to Oriental. They've got rare kinds of cacti and succulents in the Desert Garden. The Lily Ponds are picturesque and there's the cute Chinese Garden Tea House with a decent menu.\t\n\t\nThe library is wonderful-- and possibly overlooked by many guests who prefer the art exhibits. First editions Chaucer (The Canterbury Tales), Milton (Paradise Lost), Frederick Douglass (Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass), the Gutenberg Bible, etc.... \t\n\t\nThe art exhibits are very nice, although sometimes they can get crowded on weekends. Make sure to check out Gainsborough's ""Blue Boy"" and Lawrence's ""Pinkie"" (which happen to face each other from two opposite sides of a room). There are quite a few American pieces (sculptures, paintings, furniture) on display, so it's not all European art in the exhibits.\t\n\t\nThe parking is free. The entrance fee for students is $10. Not too bad considering we're helping to keep this place open. What an awesome legacy Henry E. Huntington left behind.

They have a FREE day on the first Thursday of the month, but you have to get reservations the previous month which start being distributed on the first day of the month at 9am. They usually distribute quickly so you have to be on time. Then they will mail you the tickets. All for FREE. Parking is FREE too. You can get up to 5 tickets (children don't need one)

I take my 2 year old almost every month (sometimes I don't luck out). We usually go see the Japanese Garden and he loves to look at the fish and ducks. Then we make our way to the Children's Garden. Kind of hard to find. It is behind the Rain Forest Building (you can go through it). Bring swimsuit for kids and shoes that can get wet. They have small water fountains that the kids can play with. He also loves the rainbow tunnel and the musical rocks.

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