Chronicles of a traveling gardener, or, smitten by visions of wonderful plants!

Last week, I had the good fortune to attend the annual meeting of the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries (CBHL) hosted by the Los Angles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden. In addition to an annual meeting filled with interesting speakers, thoughtful papers and engaging discussions, meeting attendees toured the gardens and collections of the L.A. County Arboretum, Huntington and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. Wow! It is always such a treat to visit new gardens especially gardens with such diverse plant communities. From the ×Chiranthofremontia lenzii (pictured above) at Rancho Santa Ana to the desert garden at the Huntington to the herb garden at the L.A. County Arboretum, I was totally smitten by the plants that I wandered by. As a post-conference trip, I visited the Getty Center – Los Angeles and Getty Villa – Malibu. The gardens at each of these sites are fascinating! Color, texture, sound and scent all collide for a very memorable horticultural experience. Upon leaving the Malibu destination on Saturday afternoon, I felt like I was drenched in views, vistas and visions.

Beginning to make summer vacation plans? In between the water park and other popular vacation destinations include some gardens and arboreta! If you are a member of The Morton Arboretum, you already have free admission or discounts to over 150 gardens and arboretums across the USA (for a complete list of these visit the website of the American Horticultural Society).

Here is a sampling of resources from the Sterling Morton Library directing you to gardens that you might want to visit:

• National Geographic guide to America's public gardens : 300 of the best gardens to visit in the U.S. and Canada by Mary Jenkins. SB466.U6 J45
• The Gardens of Europe edited by Penelope Hobhouse. SB466.E9G2
• The Garden lover’s guide to the Midwest by Paul Bennett. SB466.U6B25
• A Guide to the sculpture parks & gardens of America by Jane McCarthy & Laurily K. Epstein. SB466.U6M33
• The complete guide to North American gardens – the Northeast by William Mulligan. SB466.U6M8
• Gardens of the heartland by Laura Martin. SB466.U6M53

We even have resources focusing on specific gardens such as:

• The Greater perfection by Francis Cabot. SB466.C2C3
• Featuring Cabot’s fabulous private garden of Les Quatre Vents in Charlevoix County, Quebec.
• The Gardens of Colonial Williamsburg by M. Kent Brinkley. SB466.U6W52

In addition, we receive newsletters from selected gardens such as:

• Fernwood
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden
• Lotusland
• New York Botanical Garden

Ahhh .... Summertime!

The livin’ is easy and the gardens are beautiful!