The Gardens of Pasadena

Special Presentation : Episode GDP-S -- More Projects »
Bubbling with fountains and flowers, Pasadena is a city of gardens. Nestled against a backdrop of California's hillsides, this oasis of floral delight serves as the perfect spot in which to hold an annual tribute to the rose and all its charms. For more than a century, the Tournament of Roses Parade has been an integral part of New Year Day's festivities.
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Figure A
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Figure B
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Figure C
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Figure D
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Figure E
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Figure F
The first rose parade in 1890 was a competitive event in which gardeners elaborately decorated their carriages with fresh roses (figure A). Once football was added, the tournament grew from a neighborhood event into a national spectacle.

Today one Pasadena garden is still entwined with images of parade floats. The tournament house--home to the foundation that stages the tournament--is also home to more than 1,500 varieties of roses surrounding the Italian-style mansion (figure B). On the parade path, this home originally belonged to the chewing-gum mogul, William Wrigley. Wrigley's wife enjoyed the parade so much that she donated the house to the Tournament of the Roses Association. The 4-1/2 acres of gardens are open to the public. Among the garden's many collections of roses, including 'Tournament of Roses' (figure C), is a towering Morton Bay Fig, one of the largest trees in the world (figure D).

Even Pasadena's city hall features a hidden garden. The revival-style building reflects the Spanish influence of early southern California. But tucked away inside the Mediterranean-style courtyard walls are formal gardens of seasonal flowers and a carved fountain centerpiece (figure E). During the early 1990s a water shortage threatened the city hall garden, but by replacing the sod paths with decomposed granite walks, the groundskeepers were able to conserve water while maintaining the garden's integrity. Perhaps the crowning glory of this lush wonderland is its stately, native oak trees (figure F).

Norton Simon Museum

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Figure H
Featuring sculpture by Henry Moore, this Monet-like garden blends natural and manmade art and includes a pond filled with iris and lilies (figure G). Though French-inspired, this garden has distinctly California roots, as seen in these Sierra granite blocks cut in the late 1920s (figure H).

The Huntington Botanical Gardens

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Once the private estate of the railroad tycoon Henry Huntington, these offer a panoramic view of Pasadena (figure I) as well as desert and rose gardens and a horseshoe garden (figure J). An Asian garden reveals Huntington's fascination with the Far East. Beyond the Japanese garden is a unique artistic structure, the only picture bridge in the U.S. Painted panels of California scenes decorate the rafters (figure K).
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Figure L
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Figure M
At the foot of the majestic federal courthouse tower, a very public garden thrives as the result of a very personal campaign. With no budget or staff, the Honorable Cynthia Holcomb Hall started the garden with plants from her own home garden. The pergola was recreated from its original base (figure L), building on the courthouse's historic foundations. While the original pergola was covered in palm fronds, Hall felt it was more appropriate to plant climbing roses. The graceful Prince of Wales fountain, named after the famous guest, is planted with impatiens that spill over the tiered edges (figure M). Many locals frequent the rosemary hedge to pick fresh herbs for their cooking. After 20 years of restoration, Hall is still busy planting and tending to this very special Pasadena garden.
Guests
Sue Mossman
Historian
Executive Director, Pasadena Heritage
E-mail: preservation@pasadenaheritage.org
Website: www.pasadenaheritage.org/

Michael Riffey
Tournament of Roses Association
391 S. Orange Grove Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91184
Phone: 626-449-4100
Website: www.tournamentofroses.com

Jim Folsom
Director, Huntington Botanical Gardens
Website: www.support.net/medit-plants/gardens/Huntington.Botanical.html

Ralph Grippo
Ritz-Carlton Manager
1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91106
Phone: 626-569-3900

Hon. Cynthia Hall
Federal Judge
125 S. Grand Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91105
Also in this Episode
Special Presentation : Episode GDP-S
•The Gardens of Pasadena