DAY TRIP The Arboretum

Though it exchanged hands in ownership numerous times over the last 300 or so years, the area the Arboretum now sits upon didn’t became the natural, beautiful habitat it is today until Elias Jackson “Lucky” Baldwin purchased Rancho Santa Anita in 1875. At that point, Baldwin embarked on creating a luxurious ranch. He first renovated the Hugo Reid Adobe, making an L-shaped, eight-room home.

Five years after his purchase, he decided to bring peafowl from India to walk the grounds. He deepened the lake basin 10 to 12 feet and gave the lake a granite wall.

Baldwin died in 1909, but Anita Baldwin kept up with the construction by building a massive 50-room home, but quickly after sold the property to Harry Chandler of the Los Angeles Times in 1936. Chandler took the 1,300 acres, bought 111 acres from Rancho Santa Anita and had the Arboretum planted into Los Angeles County for good.

HOURS

Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but admission closes at 4:30 p.m. Members are allowed entry starting at 8 a.m. The library is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and every other Saturday. The Peacock Café is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

ADMISSION

$7 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, $2.50 for children between the ages of 5 and 12 and free for children younger than 5. Admission is free on the third Tuesday of every month. Admission can be paid for by cash or check; credit is not accepted. Learn to prune deciduous and ornamental trees and shrubs for $18 as a member or $22 as a non-member during an instructional session taught by Kelly Kubica from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 6. Call (626) 821-4623.

GETTING THERE

Take the I-405 north toward Westminster to the I-605 north. Take the exit on the left onto the I-210 west toward Pasadena. Take exit 31, Baldwin Avenue, toward Sierra Madre.

Then turn right at West Foothill Boulevard and another right at North Baldwin Avenue.

BOOKWORMS

Following themes surrounding science, botany and nature, the Arboretum provides a story reading for children 3 to 8 years old twice a month.

Each month has a different theme and the story time is free. It is at 2 p.m. the third Sunday of each month and at 10 a.m. the third Wednesday.

It is either in the library or within the environment the stories are usually about, outside on the grounds.

Children also get to enjoy time to create a craft they can bring home with them.

The theme for November is twisted plants, while hooray for rain will be December’s.

PLANT PAINTING

Until Dec. 8 the Arboretum offers watercolor painters, no matter the skill level, to come and paint pictures of the fresh flowers form the garden in a self-directed environment.

Painters can help and learn from each other while they take in the beautiful habitat and recreate it in their art.

Participation is from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Oak Room and costs $35 for members and $42 for non-members. To register call (626) 821-4623 or e-mail jill.berry@arboretum.org.

— Daniel Tedford