The Arboretum

Bryant Irawan/Indonesia Media

Once considered to be the backyard of Hugo Reid, and the Baldwins, the Los Angeles County Arboretum is now an attraction for tourists, couples, and even politicians. Upon arriving at the arboretum, you will be greeted by rolling, green hills and calm trees. You will most likely see a wedding couple by the fountain that separates the shady, open pasture and the inside of the arboretum. To get past the fountain, you must first pay a 7-dollar admission fee. The entrance leads you to a pathway through the hills. It is here where you begin to notice that the arboretum seems to never end. You’ll see pathways leading to different places and the grass and trees seem to be never-ending. No matter how much you want to, it would be nearly impossible to visit all the points of interest in the 127-acre arboretum. Most visitors, however, come only to enjoy the serenity of the arboretum’s natural environment, examine the diverse 265,000 species of plant life, and spot some of the 232 species of animal life. Nevertheless, there are a few notable points you should visit.
Start off by heading to the Baldwin Lake. Three thousands years ago, Native American villages were situated as nature dictated, along the sheltered coast, next to rivers and streams and near natural lakes. Village names often reflected their native settings: Hukngna (El Monte) was "in the weeping willow trees," Kuruvungna (Santa Monica) denoted "a place where we are in the sun," Topanga was "a place where mountains run out into the sea." It turns out that the Los Angeles County Arboretum is responsible for naming many schools and cities in the San Gabriel Valley. The lake is an excellent location to view peacocks and other animals. There’s also an adobe house nearby that once belonged to Hugo Reid, a famous explorer and writer who criticized the harsh treatment of local Indians under the Franciscan mission system. I discovered that the arboretum was actually a small community called Rancho Santa Anita. The Rancho Santa Anita had many owners including the King of Spain and the Mexican government, but its peak was when Hugo Reid owned the territory. The other two locations you can’t afford to miss are the Queen Anne Cottage and the Santa Anita Depot. The Santa Anita Depot can be seen as you drive along Baldwin Ave. Even today, the beauty of the cottage is still admired and is often used as a design for local Rose Parade floats. You might also want to take advantage of the arboretum’s daily tours, but don’t forget to roam around by yourself around the arboretum or else you won’t be able to feel the genuine tranquility inside. All in all, the arboretum is a perfect place to get some fresh air and ease a troubled mind. Be sure to check out the arboretum’s website for upcoming events.
www.aboretum.org
301 N. Baldwin Ave.
Arcadia, CA 91007