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chosen to accentuate the interplay of light, den on the UCLA campus. Opened in 1929,
color, and reflection. Irwin's statement, "Al‐ the seven-acre botanical garden boasts
ways changing, never twice the same," is more than 3,000 species of plants. Mildred
carved into the plaza floor, reminding visi‐ Mathias Hassler (1905-1995), a noted Amer‐
tors of the ever-changing nature of this ican botanist, oversaw the garden from
living work of art. 1956 to 1974 and opened it for public tours.
Don’t miss the desert cactus land‐ The special sections here of euca‐
scape viewed from the Getty’s South lyptus are especially inviting. Look also for
Promontory. The visually stunning group‐ a large dawn redwood tree from China, a
ings of barrel cacti and column cacti with collection of palms, a large Torrey Pine
some huge agaves thrown in are all back‐ tree, as well as bromeliads, cycads, ferns
dropped by a skyline view of Century City and rhododendrons. It’s free to wander the
with downtown Los Angeles in the back‐ trails here that criss-cross the forested
ground. The Getty Center is free of admis‐ preserve. (https://www.botgard.ucla.edu/).
sion, but timed parking entries must be I based myself for my first three nights
reserved in advance (getty.edu). at the Palihouse Santa Monica, a newish
Just a short drive from the Getty I entry in that boutique collection of hotels.
found the Mildred Mathias Botanical Gar‐ Originally an apartment building dating
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