The Los Angeles State and County Arboretum plans to open its 3 acre rain forest exhibit in July featuring several hundred plant specimens from around the world.
Los Angeles County is having second thoughts about the newly changed name for the Arboretum. The official name is Los Angeles County Botanic Gardens and Arboretum, but now LA County will seek the feedback of interested residents and organizations to decide on the official name.
The Los Angeles County Arboretum, which had its name changed to Los Angeles County Botanic Gardens, is now going back to the name Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens.
The Queen Anne Cottage is seen from across the lake, with a reflection of the cottage in the lake. Cottage was used by Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin. Currently on the grounds of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. Original fiberboard print. Caption reads "Views of Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley, E. A. Bonine, Photo., Lamanda Park, Los Angeles Co., Cal."
The water in Baldwin Lake at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, which is actually a sag pond, is evaporating, and the water is not being replenished by the artesian well because of low levels in the water table. The lake is famous from the television show Fantasy Island. The last time Baldwin Lake was dry was 1991.
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Baldwin family push to revive Baldwin Lake. The 4-acre lake in the middle of the Arboretum stands polluted, filled with tons of mud and filth from years of urban runoff. Tony Zampiello, executive officer of the Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster, along with the county's Department of Parks and Recreation, have formed a task force with goal of dredging the old lake built by Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin in the late 19th century. Margaux Viera, Baldwin's great-great-great granddaughter, a member of the "Save Baldwin Lake" task force, says the shoreline around the lake is collapsing and eroding. See hard copy in VF "Arboretum."
County Supervisors approved a 20-year contract Tuesday establishing a joint partnership with the nonprofit California Arboretum Foundation, to operate the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum in Arcadia.
The Los Angeles County Arboretum will transfer from the financially strapped Los Angeles County Department of Arboreta and Botanica to the larger Department of Parks and Recreation on January 1, 1993.
Man is riding bicycle on a path inside Rancho Santa Anita Park and Lake (later, the Arboretum), with many palm trees. Sign reads "Open to the Public Daily until 7PM, private property" and "Curves, drive slowly through park." The following information is from Sandy Snider: This is indeed, today’s Arboretum, but at the time the property was owned by a real estate syndicate named Rancho Santa Anita Inc. The enterprise was headed by the Chandler family (Harry until he died), and they bought the land from Anita Baldwin in 1936 for purposes of residential development. About 1939 they opened “the park” to visitors in hopes of encouraging land sales. About 30 acres surrounding the lake was sort of set aside as Santa Anita Park and Lake, that was roughly the area made available for movie location rentals and clearly for bicyclists, etc. 1939 is the circa date for this photograph, but it could have been anytime between 1936 and 1947 (when the land was sold to State and County for use as an Arboretum). The granite boulders lining roadways were typical Baldwin Ranch landscape features, and the pillars seen in the photo are also from Baldwin times. In the background you can see more boulders in a circular sort of shape – likely the old Baldwin Lily Pond.
Photo and text of an L.A. Times newspaper article titled "Historic Santa Anita Tract Deed Delivered to County," describing the transfer of deed for 111-acre tract from Rancho Santa Anita, Inc. to the Los Angeles County Supervisors. The article states that the property will be converted into an arboretum.
Queen Anne Cottage at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, with its distinctive red roof and bell tower. View of the house is partially obstructed by trees. The lake is in the foreground.
Arcadia’s Baldwin Lake makes history. A “History Lives Here” historical marker was dedicated at Baldwin Lake at the Los Angeles County Arboretum last Thursday. The marker was donated by Arcadia Historical Society.
Baldwin Lake at the Los Angeles County Arboretum. Arboretum address is 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA. Any use of this image must be credited "Photograph by David Stevens. Copyright David Stevens."
