Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden will have its historic buildings upgraded and a new 5-year strategic plan is being drafted for the first time in many years. Among items to be improved are the roof replacement and stabilization of the Hugo Reid Adobe (aka Baldwin Adobe), the rehabilitation of the library, as well as roof replacements for the 126-year-old Queen Anne Cottage of "Fantasy Island" fame, and the Coach Barn. Mitchell Bishop, curator of the historic collections, said he plans to rehabilitate Baldwin Lake.
Summer temperatures in Southern California have been lower than usual. The average temperature in July was 79 degrees, which was 5 degrees below normal. Jill Morganelli, horticulture curator at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden says she is enjoying the lower than normal temperatures and is more productive because of them. She discusses how colder night temperatures have affected plants.
California Philharmonic Orchestra officials held a press conference and said they do not know why the county decided to end a 15-year run of concerts at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden with them. The press conference was held at Cal Phil's new office in Arcadia. In attendance were Cal Phil founder and Music Director Victor Vener, his son Andre Vener (the orchestra's CEO), Robert W. Miller (member of the Cal Phil board), Michael Arnold (principal clarinetist), Barbara Hicks (volunteer) and 20 protesters who had picketed at the Arboretum, in reaction to the ouster of the orchestra.
TV's Mario Lopez to host Lucky Baldwin Poker Tournament on June 10. It is a fundraiser to preserve the 1880s architecture of Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin's home at the site of Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden.
Tarzan returns to Arboretum in Arcadia. Arboretum celebrates Hollywood history on June 30 with a special presentation of On Location: Tarzan at the Arboretum by Scott Tracy Griffin, author of Tarzan on Film and Tarzan the Centennial Celebration. Baldwin Lake and surrounding landscape served as stand-in for African jungle in 12 classic Tarzan films.
Pasadena Symphony Association and its Pasadena Pops Orchestra, will take over the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden's 2012 summer concerts, which had featured the California Philharmonic Orchestra and its music director Victor Vener for 14 years.
LA County Arboretum’s “Moonlight Forest” brings people together in San Gabriel Valley. The Arboretum is now displaying hundreds of magnificent lanterns depicting exotic animals, shimmering flowers, whimsical pandas, soaring dragons, and other themes.
Moonlight Forest returns to Arboretum by popular demand. It is a magical lantern art festival that will be bigger and brighter in 2019. Runs November 9 through January 12.
Arcadia enacts water limits. City pushes 20% reduction goal by 2020 as other cities ease restrictions. The City's water conservation program is mandatory.
Santa Anita Park-based colt American Pharoah, the Triple Crown champion, takes the Breeders' Cup with ease yesterday at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky.
Leon Logothetis, star of Netflix show “The Kindness Diaries” spoke at Holy Angels School in Arcadia on April 12. He said, “Kindness is literally the coolest thing, the most epic thing you can do. How you show up to the world matters. The most beautiful way to make a person feel that they matter is to be kind. And kindness is free.”
Santa Anita Gardens Catering Services threw an extravagant showcase event to celebrate and promote one of their two hosting venues, Arcadia's historic Prince Erik Hall, located at 2607 South Santa Anita Avenue, behind Arcadia Congregational Church.
Battle of the Bands. Two major orchestras change venues for summer programs. CalPhil will be performing at Santa Anita Park's infield, while Pasadena Pops Orchestra will be performing at the Los Angeles County Arboretum.
Westfield mall properties in West Covina, Sherman Oaks, Arcadia, and Palm Desert, have a new tenant--Forest Lawn Memorial Parks and Mortuaries. Forest Lawn has information carts in malls in a new marketing effort.
A ninth historical marker, presented by Arcadia Historical society, will be dedicated on October 2 near the main entrance of the Los Angeles County Arboretum. This "History Lives Here" marker showcases vintage photographs and descriptions of the history and evolution of the Arboretum, which was once the home of Arcadia founder Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin. See hard copy in VF "Historical Society"
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."