Wow. Look at the sheer scale of the Huntington Desert Garden. It’s breathtaking isn’t it?
This isn’t just any garden. This ten-acre expanse is one of the world’s largest and oldest collections of desert plants. It holds over 2000 species. Imagine the journeys these plants have made. Many were collected by Henry E Huntington and William Hertrich. They traveled to North Central and South America. They brought back plants from extreme environments. Plants largely unknown and unappreciated in the early 1900s.
Now you might be surprised to hear that Huntington initially disliked cacti. He had some unpleasant encounters with prickly pears during railroad construction. But Hertrich. the garden’s first curator. was persistent. He convinced Huntington to create this magnificent garden. They even built a railway spur to transport rocks soil and plants. Can you imagine three entire railroad cars filled with Arizona plants in 1908? That’s how ambitious this project was.
This garden is packed with incredible specimens. There’s the largest Yucca filifera in the world. There’s also a twenty-ton Cereus xanthocarpus a tree-like cactus planted in 1905. It was already mature then. It’s around 125 years old now. Imagine the stories that old cactus could tell.
And the Golden Barrel cacti. Over 500 of them. Their bright yellow spines are truly spectacular especially in spring when they flower. It’s said to be the best display of Golden Barrels anywhere in the world.
The Huntington Desert Garden is more than just a collection of plants. It’s a testament to the vision of two men. It’s also a celebration of the resilience of desert life. It’s a place where history botany and beauty intertwine. It’s a garden that’s truly extraordinary. Roberto Burle Marx the famed Brazilian landscape architect called it the most extraordinary garden in the world. And after seeing it I think you’ll agree.