While L.A. is globally renowned for its cutting-edge modern culture and cinematic history, it also cradles an estate of profound historical elegance. In San Marino, the sprawling grounds of The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens offer a level of botanical majesty and manicured precision that can remind of Europe’s most legendary palace grounds.
The history of The Huntington
- The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens started as the private San Marino estate of railroad magnate Henry E. Huntington and his wife Arabella in the early 1900s.
- In 1919, they transformed the property into a public-facing cultural institution, combining a world-class research library, an art museum and what’s now about 130 acres of themed botanical gardens.
- Today, the grounds include 16 distinct gardens and roughly 83,000 living plants, from the Desert Garden to the Japanese and Chinese gardens — but the Rose Garden remains one of its most romantic, European-feeling corners.
The Rose Garden itself dates back to 1908, when it was created for Henry and Arabella’s private enjoyment; now it holds more than 1,300 varieties of roses- The full list of themed gardens include:
- Australian Garden
- Californian Garden
- Camellia Garden
- Children’s Garden
- Chinese Garden
- Conservatory
- Desert Garden
- Herb Garden
- Japanese Garden
- Jungle Garden
- Lily Ponds
- Palm Garden
- Ranch Garden
- Rose Garden
- Shakespeare Garden
- Subtropical Garden
Music in the Rose Garden
For three select Monday afternoons, this sea of blossoms will transform into an open-air concert hall. In an exclusive collaboration with the Pasadena Conservatory of Music (PCM), a rotating lineup of premier soloists and duos will perform live among the roses. Visitors can expect to hear classical masterpieces played on classical guitar, violin, and cello.
- May 25, 1–3 p.m.
- June 1, 1–3 p.m.
- June 8, 1–3 p.m.
Key details at glance
📍 Location: The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108 (Rose Garden)
🗓️ Dates / Hours: Mondays, May 25, June 1 and June 8, 2026, from 1–3 p.m.
🎟️ Admission: Music in the Rose Garden is free with general admission.
🌐 Website: Tickets and current info