International Magnolia Society
This weekend, I attended the International Magnolia Society meeting. It was jam packed with lovely magnolias in bloom in Los Angeles. But more importantly, we were surrounded by magnolia enthusiasts from the US and multiple other countries. They were
- professors
- scientists
- curators
- growers
- gardeners
- breeders
- artists
On the bus ride I distinctly realized I sitting with a bunch of nerds, and that I was probably one too. It was a sweet feeling to know that each person took time out of their busy life to learn more about these striking flowers.
We toured three gardens: Los Angeles County Arboretum, Descanso Gardens and Huntington Library and Botanical Garden. The LA Arboretum had its magnolias grouped together; many were blooming for our visit. The Huntington had its spread out and worked naturally into the landscape. The Descanso garden was all about camellias and were they beautiful and in full bloom!
We also visited the Griffith, which offered amazing views of Los Angeles. Here's an image from the Griffith Observatory.