crazy little thing called life: Four Seasons with Z and a trip to The Huntington Gardens

Ziad and I had our first date 10/29/07. He picked me up from the Aliso Viejo Library. I was there doing research for my Thesis. A few months later we met a couple at the Hotel Laguna. They were newly married and offered some unsolicited advice to us. They said, "Make sure you go through all four seasons together before you decide to make a life together." That became an inside joke between us and we would say, "four seasons" whenever we heard of anybody jumping into marriage.

Today marks experiencing the four seasons together. And although we know that we really love and care about each other... we've decided to remain in each other's lives as friends. So there you have it... it's on the table and we can move on with the great pics of today!

Ziad has been talking about The Huntington Botantical Gardens forever. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens is a collections-based research and educational institution established in 1919 by Henry E. and Arabella Huntington. Henry Huntington, a key figure in the development of Southern California in the early 20th century, was also an active collector of rare books and manuscripts, art, and plants. By the time he established the institution, he and his wife had amassed an extensive collection focusing on British and American history, literature, and art, as well as rare and spectacular plant specimens.

Here I am at the Lilly Ponds. If looks like I am sweating, I am. Who expected 90 degree weather when it's almost November. Some parts of the country (Hello, Philadelphia!) have had cold cold cold conditions already!

This is the tallest Bamboo I've ever seen! I'm trying to grow some in my house and it never gets past 18 inches or so.

This is on the patio. A nice place to sit and relax, eh?

Part of the Library

Stain glass collection

The formal dining room

This is Blue Boy by Gainsborough. It was purchased by Mr. Huntington for $700,000 in the 1920's to add to his growing collection

The gardens are amazing! The 206-acre estate comprises fifteen specialized gardens filled with 20,000 different kinds of plants, with as many as 1,800 rose species and cultivars, 1,200 camellia cultivars, and 5,000 cacti and succulents. Themed gardens are devoted to roses, camellias, subtropical, Australian, and jungle plants, as well as palms, bamboo, and water lilies. Especially popular with visitors are the desert and Japanese gardens.