Press Release

HUNTINGTON'S GARDENS SUFFER FROM WINDSTORM, CLEANUP UNDER WAY

Dec. 5, 2011       UPDATE >

SAN MARINO, Calif.—The severe windstorm that tore through the Pasadena area on Nov. 30 took out a number of trees at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. While all buildings were left virtually unscathed, and garden statuary sustained only minor damage, the botanical gardens themselves bore the brunt of the storm: preliminary estimates suggest that at least 50 trees were either knocked down or will have to be removed because of substantial injury.

Oak tree toppled by windstorm Nov. 30, 2011, at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
 

The storm left tremendous amounts of debris in its wake; work continues to clear pathways, and additional assessments of damage are under way. A number of specimen trees were lost, including some of the institution’s signature oaks and pines.

For safety reasons, some areas of the gardens will remain closed for a period of time.  Most of the more popular gardens areas are open, including the Desert Garden, Rose Garden, Chinese Garden, Children’s Garden, and The Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Botanical Science. (The Zen Garden and Bonsai Court, which had remained open during Japanese Garden renovation, are now closed to visitor access until the reopening of that garden in April. Neither area experienced damage; however, the adjacent pathways are obstructed by debris and fallen bamboo.)

The Huntington lost power and was using back-up generators to conduct basic operations; as a result, it closed to the public and staff for three days in the storm’s immediate aftermath. It reopened Sunday, Dec. 4, in time for a visit from Santa.

CONTACTS:  Susan Turner-Lowe, 626-405-2147, sturner@huntington.org
                         Thea Page, 626-405-2260, tpage@huntington.org

 
About The Huntington
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens is a collections-based research and educational institution serving scholars and the general public. More information about The Huntington can be found at huntington.org.