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| James Irvine Japanese Garden | Photo: JACCC, Facebook |
213-628-2725
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Since opening its doors in 1980, the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) has become one of the largest cultural art and community centers in the U.S. Discreetly located inside the JACCC, the award-winning James Irvine Japanese Garden is a hidden gem in Little Tokyo. Known formally as Seiryu-en ("Garden of the Clear Stream"), this intimate green space was designed in the Zen tradition of the famous gardens of Kyoto, Japan. The James Irvine Garden features a 170-foot cascading stream, a wide variety of plants, flowers and trees, handcrafted cedar bridges, a selection of stone lanterns, and a hand washing fountain.
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2) AMIR'S GARDEN - GRIFFITH PARK
4730 Crystal Springs Dr., Los Angeles 90027323-913-4688
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Spanning more than 4,300 acres, Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America and home to some of L.A.'s most popular attractions, including the Los Angeles Zoo, Autry Museum of the American West, and the Greek Theatre. Tucked away on a steep hill in Griffith Park, Amir's Garden is a labor of love enjoyed by hikers and equestrians alike. The five-acre garden is the legacy of Amir Dialameh, who worked on the shaded grove for 32 years.
A native of Iran, Dialameh regularly hiked the Mineral Wells trail through Toyon Canyon on his way across Griffith Park, before a major brush fire devastated the area in 1971. The sight of the scorched landscape moved him to action. After obtaining permission from city officials, Dialameh cleared the charred tree stumps. Over the years, he planted pine and jacaranda trees for shade, along with rose bushes, geraniums, oleander, and yucca, transforming the barren hillside into a beautiful oasis. Dialameh also built stairs to the picnic area and added colorful wooden benches. Amir Dialameh passed away in 2003. Today his gift to Los Angeles is maintained by volunteers and volunteer groups, with assistance from the City of L.A. Park Rangers and park maintenance workers.
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3) PEACE AWARENESS LABYRINTH & GARDENS
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| Photo: Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens |
323-737-4055
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Located in the historic West Adams District, the Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens (PALG) is a nonprofit spiritual center that opened in 2002. PALG was founded by, and is the headquarters of the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA), a non-denominational, ecumenical church. Visitors are invited to "unwind the mind" by walking the stone labyrinth, modeled after the famous Chartres Cathedral labyrinth in France. The Asian-themed meditation garden features 16 water fountains, a koi pond and several intimate seating areas for reflection and meditation.
Docents are available to give tours of the historic Guasti Villa, built in 1910-14 by Secundo Guasti, an Italian immigrant whose namesake Southern California winery was at one time the largest in the world. The mansion was later the home of legendary director and choreographer, Busby Berkeley.
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4) CENTRAL GARDEN - GETTY CENTER
1200 Getty Center Dr., Los Angeles 90049310-440-7300
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Located at the heart of the acclaimed Getty Center in Brentwood, the 134,000 square-foot Central Garden was created by renowned artist Robert Irwin. The design features a natural ravine and tree-lined walkway that leads visitors through a sublime experience of sights, sounds and scents. The walkway traverses a stream that winds through a variety of plants and gradually descends to a plaza with bougainvillea arbors. Continuing through the plaza, the stream cascades over a stone waterfall into the signature floating maze of azaleas surrounded by specialty gardens.
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5) VIRGINIA ROBINSON GARDENS
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| Photo: Virginia Robinson Gardens, Facebook |
310-276-5367
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Built in 1911 and renowned as the first luxury estate in Beverly Hills, the Virginia Robinson Gardens was the private residence of Virginia and Harry Robinson (of Robinson’s department store fame). Known as "the first lady of Beverly Hills," Mrs. Robinson hosted lavish parties at the estate with guests such as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor; as well as Hollywood royalty like Charlie Chaplin, Marlene Dietrich, Fred Astaire and Sophia Loren.
Situated on six acres behind the famed Beverly Hills Hotel, the Robinson Gardens include the Rose Garden, Italian Terrace Garden and a forest of King Palms that is reportedly the largest outside of Queensland, Australia. Shortly before her death in 1977, Mrs. Robinson bequeathed her estate to L.A. County - it's now part of the Department of Parks and Recreation. The Virginia Robinson Gardens was added to the National Register of Historic Places in November 1978.
Guided docent tours are available by appointment only, book your reservation at the Robinson Gardens website.
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*Source: Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
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