Hahamongna Nursery

4550 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91103

The view into the desert section of the garden. Look at all those cool little spider webs in the grass! (image taken early July)
Arlington Garden is filled with shady twisting paths.
(image taken in early july)

Established:
2014

Size:
Not super big

Features:
Public Programing
Native Plant Nursery
Watershed Restoration
Local Propagation
Hiking Trails
You can see horses from the parking lot.

Best Time to visit:
All Year: 
The demonstration garden that surrounds the nursery is at its most spectacular in spring. The yerba santa,, showy penstemons, coast sunflowers and bladder pods are overwhelming beautiful. The summer brings a different beauty to the gardens. The bladder pods, who bloom all year and have gorgeous blues foliage, start to contrast with the golden brown of the summer dormant plants. However, fall and winter may arguably be the best time to visit. Fall is the start of our planting seasons in the west, and is the ideal time to go buy some plants.

Arlington Garden is located on a former Caltrans staging site for the 710 freeway. Now, it is a beautiful three acre garden. It is divided into two main sections, the California native and the mediterranean. The more formal mediterranean has all the usual suspects that are found in drought tolerant gardens, with olive trees and succulents. The eastern native side of the garden is more wild. There is a seasonal wash that runs through the center filled with western sycamores and connects to a series of vernal pools. A detailed map of the site and its different areas can be found on the Arlington Garden website.

There are trails that criss-cross through the garden. The mature trees and shrubs provide shade and seclusion, making this a great place to visit on a hot summer day. There is a large patch of milkweeds by the seasonal wash and oak trees surround the edges of the garden. There are several much loved Channel Islands plants, Saint Catherine’s Lace (Eriogonum giganteum), Channel

Islands Tree Poppy (Dendromecon harfordii) and Island Ceanothus (Ceanothus arboreus).

The garden is only a few blocks away from Pasadena’s famous “Millionaires Row” on Orange Grove Ave. The contrast is stark between the habitat filled garden and the lawn and exotic tree lined avenue. Arlington Garden is noisy with life. Lizards scuttle through the fallen leaves and birds move through the branches. The milkweed patch is filled with monarch butterflies. Many of the spaces in this guide are connected to a larger open area or park and while Arlington Garden is not far from the Arroyo Seco, it doesn’t not feel visually connected. Instead the garden is encountered as a stand alone space. It is an island of habitat in an otherwise uninhabitable area.

The three acre plot that is now the Arlington Garden was once the Durand Mansion. The land was purchased in 1967 by Caltrans, who destroyed the Mansion and used the lot as a storage and staging site for the construction of the 710 freeway. The community of Pasadena was able to halt the construction of the 710 through this section of the city. In 2002 City Councilman Steve Madison began to approach community members about what they would like done with the now vacant lot.

After much discussion it was decided that the lot should be turned into a garden. Betty and Charles “Kicker”

Mckenney were instrumental in the decision and are credited as founders of the garden. Construction on the garden began in 2005

The design of the garden was heavily influenced by Jan Smithen’s book “Sun-Drenched Gardens: The Mediterranean Style”. It  was originally designed as a more water-wise and “climate appropriate” mediterranean garden. As the garden has grown and aged, it has shifted to placing more importance on native plants and increasing biodiversity.

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Opening Hours:
8:00 AM – 6 PM

Hahamongna Nursery

4550 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91103

The view into the desert section of the garden. Look at all those cool little spider webs in the grass! (image taken early July)
Arlington Garden is filled with shady twisting paths. (image taken in early july)

Established:
2014

Size:
Not super big

Features:
Public Programing
Native Plant Nursery
Watershed Restoration
Local Propagation
Hiking Trails
You can see horses from the parking lot.

Best Time to visit:
All Year: 
The demonstration garden that surrounds the nursery is at its most spectacular in spring. The yerba santa,, showy penstemons, coast sunflowers and bladder pods are overwhelming beautiful. The summer brings a different beauty to the gardens. The bladder pods, who bloom all year and have gorgeous blues foliage, start to contrast with the golden brown of the summer dormant plants. However, fall and winter may arguably be the best time to visit. Fall is the start of our planting seasons in the west, and is the ideal time to go buy some plants.

Arlington Garden is located on a former Caltrans staging site for the 710 freeway. Now, it is a beautiful three acre garden. It is divided into two main sections, the California native and the mediterranean. The more formal mediterranean has all the usual suspects that are found in drought tolerant gardens, with olive trees and succulents. The eastern native side of the garden is more wild. There is a seasonal wash that runs through the center filled with western sycamores and connects to a series of vernal pools. A detailed map of the site and its different areas can be found on the Arlington Garden website.

There are trails that criss-cross through the garden. The mature trees and shrubs provide shade and seclusion, making this a great place to visit on a hot summer day. There is a large patch of milkweeds by the seasonal wash and oak trees surround the edges of the garde

There are several much loved Channel Islands plants, Saint Catherine’s Lace (Eriogonum giganteum), Channel Islands Tree Poppy (Dendromecon harfordii) and Island Ceanothus (Ceanothus arboreus).

The garden is only a few blocks away from Pasadena’s famous “Millionaires Row” on Orange Grove Ave. The contrast is stark between the habitat filled garden and the lawn and exotic tree lined avenue. Arlington Garden is noisy with life. Lizards scuttle through the fallen leaves and birds move through the branches. The milkweed patch is filled with monarch butterflies. Many of the spaces in this guide are connected to a larger open area or park and while Arlington Garden is not far from the Arroyo Seco, it doesn’t not feel visually connected. Instead the garden is encountered as a stand alone space. It is an island of habitat in an otherwise uninhabitable area.

The three acre plot that is now the Arlington Garden was once the Durand Mansion. The land was purchased in 1967 by Caltrans, who destroyed the Mansion and used the lot as a storage and staging site for the construction of the 710 freeway. The community of Pasadena was able to halt the construction of the 710 through this section of the city. In 2002 City Councilman Steve Madison began to approach community members about what they would like done with the now vacant lot.

After much discussion it was decided that the lot should be turned into a garden. Betty and Charles “Kicker” McKenney were

instrumental in the decision and are credited as founders of the garden. Construction on the garden began in 2005.

The design of the garden was heavily influenced by Jan Smithen’s book “Sun-Drenched Gardens: The Mediterranean Style”. It  was originally designed as a more water-wise and “climate appropriate” mediterranean garden. As the garden has grown and aged, it has shifted to placing more importance on native plants and increasing biodiversity.

Narrow leaf milkweeds, which are our local species, are the host plant for the monarch butterfly. (image taken in early July)
Close
Get Directions
‘; ‘;
Options hide options
Print Reset
Fetching directions…
Close
Find Nearby Share Location Get Directions

Opening Hours:
8:00 AM – 6 PM

Hahmongna Nursery

4550 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91103

The view into the desert section of the garden. Look at all those cool little spider webs in the grass! (image taken early July)

Established:
2014

Size:
Not super big

Features:
Public Programing
Native Plant Nursery
Watershed Restoration
Local Propagation
Hiking Trails
You can see horses from the parking lot.

Best Time to visit:
All Year: 
The demonstration garden that surrounds the nursery is at its most spectacular in spring. The yerba santa,, showy penstemons, coast sunflowers and bladder pods are overwhelming beautiful. The summer brings a different beauty to the gardens. The bladder pods, who bloom all year and have gorgeous blues foliage, start to contrast with the golden brown of the summer dormant plants. However, fall and winter may arguably be the best time to visit. Fall is the start of our planting seasons in the west, and is the ideal time to go buy some plants.

Arlington Garden is located on a former Caltrans staging site for the 710 freeway. Now, it is a beautiful three acre garden. It is divided into two main sections, the California native and the mediterranean. The more formal mediterranean has all the usual suspects that are found in drought tolerant gardens, with olive trees and succulents. The eastern native side of the garden is more wild. There is a seasonal wash that runs through the center filled with western sycamores and connects to a series of vernal pools. A detailed map of the site and its different areas can be found on the Arlington Garden website.

Arlington Garden is filled with shady twisting paths.
(image taken in early july)

There are trails that criss-cross through the garden. The mature trees and shrubs provide shade and seclusion, making this a great place to visit on a hot summer day. There is a large patch of milkweeds by the seasonal wash and oak trees surround the edges of the garden. There are several much loved Channel Islands plants, Saint Catherine’s Lace (Eriogonum giganteum), ChannelIslands Tree Poppy (Dendromecon harfordii) and Island Ceanothus (Ceanothus arboreus).

The garden is only a few blocks away from Pasadena’s famous “Millionaires Row” on Orange Grove Ave. The contrast is stark between the habitat filled garden and the lawn and exotic tree lined avenue. Arlington Garden is noisy with life. Lizards scuttle through the fallen leaves and birds move through the branches. The milkweed patch is filled with monarch butterflies. Many of the spaces in this guide are connected to a larger open area or park and while Arlington Garden is not far from the Arroyo Seco, it doesn’t not feel visually connected. Instead the garden is encountered as a stand alone space. It is an island of habitat in an otherwise uninhabitable area.

Narrow leaf milkweeds, which are our local species, are the host plant for the monarch butterfly. (image taken in early July)
Narrow leaf milkweeds, which are our local species, are the host plant for the monarch butterfly. (image taken in early July)

The three acre plot that is now the Arlington Garden was once the Durand Mansion. The land was purchased in 1967 by Caltrans, who destroyed the Mansion and used the lot as a storage and staging site for the construction of the 710 freeway. The community of Pasadena was able to halt the construction of the 710 through this section of the city. In 2002 City Councilman Steve Madison began to approach community members about what they would like done with the now vacant lot.

After much discussion it was decided that the lot should be turned into a garden. Betty and Charles “Kicker” McKenney were instrumental in the decision and are credited as founders of the garden. Construction on the garden began in 2005.

The design of the garden was heavily influenced by Jan Smithen’s book “Sun-Drenched Gardens: The Mediterranean Style”. It  was originally designed as a more water-wise and “climate appropriate” mediterranean garden. As the garden has grown and aged, it has shifted to placing more importance on native plants and increasing biodiversity.

Narrow leaf milkweeds, which are our local species, are the host plant for the monarch butterfly. (image taken in early July)
The area around the vernal pools is filled with beautiful grasses and shrubs. It is a great example for those interested in creating a meadow garden. (image taken in early July)
Narrow leaf milkweeds (image taken in early July)
Monarch Butterfly on the narrow leaf milkweeds (image taken in early July)
Channel Islands Tree Poppy at the end of its blooming season. (image taken in early July)
The Arlington Garden gives the visitor a crash course in several of the plant communities that can be found in California. Here we see desert and oak woodland. (image taken in early July)
Manzanita and prickly pear cactus. (image taken in early July)
Engelmann Oak, this super rare oak is endemic to Southern California. Let’s guess why it’s so endangered. (image taken in early July)
If you like blue tinted plants, then you will love a lot of California natives. The lighter silvery color helps with heat and water retention. (image taken in early July)
Western Sycamore and Canyon Prince Rye (image taken in early July)
We were really into this part of the meadow apparently. There are like five images of it. (image taken in early July)
Buckwheats are common in the west, and California’s are truly remarkable. We have somewhere between 125 and 250 species in California. (image taken in early July)
Saint Catherine’s Lace, one of our largest buckwheats, can grow to up to 10’ tall and 5’ feet wide. Which is the size of a 10 foot tall and five foot wide shed. (image taken in early July)
Arlington Garden’s shady sycamore grove is a perfect place to hang out in the heat. (image taken in early July)
Golden rod is really a banger of a plant for dry shade. It has gorgeous blooms and spreads so you don’t have to buy that many. (image taken in early July)
Fun fact: One of the solutions to the Great French Wine blight was to graft French grapes onto the aphid resistant North American grape stocks. Another solution was to position a toad under each plant. (image taken in early July)
More meadow views! (image taken in early July)
The stunning valley oak, everything about them is perfect. (image taken in early July)
The stunning valley oak, everything about them is perfect. (image taken in early July)
The stunning valley oak, everything about them is perfect. (image taken in early July)
The stunning valley oak, everything about them is perfect. (image taken in early July)
The stunning valley oak, everything about them is perfect. (image taken in early July)
The stunning valley oak, everything about them is perfect. (image taken in early July)
The stunning valley oak, everything about them is perfect. (image taken in early July)
The stunning valley oak, everything about them is perfect. (image taken in early July)
The stunning valley oak, everything about them is perfect. (image taken in early July)
The stunning valley oak, everything about them is perfect. (image taken in early July)
The stunning valley oak, everything about them is perfect. (image taken in early July)
The stunning valley oak, everything about them is perfect. (image taken in early July)
The stunning valley oak, everything about them is perfect. (image taken in early July)