Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Sunday Culture

Sunday we visited The Getty Center, it sits on a hilltop in the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles. It offers spectacular views of Los Angeles's landscape—the Pacific Ocean (on a clear day), the San Gabriel Mountains, and the vast city spread out below. Apparently architect Richard Meier designed the complex to 
highlight both nature and culture. (an excerpt from their website)


The buildings are built with Italian Travertine which was imported 
all the way from Italy. 


The inner courtyard is beautiful. 


There are all kinds of art work and some very famous artists. 
The exhibitions change all the time.
Miss Rachael wanted to take one last look.


They don't exaggerate, the views are spectacular! 


I thought this was Downtown Los Angeles, but that was further in the distance again, 
the above view is Culver City.




Bryn with two of his girls. Rachael and Abbey.
We met up with Hayley afterwards for dinner.


Sculpture is all around the museum.


The 405 freeway stretches out before us.


My Favorite place below.... The gardens. It makes me smile just looking at it.

Eventually after touring around all the exhibit halls, it was my turn.....
I was so excited, it's been quite a few years since we have visited. 
The girls sat on the grass lawns while Bryn and I wandered around the gardens.


The top of the waterfall into the pond below..... 


There is such a beautiful contrast between the harshness of the wall where the waterfall pours down and the formal hedge maze in the center to the softness of the cottage like gardens on either side, 


with the towering architecture in the background.


The structure that contains the beautiful bougainvilleas is made out of builders re-bar.  





I loved this little purple flower.... anyone know it's name?


This trumpet plant, (not sure of it's name) was talking to me....... 
my husband the puppet master. LOL!
It looks so pretty, but Rachael thinks it's poisonous. 

I just did a search online and it is called Brugmansia-angel’s-trumpets
and Rachael is right it is very poisonous.
It's a shame, because I thought of putting it in my garden. 


Such pretty Black Eyed Susan's.


I love the color on these beautiful bright red roses.


Beautiful white Clematis.





Another trumpet flower tree from the same family. 


Little blue-ish/purple-ish daisies. 


We sat afterwards in the shade of the bougainvillea tree sculptures for a rest before heading up to the bookstore and meeting Miss Hayley for dinner in Santa Monica.

I hope you are having a great week. Celebrating July 4th tomorrow. We will be BBQing. 
Happy Independence Day to all my American Visitors.

10 comments:

  1. Wow those blue skies are making me jealous!

    Love the sculptures and the gardens and the beautiful views
    all very impressive.

    Looks like a lovely happy time was had by all your family.

    Thanks for sharing your visit with us!

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  2. What a great post! Lovely pictures, it's like we were there too!

    Last year, we met our friends from Kansas in LA and decided to drive to the Getty Center. It was a Monday andit was closed, but we found out when we got there! So, we drove some more and went to the California Science center (or museum) and we realised it was for kids! We had fun anyway and their gift shop is amazing for teachers!

    Excuse my ramblings but I need to askyou a favor. Could you make a post about your July 4th BBQ? Have a great time! ;)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! I'm sorry you weren't able to see it first hand last year.
      I will take some photo's of our BBQ get together tomorrow for you and make a post. :D
      Have a great weekend.

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  3. It looks amazing, I love the view. One of my favourite things about the blogging world is seeing where other people live and the places they visit. Those tree sculptures are brilliant and such a creative way to display climbing flowers. THanks for visiting my blog too. Nice to "meet" you! :)

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  4. Thanks, it's nice to meet you too.
    I also love seeing where and how other people live. Seeing other blogs like yours from the UK makes me a little homesick. We love Cornwall especially St. Ives and haven't been to Mevagissey, Looe and Polperro in many many years and hope to take a week to tour around when we visit Wales next month.

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  5. What I love about Ca - is the weather -- lucky and blessed you are.. nice photos - I would love to take a tour here and see the forever views..
    Hugs

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  6. Thank you for visiting my blog. We are very blessed,

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  7. LOVED the bouganevilla sculpure-trees! and I think that purple flower could be a Rose of sharon plant.

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