A Year in Claremont: The Huntington

It is officially the driest spell LA's had since the 1880s, when they started recording rainfall here. We've not seen any rain at all since we got here. Some places have even cancelled their 4th of July fireworks next week, cos of fears that fires might get started. One of the mountains nearby is called Mount Baldy - I've been wondering if it's because of the brown patches that dot it; it looks so arid. I miss the relief from the heat that the rain brings.

We visited The Huntington today, which is made up of the Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. No time for the library or the art collections; we explored parts of the botanical gardens instead (despite the hot weather!). The Children's Gardens are lovely. E, the resident water baby, got her clothes soaking wet playing in the water fountains. She couldn't get enough.

Lunch at the Huntington: grapes and Cheetos

Lovely roses in bloom - very Jane Austen - I almost expected Elizabeth Bennet to appear (in an empire line dress, of course) with Mr Darcy next to her.