This I dislike about Irvine - Horrible Trees

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This is probably a stupid question, but where is San Marino? The picture is gorgeous!



This picture doesn't really show how this looks, but one of the first things we LOVED about the house in Paso is the huge Oak tree in the middle of the street. The house is on Oak, which is a very wide street and smack in the middle of the road is this tree. Well shoot, I can't seem to figure out how to get the image in here.... I'll change my avatar.
 
[quote author="stepping_up" date=1214358916]This is probably a stupid question, but where is San Marino?</blockquote>




San Marino is where Huntington Library sit.



This weekend they're having cactus and succulents show which is where I will be.



I don't post much, but bkshopr is there anything that you don't know.? always enjoy your feed back, keep them coming.
 
we have a rental property on oak knoll in pas so we drive down that street very often. if you're into housing, RE, or architecture, it's one of the most scenic drives in soCal.
 
I found a great link to a discussion on terrible trees. Apparently we are not alone in our umbrage:



http://www.squidoo.com/offensivetreesbytheWCI



I noticed that the Eucalyptus tree is conspicuosly absent, though the Jacaranda and Pepper Tree made the list (don't even get me started on Pepper Trees. There was one outside my old place in QH. I bought my own leaf-blower to deal with the mess!)
 
A number of the McMansions that went up in CDM somehow managed to remove the pepper trees that were on city property and replace them with wimpy palms or something else. In fact one of the crappy new trees that never should have been there blew over one day and damaged a car. I wrote to the city council about it , but they never responded.
 
[quote author="Astute Observer" date=1214370442]

So you like pricks too?</blockquote>


pricks are cool but i am more of a succulent guy and hopefully there are some good deals in the show.
 
[quote author="Johnny" date=1214363190][quote author="stepping_up" date=1214358916]This is probably a stupid question, but where is San Marino?</blockquote>




San Marino is where Huntington Library sit.



This weekend they're having cactus and succulents show which is where I will be.



I don't post much, but bkshopr is there anything that you don't know.? always enjoy your feed back, keep them coming.</blockquote>


The Huntington Estates has just recently added the Chinese Garden and Pavilion. The craftsmen and the building materials were from China. The materials stayed and the craftsmen returned to their homeland. It is beautiful. Try not to miss the stinky plant that blooms only once a year around this time. Near the main gate of the estates across the street on Orlando is the famous architect Wallace Neff's home built in 1928.



If you love Cactus another place could rival the Huntington Estates is Lotus Land in Montecito. There you will find the largest collection of endangered cacti from around the world.



<img src="http://www.shedstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/lotushouse2.JPG" alt="" />



<img src="http://www.gardenvisit.com/assets/madge/lotusland_star_fountain/original/lotusland_star_fountain_original.jpg" alt="" />





<img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/94/244802647_7b3869a400.jpg?v=0" alt="" />
 
bk, you are a walking encyclopedia ! Didn't know that about Neff's house, will check it out next time I'm at the Huntington to look at the Gutenberg or <a href="http://www.superstock.co.uk/stock-photography/Canterbury/Tales"> Canterbury Tales</a>. They turn the pages every week or so, so there is always something new to look at.
 
[quote author="Trooper" date=1214394548]bk, you are a walking encyclopedia ! Didn't know that about Neff house, will check it out next time I'm at the Huntington to look at the Gutenberg or <a href="http://www.superstock.co.uk/stock-photography/Canterbury/Tales"> Canterbury Tales</a>. They turn the pages every week or so, so there is always something new to look at.</blockquote>


Here is a picture

<img src="http://www.laokay.com/lathumb/laphoto/Neff27.jpg" alt="" />



He raised all his children there. He was one the the greatest architects but a bad absent father and husband. He was not close to his children and his daughter was an alcoholic and killed herself in 1963. His 2 sons are constantly fighting. They are in their late 70's. Neff divorced early and his fortune was consumed by a 19 years old Asian companion during his old age. Neff was the heir of the Rand McNally company but he lost it all. He died of old age in a convalescent home in Laguna Beach after 20 years of Alzheimer. He was prolific during his career from 1920-1940 and designed homes for the Hollywood stars. When America entered into Modernism he never followed and stayed traditional and his work. He was out of big commissions after 1940's. He died in 1982. He is one of most admired architects today and I love his houses.



<img src="http://www.laokay.com/lathumb/laphoto/Neff25.jpg" alt="" />
 
Seriously, when are we starting BK's architectural walks? One Saturday per quarter. Santa Ana, Laguna(?), Long Beach, San Marino / Pasadena, etc. Figure out a per head charge to pay for BK's gas, lunch, and inconvenience for being away from his bricks & mortar family. Anyone?
 
Nice post on the Huntington.

I grew up in San Marino, my mom still lives there.

When I?m up there we enjoy walking thru the numerous gardens and library.

My mom loves the place.

She even had an artist replicate Gainsborough?s Blue Boy.

Just like the one hanging at the Huntington.

<img src="http://www.huntington.org/ArtDiv/ArtPix/BlueBoy.JPEG" alt="" />
 
[quote author="EvaLSeraphim" date=1214399932]Seriously, when are we starting BK's architectural walks? One Saturday per quarter. Santa Ana, Laguna(?), Long Beach, San Marino / Pasadena, etc. Figure out a per head charge to pay for BK's gas, lunch, and inconvenience for being away from his bricks & mortar family. Anyone?</blockquote>


I am happy to hear so many are interested in the architectural tour. The passion from all of you in architecture really should put a shame to the housing designers who do not have a clue about real architecture. I am happy and sad at the same time.
 
If anyone is interested in seeing the architecturally significant homes of L.A., <a href="http://www.architecturetoursla.com/">Check this lady out.</a>



I used to see her tooling around in the old caddy (that she has since retired)...... must be great to love your job!
 
[quote author="Trooper" date=1214471335]If anyone is interested in seeing the architecturally significant homes of L.A., <a href="http://www.architecturetoursla.com/">Check this lady out.</a>



I used to see her tooling around in the old caddy (that she has since retired)...... must be great to love your job!</blockquote>


She got her PhD from USC. She wrote many Spanish Colonial Revival books. I have all her little guide books. Over at Booksoup the LA local interest section is right next to all the nudie photography books.
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1214301486]

The curvilliner road is Oakknoll with some terrains along the original Wentworth Hotel (no longer managed by the Ritz Carlton)not far from Greene and Greene's Blacker house. I love this road. Thank you for posting this picture. Finally a good design deserving its place on IHB. This picture made my day. Happy Bk is going to celebrate with Happy Panda dreaming of San Marino.</blockquote>


I used to drive down Oaknoll almost daily, getting Peets coffee at the corner of California and Lake and driving down Oaknoll, peeking into at the Blacker property on the left at one of the stop signs. Actually I think there's another Greene and Greene property across the street from the Blacker house in more "concretish" architecture rather than the rich woods, finger joints and cloudlifts that G&G;used.



Way back when someone asked here if Irvine feels rich and I said no, because driving down Oaknoll or cruising around that part of South Pas/San Marino feels far more wealthy than any part of Irvine. In high school, we would cruise around that area at night and it is pretty creepy when little street lighting, heavy tree foilage and all the houses seem to have their lights on, but you could never see anyone through the window. One day an we almost ran into an old man was standing in pitch black darkness in the middle of one of the streets. Didn't even budge when turned the corner and continued to stand there after we passed.
 
<em>Way back when someone asked here if Irvine feels rich and I said no, because driving down Oaknoll or cruising around that part of South Pas/San Marino feels far more wealthy than any part of Irvine.</em>



I agree. I think it's something about the history of the area as well...



<a href="http://www.hewnandhammered.com/hewn_and_hammered/2007/12/brad-pitt-bunga.html">Blacker House book by Brad Pitt, et al</a>



Pitt has several of the original lighting fixtures from the Blacker House....installed in his home in Hollywood.
 
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