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The greatest attraction of the Span‐ unique garden experience.
ish Colonial Adamson House, besides its Also in the mix is The Front Meadow,
enviable seaside location, are the colorful planted with herbaceous California natives;
tiles used throughout. While photographs the Great Lawn and Dry Border, outlined by
are not allowed inside, you will want to towering Italian Cypress trees; the Italian
commit to memory its bathrooms that are Terrace Garden, with various terraces and
tiled floor to ceiling as well as many other fountains punctuated by huge old magnolia
tiled surfaces. These exquisite tiles were trees, as well as the largest Coral tree in
produced by Malibu Potteries, which oper‐ California.
ated only for several years in the 1930s by The Display Rose Garden features
May Knight Rindge. You can purchase some hundreds of heritage roses, including Vir‐
of the original pieces at the store on site. ginia’s favorite, the Eiffel Tower rose, intro‐
(adamsonhouse.org). duced in 1957. And the Kitchen Garden is
Virginia Robinson Gardens was my planted with all manner of edible plants
next destination. Noted as the first luxury and flowers. An old monkey cage in this
estate of Beverly Hills, it was the home of area attests to former residents.
Harry and Virginia Robinson, heirs to the Tours inside the home give just a
Robinson Department Stores, and was built glimpse of the mansion where many lavish
over a period of 66 years beginning in 1911. parties were held over the years; Virginia
It was just a barren hillside in the begin‐ was a legendary hostess. Guests included
ning, but over the years the Robinsons the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Marlene
lived there, it was transformed into six dis‐ Dietrich and Fred Astaire, while neighbors
tinct gardens covering six acres. When Vir‐ included Lillian Disney and Elvis Presley.
ginia died in 1977, she bequeathed the Nearby is the Greystone Mansion
property to Los Angeles County to be and Gardens, the historic Doheny Estate,
opened to the public. Advance reservations now owned by the City of Beverly Hills.
are required ($15; robinsongardens.org). Park grounds and gardens here are open
One of the fascinating facts about daily to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
this garden apply to many of the others In free of charge. The mansion was built in
the Los Angeles region as well: Because of 1927 for Ned Doheny Jr., heir to one of the
its rich soil and favorable climate, more world’s great fortunes since the 1892 dis‐
plant species can grow here outdoors than covery of oil in Los Angeles by his father,
anywhere else in the continental U.S., it Edward L. Doheny. The estate took three
says. years to build at a cost of more than $3
Among the six gardens is the amaz‐ million.
ing King Palm Forest, said to be the largest In 1929, only five months after Ned
stand of King Palm trees outside of Doheny and his family moved in, Ned Do‐
Queensland, Australia. Indeed, more than heny was found shot to death outside the
1,000 palm trees tower over a network of home, an apparent murder-suicide by his
pathways through the forest, making for a longtime friend and aid, Hugh Plunkett.
The towering palm trees in
Virginia Robinson Garden.
162 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2024
