Garden Tour: The Getty
“Ever present / Never twice the same / Ever changing / Never less than whole”
This fall I had the absolute joy of taking my first trip to California and I loved every second of it. I cannot wait to go back and do more of the things that were on my West Coast Bucket List! I did cover a ton of ground around LA and saw A LOT so if you ever see me in person, ask me about it and I won’t shut up. Everything was really amazing but one of the biggest highlights was my visit to The Getty art museum.
Tucked in the hills, this place is an experience like no other. You park underground and walk up to a tram station, get your tickets, board and enjoy scenic views all around on the way up to the top of the mountain while being serenaded by inspiring classical music. It really sets the tone for a day you won’t forget. We unfortunately only had a few hours to spend here but you can bet I plan to be back!
It is an art museum so the art throughout is incredible, really beyond words. How can you describe standing face to face with works by Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Monet, Manet, and so many other masters?! The architecture is also beyond description to be honest. Richard Meier designed the entire place with your perspective in mind. Everywhere you look is art, every view perfectly framed by the shape of the buildings, entryways, windows, or landscaping.
However, if you’ve spent much time here or around me in person, you know that I was really there for the gardens… and they did not disappoint. Designed by Robert Irwin from 1992-1997 they mimic the architecture in creating a beautiful scene from any angle. We even had the privilege to witness a proposal while there!
There are a variety of ways to descend toward the gardens from paths that criss-cross running water that beginning up at the museum, to a wide gorgeous staircase. Once you are down, the paths labyrinth toward a central water feature where the water becomes the labyrinth meandering through groomed azalea bushes. The variety of plants and their arrangement by color and size is truly stunning. We were there in September and some things were obviously not at their peak and it still made me speechless. This lower garden features 500 varieties of plants and has been opened since 1997 for daily tours. There is also a sculpture terrace on the upper level of one of the buildings and a sculpture garden on the ground level above this lower garden. This place has it all for me, art and nature are magically intertwined all over the 134,000 square feet of the Getty.
