OPEN TODAY: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.

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Second Sundays: Cultivating California

Event
A large orange on a purple background, with a white sunburst halo, and the word "California" above in red and black.

Sun., July 14, 2024, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Free public drop-in program

Kids/Families

Education and Visitor Center, The Rose Hills Foundation Garden Court

Discover insights into California’s agricultural history through artmaking, talks with curators, and live music at this free event for visitors of all ages.
Gardens

Curator Talks

Join Josh Garrett-Davis, H. Russell Smith Foundation Curator of Western American History at The Huntington, for short discussions about cultivating plants in California. Garrett-Davis will share unique stories from The Huntington’s collections regarding family farming, industrial agriculture, and Indigenous land practices.

45-minute talks at 11:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.

Hands-On Artmaking
  • Experiment with cyanotype photography and create your own photos using California native plants and the power of the sun.
  • Create your own botanical drawing using California native plants as reference.

Musical Performance

Enjoy folk music with Frank Fairfield, a multi-instrumental artist who has appeared on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts and the animated miniseries Over the Garden Wall.

45-minute performances at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

citrus crate label with a toucan
Artist Unknown, Angel Brand (advertisement for oranges), 1900, chromolithograph. Jay Last Collection.
Avocado crate labels that say “Ener-Vita Avocados,” “Fancy California Avocados,” and “Mr. Avocado.”
A large orange on a purple background, with a white sunburst halo. Text at top reads "Halo Brand", curved text around the orange reads "California, Oranges," text at the bottom reads "Packed by California Citrus Union."
White silhouettes of plant parts on a light blue background.
citrus crate label with a toucan
Artist Unknown, Angel Brand (advertisement for oranges), 1900, chromolithograph. Jay Last Collection.
Avocado crate labels that say “Ener-Vita Avocados,” “Fancy California Avocados,” and “Mr. Avocado.”
A large orange on a purple background, with a white sunburst halo. Text at top reads "Halo Brand", curved text around the orange reads "California, Oranges," text at the bottom reads "Packed by California Citrus Union."
White silhouettes of plant parts on a light blue background.

Toucan Brand citrus crate label for the H.E. Huntington Packing Association, San Marino, California, 1919. Gift of Jay T. Last. Jay T. Last Collection of Graphic Arts and Social History.  | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. 

Artist Unknown, Angel Brand (advertisement for oranges), 1900, chromolithograph. Jay T. Last Collection of Graphic Arts and Social History. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Produce crate labels from the 1940s and 1950s promoted avocados as delicious, nutritious, and fun. The Jay T. Last Collection of Graphic Arts and Social History. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Artist  Unknown, Halo Brand, c. 1890-1900, Mutual Label & Lith. Co., printer. Jay T. Last Collection of Graphic Arts and Social History. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Sagittaria sagittifolia (Caen), approximately 1851-1854. Atkins, Anna, 1799-1871, photographer. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

A Fruitful Perspective

Soon after Henry E. Huntington purchased the San Marino Ranch (formerly owned by James DeBarth Shorb) in 1903, he learned that many agricultural crops—such as avocados, peaches, and nuts—could be grown on the property.

Read the Story
Sour oranges

The Last Orange Grove in Town

In 1919, Henry and Arabella Huntington signed the trust indenture that formed The Huntington. But in 1919 this was still a working ranch; the library was still under construction; and Henry was still gung-ho for a citrus operation that he hoped would subsidize his plans for a public institution.

Watch Now

Harvesting an Orchard to Feed the Hungry

Have you ever wondered what happens to the ripe, luscious oranges you see growing in The Huntington’s orchards? They help feed people in need.

Read the Story