A Love of Nature and Learning

Tell us a bit about your Huntington story.

Eric: I remember visiting The Huntington as a child. As an adult, I have found it to be a place of healing and renewal, stretching back to my days as a medical resident when I visited The Huntington on my “golden days,” the coveted days off from the medical wards. Together, we have visited with aging parents recovering from illness, and during the pandemic, we deeply appreciated the calming benefits of a stroll in the gardens.

You have become more involved over the years, including joining the Society of Fellows. Why?

Jasmin: The Huntington has so much to offer!

We both love being outdoors, so we always enjoy walking around the gardens. Every visit feels like a “choose your own adventure,” where we can pick from enjoying the Seuss-like shapes and sizes of plants in the Desert Garden, the more traditional Rose Garden, or our favorite—the Chinese Garden. I always manage to spot a frog or turtle hiding in the lily pads just in front of the Terrace that Invites the Mountain.

Some things, like the gardens, are here to enjoy time and again. Others are only available for a limited time. We have enjoyed many temporary exhibitions and special performances and have learned an amazing amount through lectures at The Huntington. Joining the Society of Fellows has given us even more opportunities to engage with and learn from The Huntington’s collections and staff, and get a glimpse into the important work of the scholars who come here to conduct their research.

You’ve been advocates of The Huntington for a long time. Can you speak about some of the initiatives, programs, or events that have inspired or excited you in the last few years?

Jasmin: We strongly believe in The Huntington’s efforts to make both the gardens and the Library collections accessible to a diversity of visitors. We appreciate the increased prominence given to such Library collections as the Octavia E. Butler archives and the papers of immigration attorney Y. C. Hong. Hong’s papers provide insights into the journey from China to the United States of “paper sons” [Chinese men who purchased fake identity papers claiming U.S. citizenship].

We appreciate the collaborations with other institutions, including “Made in L.A.” with the Hammer Museum and with LA Opera.