Hancock Park

I had to go into downtown Los Angeles today for my job.  I don't usually go all the way into the city, so I thought I would stop by Hancock Park on my way home and take some photos of some of the gorgeous landscaping to share with you.  I am a member of the Hancock Park Historical Society, and in April I was a docent for their garden tour.  I was so excited to get some photos to share with you, and wouldn't you know it, I got down there with my camera and the SD card was still in my computer because I had just done a blog post.  Drats!!!  I saw some amazing landscaping too, but, of course, today I couldn't find the homes because they look different two months later with the hot summer sun beating down.  Even my own garden has changed in the last two months.  I did find a few yards to share though.
Hancock Park is a neighborhood that is very close to Beverly Hills and many of the homes date back to the 1920's or even earlier.  The lot sizes are enormous and so are many of the homes.  They were all built by different architects so there is no tract home feel here.

The homes are set back from the street so they all have beautiful sweeping walkways.  In the next photo I was enamored by the incredible iron work over the entrance and the front windows.  Isn't it gorgeous?

I love this little island in the middle of this walkway below.  It gives an air of mystery to the entrance.  Notice the huge trees.  These front yards are huge.

I have always loved picket fences.  The one below is lined with different colored bougainvillea.

These beautiful pink and purple flowers are the most beautiful hydrangeas I have ever seen.  I feed mine with concoctions for acid loving plants, but they don't look anything like these.  I'm still trying to find out how they get in there to trim and cut the flowers.  This garden was incredible.  My pictures only show it one-tenth the justice it deserves.  Mind you, I was being sort of sneaky about photographing as this is a private neighborhood.

Trimming the vine on this next house is no small feat.  I can barely contain my little wall that has this very vine.

Yes, these homes are perfect for a grand entrance.

These day lilies were beautiful and were planted everywhere for a border effect.

Last but not least, many of these homes have magnificent climbing roses arched over the front entrances.  You can tell they have been there for years by the size of their canes.  I wish my climbers looked this good.  The flowers below are marigolds.  They were the only ones I spotted today.  Thanks for going on this tour with me.  If these gardens could talk, I bet they would tell some fascinating stories!

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