Children's Garden at Huntington Library

Today we checked out the Huntington Library (actually the gardens more so than the library). I definitely prefer art museum that have interesting gardens--it is relaxing to break up the quiet, somber atmosphere of the museum with airy, cheerful gardens. Visiting the Huntington was great, especially with Nitin who gave us an awesome tour. We took a quick look in the museum at the Blue Boy painting, and the docent standing in the gallery gave the kids an awesome mini-lesson about the painting. I also enjoyed seeing the inside of the building and the beautiful antique furniture on exhibit.

By this time Joshua was complaining that I hadn't yet produced the fun that I promised, so our next stop was the conservatory which had lots of hands on activities. The kids favorite activity was looking through the microscopes to see different kinds of leaves close-up (see photo). Then we continued on to the children's garden which had plenty of water play areas, plant tunnels to run through and water spraying areas. Joshua loved playing with the magnetic sand (see photo) and the musical instrument which kids can drop rocks through to make music. Laura and Benjamin loved splashing in the tables filled with water and the small rock-filled stream. If I were to go back again, I would definitely have my kids wear water shoes--I suspect that kids are not allowed to go barefoot.

Of course as soon as they stopped playing, they realized that they were hungry and we rushed home for lunch. By this time, Laura was in first place for the dirtiest kid award (see photo)! As we walked back through the conservatory, the kids were enticed first by the bug-eating plant exhibit which had microscopes for up close views and movies of the plants in action. Joshua started searching around for bugs to feed the plants. I liked the exhibit with the dead pitcher plant that identified the bugs it ate from the undigested remains. We also discovered the fish tank in the rainforest and the underwater camera which has a control to move it around. When we were finally ready to leave, the walk to the entrance gate and then to the car seemed three times as long as going (perhaps because the kids were now tired and walking really slowly).

On the topic of fun conversations with the kids, Joshua started off explaining reasons why we probably don't have a car without a top: 1. Because most of them only seat two people and 2. Because people who don't wear a seatbelt might go flying out. Benjamin then explained that only the states on the edges have beaches (so California and New Jersey have beaches, but Pennsylvania and Ohio do not; New York does, but not near us).

Benjamin: I liked the magnet thing. Yes, yes, yes (he enjoyed playing in the water).