The world's largest succulent collection is tucked away in a library; you must visit if you ever get the chance

The Huntington Library in Southern California is quite special.

Because it is not just a library; it also serves as a botanical garden, an art gallery and more, all within its 910-mu estate.

It was once a private non-profit research and collection estate belonging to railroad magnate Henry Huntington.

Today it has become an institution blending research, education and aesthetics, attracting over 500,000 visitors and experts each year, with fifteen botanical gardens in total, large and small.

The grounds are home to 14,000 species of plants in vast abundance, laid out by category into the Rose Garden, Palm Garden, Japanese Garden, the Chinese Garden "Liu Fang Yuan", the Shakespeare Garden,the Desert Gardenand other areas.

Ducks walking in the Rose Garden

The most special of all is the Desert Garden, because it claims to be one of the botanical gardens with the largest succulent collection in the world.

- Desert Garden -

The garden covers 72 mu and holds more than 4,000 species of cacti and other succulents, including Euphorbiaceae and other plants native to Africa.

The various desert plants are arranged by flora distribution across more than 60 flower beds in the garden, recreating the plants' wild appearance.

Now let us take a look at its wonderful scenery, mainly by plant family~

* Cactaceae *

As a succulent paradise, California has vast resources; the garden filled with cactus globes is full of exotic character, as if you were standing in a desert.

There are countless tall giant cacti.

There are also its beautiful flowers, like lotuses blooming in the desert.

A cactus in bloom

Do you want to eat this cute fruit?

* Aloe *

In California you can see all kinds of aloes in different colors; at this time of year the aloe flowers are in full, brilliant bloom.

* Agave *

Agave victoriae-reginae is seen everywhere in the Desert Garden; in China it commands a high price, with a 55 cm diameter specimen costing around 4,000 yuan. The reason is simple: Agave victoriae-reginae grows far too slowly.

This also owes much to the Huntington's long history: it was founded in 1919, and next year it will truly be a century-old estate.

Besides Agave victoriae-reginae, there are several other very imposing agaves, I think one is Agave nickelsiae.

The neatly shaped Agave victoriae-reginae f. compacta.

Agave paired with Aeonium, unexpectedly beautiful, an artistic feel of ice and fire intertwined.

* Crassulaceae *

There is also blue sedge planted casually in the ground, with a frosty color too.

This group of succulents looks just like flames.

Is this perhaps Echeveria 'Ice Berry'? Foreigners really do plant them in the ground without any regard for appearance.

The heartbreak of many people - Echeveria 'Yu Die' - is actually planted in the ground in California.

The super ethereal Echeveria 'Guang Han Gong'~

How could Kalanchoe daigremontiana be left out?

Could a rabbit or two also pop out? Succulents probably taste pretty good.

Soft-leaved Haworthia truncata '12' planted in the ground, also quite different from what we usually know.

These Aeonium below are the beauties of the genus Aeonium.

There are also some Crassulaceae succulents that can only be grown in pots, otherwise they will die; growing succulents in California has its limits too.

Dudleya farinosa, a succulent native to California~

There are still many, many succulent holdings, simply a paradise for succulent lovers!!

When your eyes are tired you can go to the art gallery to look at beautiful young men and relax your eyes; the gallery holds quite a few famous paintings.

Painting agaves on the wall is the Huntington's artistic touch~

Were you all stunned by this library?