June Happenings 2025
Meet this Tree: Hymenosporum Flavum Commonly Known as Sweetshade
The Sweetshade is an evergreen tree in the Pittosporaceae family and comes to us from Eastern Australia, New Guinea, the Rainforest of Queensland, and New South Wales.
It is a very slender and upright evergreen tree but can be pruned to any shape you like. It grows between 20 and 40 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide.
The tree prefers full sun but can take partial shade. It does well in any type of soil and benefits from infrequent but deep watering. It is considered drought tolerant, requires little maintenance and has no known insect or disease problems at the moment.… Read More
Timothy Corrigan and His Enthralling Lecture on His Book, “At Home in France: Inspiration and Style in Town and Country”
“Fantastic!” “Spectacular!” “One of the best lectures I have ever heard!” were some of the excited comments after the superlative lecture by famed interior designer Timothy Corrigan on April 29, 2025, at The Virginia Robinson Gardens. Timothy mesmerized his audience with his exuberance, humor, warmth, and fascinating tales (and travails) based on his book At Home in France: Inspiration and Style in Town and Country. Supremely talented and knowledgeable, Timothy showed how he repurposed and decorated rooms in the Chateau de La Chevallerie, the beauty of which took one’s breath away.… Read More
Teacher Appreciation Brunch & Tour at VRG
On May 3, 2025, while it was a cold and misty day to honor the teachers who have led the way in sharing the VRG Science curriculum with their students, everyone’s sunny smiles lit up the Pool Pavilion for a lively morning of brunch, followed by a tour of the Gardens. After welcoming the teachers and hearing stories about how the VRG science curriculum has impacted their teaching, our guests were captivated by the history of the lives of Virginia and Harry and the beautiful gardens they created. Teachers listened intently about Virginia’s passion for helping children and how this has translated into supporting students in classrooms all over Los Angeles! Since the inception of this program, over 200 educators have integrated VRG science materials into their teaching.… Read More
New Members Tea at VRG
On April 1, 2025, hosted by Membership Chairs Lori Greene Gordon and Natalie Gordon Beiser, the Friends welcomed new members for an afternoon tea in the Pool Pavillion. The atmosphere was vibrant as everyone shared tea, treats and wonderful conversations. Upon arrival, each guest was greeted with a warm hello and a glass of Conegliano Valdobbiadene prosecco or Duche de Longueville sparkling cider. New members mingled as they gazed upon the Gardens and were soon called to the buffet. Tea consisted of delicious sandwiches catered by Clementine, delectable fruit tarts, gorgeous chocolate tarts, traditional English scones from Ye Olde King’s Head served with clotted cream and lemon curd, fresh berries and homemade whipped cream, and a selection of premium seasonal teas from Harney & Sons.… Read More
Spotlight on Josh Johnston
Each month, we spotlight a volunteer, staff member, docent, donor, or sponsor of The Virginia Robinson Gardens (VRG) — those that have made an impact on the organization. We want to let you know about these wonderful people and corporations that give so much to The Virginia Robinson Gardens and to the community, and what they do that is so impactful.
This month, we spotlight Estate Caretaker Josh Johnston. Founder of the Friends Joan Selwyn said, “Josh is part of the heart of The Virginia Robinson Gardens. His love of nature and devotion is felt as you walk through the children’s garden hearing the hens happily clucking and the fragrance of the garden wafting through the air.” Josh also creates flower arrangements in the Great Hall of the VRG home, and designs landscapes for his clients.… Read More