May 2025 Happenings

Architecture is an expression of the human condition. In one sense it’s an intellectual pursuit with an emphasis on functionality and tastes relative to the client.  The design process is without limitation, except for perhaps the limitation of the materials and mathematical formulas that allow the intangible idea to become a physical expression on the land. Mr. Barber, the founder of Tim Barber Architects and the founder and former President of the Southern California Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA), examined the process and design intent of the Robinsons’ Italian Revival Pool Pavilion on February 27,…

On March 20, 2025, at The Virginia Robinson Gardens, architects and landscape designers Raun Thorp and Brian Tichenor presented an engaging talk to the Fellows based on their book Outside In: The Gardens and Houses of Tichenor and Thorp, sharing their approach to integrating architecture and landscape into a unified whole. Their guiding philosophy of creating outstanding residences is simple but powerful: “start with the garden.” In Southern California, where large homes are often built on small lots, outdoor space is at a premium. Raun and Brian begin every project by identifying the most valuable aspects of the site—views, slopes,…

For the first time since the pandemic, the Friends were able to plan and have one of Virginia Robinson’s favorite activities at VRG. It was such a joy to invite 100 students from the underserved areas of Los Angeles to come with their chaperones again to our beloved Gardens for the Children’s Science Fair on March 26, 2025. It rained in the morning, and it was a rush to get the set up dry and ready for the kids, but it was as if Virginia smiled down upon us, wiped the rain away, and made it a perfect weather day….

Welcome all hat lovers to this glamorous event! The third annual Hat Contest with prizes will be part of this year’s “Floral Fantasia” Garden Tour festivities on May 17, 2025. It will be helmed by the Friends’ dream team – the Founder of the Friends Joan Selwyn and Master of Ceremonies Marcella Ruble! Every attendee can participate in the fun.  Wear your hat on stage, and the judges, and you, the participants, will choose “winners” in three categories: Our three wonderful judges are: Winners, please allow us to take your photos for our archives, and a big thank you to…

“Spring is in the Air” and you will find changes all around. As soon as you walk outside of the beautiful flower-bedecked estate to the Great Lawn, you will find our vendor marketplace. There you will see some familiar faces, as well as 10 new vendors to stimulate your imagination. Our buzzwords this year are… Shop, Stamp, and Win The more you shop, the more stamps you will get in your “Passport,” and every hour, you can win fantastic prizes like beautiful leather-bound coffee table books, picnic baskets, fragrances and more…Values up to $200. Early bird shoppers, before 11 am, earn…

The Friends of Robinson Gardens are so grateful to the extremely talented floral and landscape designers who will enchant your senses by transforming the rooms and outdoor spaces at Virginia Robinson’s home into settings of dazzling beauty for the 36th Annual Garden Tour and Showcase Estate on May 17, 2025. Don’t miss this gorgeous event where the florists will interpret the theme: “Floral Fantasia.” Each Garden Tour Star is listed alphabetically along with the room/area they are decorating or located so that you will know where to find them when you visit the Showcase Estate at Robinson Gardens. Alena Kvassov of Awesome Bloom Décor shares,…