September 2025 Happenings
Mrs. Brockhouse’s Garden
I was standing in front of a tall wood and glass cabinet looking at a display of hand-blown glass animals. At nine years old these seemed like magic, long before I knew who Tennessee Williams was or what a metaphor meant. As a child I would frequently visit these glass animals that belonged to my older next-door neighbors: Mr. and Mrs. Brockhouse. I think of those animals often and recently was describing them to my wife. The description of the animals led to a larger description of Mrs. Brockhouse’s fondness for collecting. Today we might say hoarding, but then it was “collecting.”… Read More
The Friends Dinner…and All That Jazz!
On Saturday evening, August 9, 2025, guests for our annual Fellows dinner were welcomed to our Great Lawn at The Virginia Robinson Gardens by the velvety and breezy sounds of a talented jazz quartet from the Colburn Community School in Los Angeles. Colburn, called the Julliard of the West, is considered the pre-eminent music academy on the West Coast. These young prodigies entertained us throughout the evening with their improvisational and textural melodies that were greatly appreciated by our jazz aficionados.… Read More
Spotlight on Bobby Flores
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 Bobby Flores. Bobby joined the gardens in February 2024 as a Ground Maintenance Worker. Prior to joining The Virginia Robinson Gardens, Bobby worked in construction and then transitioned to gardening. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he is the proud father of a 21-year-old son, Caesar Nicholas, who is a professional gamer and streamer! Fun fact: Bobby used to work as a DJ and loves music. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, going to car shows, and gardening.… Read More
Message from Superintendent Diane Sipos
What better way to disengage from the stresses in our environment by spending time in this garden oasis nestled in the foothills of Beverly Hills. This is especially important for children who live in dense urban areas with limited green spaces. The Virginia Robinson Gardens hosted weekly field trips for ESTEAM summer camps this summer. ESTEAM (Environment, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) is a free program through the LA County Department of Parks and Recreation that provides an opportunity for children in low-income communities to connect with the outdoors and explore ESTEAM topics through group games, arts and culture, technology, field trips, guest speakers, and project-based learning. … Read More