A terrarium garden of small plants. Photo by Brandon Tam | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens will host a talk on terrarium gardening this afternoon, followed by a plant sale, according to the institution’s event listing.
The presentation, “Gardens Under Glass: Exploring the Possibilities of Terrarium Gardening,” runs from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at the Ahmanson Classroom and Plant Sale Nursery, 1151 Oxford Road. Admission is free with a reservation, according to The Huntington’s website.
The speaker, James Downer, is a horticulturist and plant pathologist who has served as the University of California Cooperative Extension advisor for Ventura County since 1985, The Huntington said. His expertise covers management of garden landscapes both large and small, and Thursday’s talk will focus on the latter, according to the event description.
Downer’s presentation will treat terrariums as contained ecosystems that can be landscaped much like any outdoor garden, The Huntington said. Planned topics include substrate, water, suitable and unsuitable plant choices, container types, lighting, and decorative elements such as sticks and rocks. Downer is also expected to discuss paludariums, a terrarium variation that incorporates animals and water, along with the role insects and other small creatures can play within these enclosed environments, according to the listing.
A terrarium is typically built inside a sealed or open glass container, creating a small-scale environment for mosses, ferns, succulents, or other plants suited to its particular light and moisture conditions. The format has drawn renewed interest among home gardeners in recent years, particularly among those with limited outdoor space.
Attendees will be able to shop for plants once the talk concludes.
The Huntington’s listing sets out several conditions for the event. Reservations are required to attend the talk. Entry to the grounds will not be permitted before 2 p.m., and there is no early access to the plant sale ahead of its scheduled start. The event will proceed rain or shine, per the venue.
Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Road in San Marino, a city that borders Pasadena but not Altadena, which lies several miles to the north on the opposite side of Pasadena. The institution’s grounds, which include its botanical gardens, library, and art collections, are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Tuesdays, according to The Huntington’s visitor information.
Reservations for Thursday’s talk can be made through The Huntington’s online ticketing system.
No quotes from Downer, Huntington staff, or attendees were available for this report. Huntington’s public event listing was the sole source of information used in preparing this article.
