Spend a Year in Getty’s Garden
Look back at a year of planting, watering, and blooming
Blooms in all the colors of the rainbow welcome visitors to Getty's Central Garden each spring.
Body Content
“There’s no palette as rich as a garden...You can’t plan nature; you court her.” — Robert Irwin, 1928-2023
Irwin designed Getty’s Central Garden as a space that would constantly grow, evolve, and, of course, bloom.
Throughout 2023, Getty’s Grounds and Gardens team worked hard behind the scenes to create colorful, unique displays to wow visitors throughout all four seasons.
Spring
In February, gardeners planted 2,800 tulip bulbs of 26 varieties in the Central Garden Bowl.
A gardener uses a bulb planter, a tool designed to excavate holes to the correct depth for tulips.
The Bowl Garden crape myrtle in bloom under glorious skies.
A Fire Wings tulip blooms during the spring season.
Summer
Dahlias of all shapes and sizes take center stage each summer. This year, Getty planted over 56 varieties with blooms that ranged in size from 1” in diameter to 8” across.
“I’ve just scratched the surface with dahlias. There’s so many colors, flower styles and plant heights to choose from. I’m learning more each year,” said Getty’s horticulturist, Jackie Flor.
Horticulturist Jackie Flor points to the dahlia layout she created in preparation for planting.
Enchantress dahlias
Fall
In fall, as the days shortened and the sun lay lower in the sky, chrysanthemum blooms brightened the garden. Dazzling white spider mums, as well as yellow, bronze, burgundy, and red Belgian mums in shades reminiscent of autumn leaves created a bold display.
Crew member Elvia Castillo waters chrysanthemums in preparation for planting.
Roses, chrysanthemums, pansies, and celosia in autumnal hues ignite the fall garden.
Winter
Berry branches stippled with bright red fruit, burgundy celosia, and pansies greeted visitors as they entered the winter garden paths.
Though the berry branches planted in the garden this winter won’t root, they’re a nod to Irwin’s love of seasonality. Irwin saw berries as the culmination of a plant’s life cycle.
Jackie Flor wheels a cartful of plants into the garden.
The bare branches of curly willow and ilex lend a sculptural element to the winter garden.
Happy New Year!
The Grounds and Gardens team is already preparing for next year. Hundreds of newly planted anemones and ranunculus will be blooming come late winter and early spring.
Each day provides a new experience of nature’s variety and uniqueness. Come check it out all year long!
Robert Irwin Getty Garden, Revised Edition
$22/£18.99
