For most of the previous week, the local weather pundits had danced around a slight possibility of rain, which never materialized.  On the 11:00 o’clock news the night before I was to visit to the Huntington, they raised the odds to an 80% chance of precipitation by the next afternoon.  Named for its founder, Henry Huntington, whose fortune was made in railroads early in the 20th century, and who, with his wife Arabella, amassed renowned collections of rare books, art, and plant specimens. The present-day Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens has evolved into a favorite tourist spot in Southern California.

Sure enough, at 12:07 PM the next afternoon, just as we entered the Pasadena Freeway, sheets of rain began streaking across the windows and the windshield looked like someone was throwing buckets of water at it.

After exiting the freeway, we rode, momentarily rain-free, through the lovely, tree-lined residential streets of Pasadena and San Marino; as we parked, I considered leaving my rain gear behind, but thought better of it, because the only item on this day’s agenda was seeing the recently opened Chinese Garden, which had, on my previous two visits, been under construction, tantalizingly secreted behind an austere wooden fence.

No sooner had I left the shelter of the Huntington’s Entrance Pavilion than the rain began falling in earnest.  I was unable to find any directional signs; however, there were some red lanterns left over from the Chinese New Year celebration of a few days earlier that, I assumed, would lead me to my destination.

My assumption proved correct. An embellished stone wall had replaced the wooden fence; and just as the wooden fence had effectively blocked the view, windows cut into the stone wall opened it up to reveal inviting mini-vistas of the garden beyond.

The focal point of the garden is a man-made lake, that was situated in an area where water would naturally collect after a rain. Design of the garden is dictated by traditional Chinese landscaping; it can be viewed in detail (and full sun), at the Huntington’s web site.

I was standing on the deck of the Freshwater Pavilion, watching some koi, when I realized, I’d gotten wet and chilled.  As luck would have it, I was also standing in front of the Tea Shop.

The Tea Shop’s menu is limited, but carefully selected to afford the visitor a culinary experience to complement the viewing of the garden.  Four varieties of tea are brewed from loose leaf tea, including an oolong, called “Flowing Fragrance”, which also happens to be the name of the garden.

I wondered if this was by design or serendipity; after only a couple of wrong numbers, I connected with Bruce Ueno, the on-site manager for Sodexo, an international catering company, which is the food service provider for the Huntington.

He explained that the company works with each client so that there is a seamless fit; in this case, the tea selection involved not only advisory consultants, but also focus groups that served as tasting panels.  The Chinese name of the oolong, he told me, could, if “stretched” a bit, translate to “flowing fragrance”.

“Making it the garden’s signature tea?” I asked.

“You could say that,” he replied.

I asked if Flowing Fragrance, or any of the other teas, were sold in bulk in the Tea Shop.  At present they are not; however, the garden has become so popular with visitors, that a Chinese chef has been hired to explore the presentation of an expanded menu, as well as the feasibility of other related items being offered for sale.  Until the revamp is completed, the Tea Shop is open only on weekends.

There are no picnic facilities at the Huntington; however, there is a set-price buffet tea, as well as a casual dining outlet featuring sandwiches and snacks.

I’m looking forward to a return visit under more favorable weather conditions, although I did enjoy wandering in the cold and wet, and being reminded again, how warm and cheering a cup of hot tea can be on a chilly, gloomy day.