Arlington Garden

Arlington Garden. Pasadena. , Pomegranate Amphitheater , This amphitheater is built from split concrete urbanite and sandstone recovered from the Durand House mansion that stood on this site from 1905 until the mid-1960s. The stained glass window in the lattice depicts a pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit. , Pomegranates are native to a region from modern-day Iran to northern India, and they have been cultivated throughout the Middle East, South Asia, and Mediterranean region for several millennia. Pomegranates are mentioned in the Qur'an, where they are described as one of the fruits found in Paradise, and they are one of the three blessed fruits of Buddhism. , In ancient Greek mythology, Hades, the god of the underworld, tricks Persephone, the goddess of Spring, into eating pomegranate seeds while in the underworld. The seeds tie her to the underworld, and she is forced to return for a few months every year, causing winter with her absence. , The Wish Trees and Formal Terrace , The Crepe Myrtle trees that line this walk were originally part of Yoko Ono's ongoing, interactive Wish Tree (1981) art project and gifted to Arlington Garden. Visitors can still take part in Ono's project by adding their own wishes to the trees. , Down the slope from the wish trees, you will find our Formal Terrace. Terraces have traditionally been part of mediterranean gardens. Our terrace is a good example of sustainable horticultural practices in action, because it is made from reclaimed concrete, and it helps slow and sink water runoff during the winter months.