Pomona's secret garden

Some of you may have seen the full-page feature in the Home section of the L.A. Times on Feb. 21, "Where nature truly ruled," about an influential, "wild" rather than manicured garden "tucked into a tough Pomona neighborhood."

Well, that article caused some of us to sit up and ask where the heck this garden is. Or was, since it's on the way out -- its tenant, John Greenlee, deciding to give up the lease after 30 years.

The Goddess of Pomona blog got on the case and tracked down the location. An open house was arranged. And so, on Feb. 29 (sorry for the delay), the bamboo gate was opened and, in shifts, a few dozen of us entered.

It's a quarter-acre in size, with winding flagstone and dirt paths that make the property seem larger. There is bamboo everywhere, a boulder-lined sunken garden, a pond, two small houses obscured by overgrown plantings, orange trees and native grasses. It's watered now and then but not mown or shaped.

Birds chirped in the trees and other than the satellite dishes visible on the neighboring properties, the place seemed like an oasis. It was peaceful and serene.

You can see photos and a writeup at the Goddess' blog.

Since the garden is closed, I won't give the location, other than to say it's across the street from the Pomona Cemetery. "A tough Pomona neighborhood"? Well, an unlikely one, perhaps, but at least it's quiet.