Sunnylands: A Study in Desert Mass Planting

Sunnylands is a 200 acre estate located in Rancho Mirage, California and is owned an operated by the Annenberg Trust with the idea that the estate itself will be used to host retreats for some of the most powerful individuals on the planet.  Blah blah blah.  Let’s get on to the design of the place.

Fair warning: this post will be full of detail oriented photos.

The estate itself was designed by architect A. Quincey Jones. It’s a glorious example of midcentury modern architecture that is chock full of Impressionist era art work that’s billed as a modest, casual home. I don’t know about your casual modest home, but this one includes a 9 hole, parkland style, Dick Wilson golf course and a ginormous pool that has enough water in it to change the surface of Sudan, but I digress. I didn’t go on this tour because I didn’t register in time. Instead we’re going to focus on the newly designed center and gardens attached to the estate.

A. Quincey Jones site plan for the estate.
A. Quincey Jones site plan for the estate.
A. Quincey Jones pool plans for the estate.
A. Quincey Jones pool plans for the estate.
"Important" golf balls from the events on the estate.
“Important” golf balls from the events on the estate.

 

Site plan for the new gardens and visitor's center. Courtesy of ASLA and the offices of James Burnett.
Site plan for the new gardens and visitor’s center. Courtesy of ASLA and the offices of James Burnett.

 

Above you see the site plan of the new gardens and the visitor center. It is spectacular. The new center itself was designed by Fredrick Fisher and Partners based out of Los Angeles, CA. The building itself is a sight to behold. The brilliant, white single-story, multi-use building is certified LEED Gold and blends seamlessly into the over all plan of the estate itself. There’s a cafe, videos about the Annenbergs, selected pieces from the Annenberg’s massive collection of art, and a tasteful and well done gift shop. Such a good gift shop that I spent a small fortune on postcards there.

Visitor's Center Entry
Visitor’s Center Entry

The gardens themselves were designed by the office of James Burnett in Solana Beach, CA. His vision for the space was to use desert plants to mirror the Annenberg’s love of Impressionist era art. Does he succeed? Sure, in a way. The plant palette is limited and will be expensive to replace when things die, but it is spectacular in its own way. Let’s get into this.

The nine acre gardens feature over 50,000 desert plants which were chosen to provide year round visual interest while providing a much needed contrast to the lush greenery in the desert of the main estate itself. There are a little over a mile of walking paths, a labrynth, a large green lawn, and a natural wildflower area. Yellow is the predominant bloom color which reflects the Sunnylands logo and the gardens also provide a look into how lush desert plants really can be by using desert plants from all over the world.

The stained concrete entry walk done in subtle shades of brown that mirror the natural desert colors of the space.
The stained concrete entry walk done in subtle shades of brown that mirror the natural desert colors of the space.
Black dg with cowhorn agaves and golden barrel cactus
Black dg with cowhorn agaves and golden barrel cactus
Mass plantings of aloes with yellow blooms are prevalent throughout the site. S. African succulents bloom in the winter months so it's a nice way to add color to any desert landscaping.
Mass plantings of aloes with yellow blooms are prevalent throughout the site. S. African succulents bloom in the winter months so it’s a nice way to add color to any desert landscaping.
Blue Elf aloes are used a lot as well. Notice the low profile and tasteful path lighting.
Blue Elf aloes are used a lot as well. Notice the low profile and tasteful path lighting.
Desert Museum Palo Verdes are one of the dominant tree species. That is my Starbucks in the photo. It was 9 am in the morning and I am not a machine
Desert Museum Palo Verdes are one of the dominant tree species. That is my Starbucks in the photo. It was 9 am in the morning and I am not a machine
Notice the stainless steel that separates the natural path from the garden section. This sort of subtle detail fascinates me.
Notice the stainless steel that separates the natural path from the garden section. This sort of subtle detail fascinates me.
That tall thing poking up is the agave’s bloom spike. Once this is done blooming the plant dies and the entire plant has to be replaced. Now multiply that by hundreds if not thousands of plants across 9 acres.
That tall thing poking up is the agave’s bloom spike. Once this is done blooming the plant dies and the entire plant has to be replaced. Now multiply that by hundreds if not thousands of plants across 9 acres.
The back lawn ringed in palo verdes and helps frame the San Jacinto mountains in the background.
The back lawn ringed in palo verdes and helps frame the San Jacinto mountains in the background.
A mesquite tree surrounded by desert milkweed. Butterflies love desert milkweed and this area is kind of on the Monarch butterfly traveling path.
A mesquite tree surrounded by desert milkweed. Butterflies love desert milkweed and this area is kind of on the Monarch butterfly traveling path.
Ocotillo and Parry’s Agave. Not typically shade plants.
Ocotillo and Parry’s Agave. Not typically shade plants.
Bunny ears cactus frames part of the path that circles the wildflower gardens.
Bunny ears cactus frames part of the path that circles the wildflower gardens.
Look at all those agaves in bloom. This means they are either over watering them or they insisted on huge specimens for instant ‘wow’, which translates into $$$$ spent replacing them.
Look at all those agaves in bloom. This means they are either over watering them or they insisted on huge specimens for instant ‘wow’, which translates into $$$$ spent replacing them.
Texas rangers and signage going into the wildflower garden.
Texas rangers and signage going into the wildflower garden.
Signage. Notice the yellow against the brown. And the fact that snakes run loose here.  Also the Starbucks. The wait at the independent coffee shop in Palm Springs was 25 minutes.  No one has time for that nonsense.
Signage. Notice the yellow against the brown. And the fact that snakes run loose here. Also the Starbucks. The wait at the independent coffee shop in Palm Springs was 25 minutes. No one has time for that nonsense.
Fencepost cactus surrounded by golden barrels. Notice the darker colored dg surrounding the plantings in the defined bed, this will allow the yellows and greens of the plants to 'pop' against the darker color.
Fencepost cactus surrounded by golden barrels. Notice the darker colored dg surrounding the plantings in the defined bed, this will allow the yellows and greens of the plants to ‘pop’ against the darker color.
Look at the layering going on here. You have chartreuse gopher plants, pink blooming hesperaloes, and then natural growing (Thank you Thor!) purple blooming Texas Rangers in the background. It’s a layered and thought out program.
Look at the layering going on here. You have chartreuse gopher plants, pink blooming hesperaloes, and then natural growing (Thank you Thor!) purple blooming Texas Rangers in the background. It’s a layered and thought out program.
Look at that detailing. They yellow used is the Sunnylands yellow.  In the lower half is the logo done in silvers so it won't be so obtrusive.
Look at that detailing. They yellow used is the Sunnylands yellow. In the lower half is the logo done in silvers so it won’t be so obtrusive.
Another look at the layering of the plant palette and how the beds are sunken so what little rain falls here goes towards the center.
Another look at the layering of the plant palette and how the beds are sunken so what little rain falls here goes towards the center.
This is not how you prune a tree. It wreaks havoc on it’s growth pattern. Maybe if it is ‘getting too big’ the designers should have used a different tree.
This is not how you prune a tree. It wreaks havoc on it’s growth pattern. Maybe if it is ‘getting too big’ the designers should have used a different tree.
The labyrinth planted with dalea greggii which blooms purple and butterflies love this.
The labyrinth planted with dalea greggii which blooms purple and butterflies love this.
View across the lawn to the visitor’s center.
View across the lawn to the visitor’s center.
The pergola that covers the eating patio.  There is also one near the entrance to the center.  When you are dealing with summers involving blast furnace type heat, these come in handy.
The pergola that covers the eating patio. There is also one near the entrance to the center. When you are dealing with summers involving blast furnace type heat, these come in handy.
Close up of the pergola. The reason they went with this over something solid is so that as the heat of the day rises, it can escape through the slats.
Close up of the pergola. The reason they went with this over something solid is so that as the heat of the day rises, it can escape through the slats.
View of the entry drive into the visitor’s center.
View of the entry drive into the visitor’s center.
Water feature that’s mirrored on both sides of the great lawn.
Water feature that’s mirrored on both sides of the great lawn.

So, you want to tour this beast? You’re in luck, you can. The tour of the entire property is $35 bucks and you need to schedule your visit on the 1st or the 15th every month when they release a limited amount of tickets for each day of the week. Word of warning: it’s a two hour tour and there’s a lot of walking involved. The gardens and visitor center are free to the public and you can come and go as you please. For more information on Sunnylands, its history, and the tour go here. The newly installed gardens were awarded ASLA’s Honor Award for 2012 (this is like winning an Oscar in my field), to see this, click here.

If you have questions ask me in the comments below.

Photo credits: Unless otherwise noted, all photos were taken by this guy.

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