Where ideas blossom

There’s no better backdrop to capture the season’s best floral prints than the Huntington Libary, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino.

The lush gardens have long been a muse to fashion designers and artists, including Robert Rauschenberg, who was inspired to pursue a career in painting after visiting the Huntington in 1946, while on leave from the Navy. More recently, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the Pasadena-based designers of Rodarte, were charmed by the place. Their intricate rose appliques, which could have come right out of the gardens, put them on the fashion map.

In fact, April is the best month to visit the Rose Garden, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary. An exhibit, “La Rose Imperiale -- The Development of the Modern Rose,” continues through the end of the month, with rare botanical books illustrating the development of repeat-blooming roses in 19th century France, and the Empress Josephine’s role in their history. There’s also an interactive fragrance display, where visitors can sample rare rose oils from Turkey, Bulgaria and Morocco.

The $20-million renovation of the Huntington Art Gallery, the original residence of Henry and Arabella Huntington, is wrapping up after 2 1/2 years. The grand reopening is May 28.

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Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. (626) 405-2100, www.huntington.org. Noon to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekends.