We had some friends down from San Francisco over the holiday weekend, and took them on a whirlwind L.A. tour between impromptu meals of leftover turkey and dressing (Their verdict on L.A.? They like us! They really like us!).

During a Griffith Park hike on Saturday (just before the rains came), I showed them this garden I stumbled upon (pictured above, and at right) on a ridge along the Mt. Hollywood trail.

It's not visible from the main trail, but can be easily reached by taking the upper trail as it branches off just after the Hollywood Sign overlook, when the main trail doglegs to the northeast. Perforated hoses serve as an irrigation system for this diverse collection of succulent plants, cacti, flowers, and trees. I'm not sure who's behind the the garden, but it certainly seems to be a private effort, not unlike Dante's View or Amir's Garden.

Like any place in the park, the solitude is never absolute, but it is a nice place to gather yourself, (mostly) hidden away from the promenading masses who make the trek up and down Mt. Hollywood on weekends. The perch also offers views of the park itself, the city, and through a notch in the hills, Sherman Oaks.  ¶ 1:14 PM