Virtual Travel Road Trip to Sierra Madre -Movie BackDrop & Home To Guinness Book of World Records Wisteria Vine - A Chat with Mayor Arizmendi

Jacqui Cooper (@JCooperTravels) chats with Mayor Rachelle Arizmendi, Mayor of Sierra Madre & Vice-President/COO at PACE

https://www.cityofsierramadre.com/

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Background About Sierra Madre:

The City of Sierra Madre with a population of approximately 11,000 is a unique village located in Los Angeles County at the base of the San Gabriel Valley Mountains. Sierra Madre is a residential community, proud of being the Village of the Foothills. Its small size and quiet neighborhoods lends itself to the small town atmosphere the residents are proud of maintaining.  The City is a full service municipality operating with a $20 million budget that funds 68 full-time employees assigned to eight operating departments. Government services are primarily funded by property taxes, local taxes, and user fees. The local economy consists primarily of professional service providers and specialty retail shops and restaurants.  Mission The City of Sierra Madre provides quality, cost-effective public services that preserve the small town character and enhance the health, safety and welfare of the community.

Guiness Book of World Records: Largest Wistaria Vine In The World

This lovely “Lavender Lady,” as some call it, is the largest flowering plant in the world. Every spring, more than a million gorgeous purple blossoms drape from its tangled branches. Its seeds originally came from China, and two homeowners planted it in 1894 to celebrate their new house

In a sad twist of fate, the wistaria (this particular plant is referred to as the “wistaria” rather than “wisteria”) eventually grew so large it destroyed the home it was planted to honor. It now occupies a staggering one-acre stretch of space.

Though the Guiness Book of World Records lists the vine as the world’s largest blossoming plant, the massive specimen is strangely hard to see. As it’s on private property, the public is only able to visit the behemoth beauty once a year during the annual Wistaria Festival. On this day, the whole town (plus plant-loving travelers) gather to celebrate this local celebrity.

It’s worth the wait. Witnessing this rare botanic gem is a true treat. Being able to walk under its sprawling canopy of delicate purple flowers is a magical experience. It’s no wonder it’s considered to be one of the seven horticultural wonders of the world.