The Botanical Building with its huge lilly pond out front was reported to be the most photographed building in the park.

Mid pond out front was a stand with lillies growing one it. There was no sign describing these lillies.

A few of the lilly pads in the pond out front were in bloom that October day. It was not clear if the insect needed for propagation existed in San Diego.

The lilly pond included examples of the Giant Lilly Pads (Victoria amazonica) of the Amazon in Peru.

A sign in the entry-way read:

Alfred D. Robinson
1866-1942

Founding President
San Diego Floral Association
1907

Renowned begonia grower A.D. Robinson originated the use of a "lath house" for displaying plants at the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. He was the first editor of California Garden magazine. The lath Botanical Building is a signature landmark in Balboa Park.

The curved ceiling of the lath building could be seen from the inside. The use of lath allowed the plants to grow under natural light, wit a free exchange of air from the outside.

An example of a young pineapple plant was on exhibit in a bucket.

An example of the Blood Leaf plant from Ecuador was on exhibit. Although a modest sized plant, the leaves were a dramatic color.

The gardens featured lovely combinations of plants and colors and wonderful aromas. Because of the open lath, the garden was very quiet.

Because of the clarity of the lath, huge mature trees could be seen growing just outside the building. The effect was to make the garden feel as if it were outside.

The carnivorous plants were protected using a humorous sign:

Please do not touch or throw thing at the carnivorous plants. Violators will be fed to the plants.

A fine example of a Clown Fig Tree from the Moraceae, South Pacific Island.

A weathered boulder was used as the centerpiece to an exhibit of several kinds of garden flowers.

The inside front of the building was an isle that allowed quick access to the various garden exhibits. It was also the quickest way to the exit.

The curve of the lath building could be easily seen from the building's exterior. Built for the 1915-16 Exposition, along with the adjacent Lily Pond, this historic Botanical Building is one of the largest lath structures in the world.

Here was another view of the front seen after walking counter-clockwise around the building.