Its mansion was once host to Marlene Dietrich and Fred Astaire. It boasts six sloping acres of gardens. And you can visit - by appointment (it is Beverly Hills). The Virginia Robinson Gardens surround the Robinson mansion, one of the first homes in Beverly Hills. Built in 1911, it was once the residence of retail giants Virginia and Harry Robinson. In her day, Mrs. Robinson was quite the philanthropist, hosting events such as the Hollywood Bowl Patronesses Benefit, which meant that each year, After the opening of the Hollywood Bowl, the orchestra would repeat its performance on her lawn. The Gardens' fundraising arm, Friends of Robinson Gardens, carries on similar traditions, putting on lavish events throughout the year, including a patron gala and a garden tour, for which floral designers transform the home into something of a flower fantasy (see floral bathtub, right).
