Blooming Rose

Blooming Rose

Friday, August 27, 2010

Peacocks and Ze Plane!

I recently went out to the Los Angeles Arboretum to spend a little quiet time and
enjoy a warm summer day.  I took lots of pictures of different kinds of trees and
plants but I realized there is something you might find a little more interesting. So, I’ll
begin by telling you that it took about ten minutes before I was allowed to get out of
my car because of this fellow...

They had just shut off the sprinklers and this peacock was more interested in
drinking some nice cool water from the puddle in the parking lot than he was in
allowing me to leave my car.  He wouldn’t budge and I wouldn't open my door
because I didn’t want to bump him. It was close to 100 degrees so I guess that
cool water was important to him.

Here are a few more peacocks. They certainly are friendly.



A show of feathers...




Here comes a new mom and her little peacock babies.  Like most of the bird world,
the females don’t have the bright colorful feathers that the males have.  It’s too early
to tell about the babies yet.  They sure are cute and mom has to keep them in line.




There are some pretty waterfalls at the Arboretum.   Lovely on such a hot day!



This young man took a fancy to me and would not leave me alone.

You can see him watching me.  He also talked to me the entire time we were together.

Hmmm.  He wants me to show you something interesting.  We should follow...


Well, here is what I thought you might be interested in...Did you ever watch the
television show Fantasy Island?   Do you recognize this house?



That’s right, it’s the house they used in filming the Fantasy Island series.


The front walkway is all white marble.

You can see the bell tower where Tatoo would ring the bell to greet the guests.

The very opening of the show (before we saw Mr. Roark and Tatoo) was filmed in
Hawaii but the rest was all filmed at this location.

The house is locked up so we can’t go inside but it looks like someone is in the front
window. But as you get closer no one is there!  I understand that now and then the
same thing happens in the upstairs window.

As you walk behind the house you can see the lake and island setting which was
known as a very tropical Fantasy Island.  You also can’t help but think of Tatoo
saying “Ze Plane, Ze Plane!”.   Many thought he was saying “de plane, de plane”,
but he grew up in France and his French accent led him to say “Ze Plane, Ze Plane”.




Other movies were filmed here and at one point the house was painted dark brown for
the movie Meet The Fockers with Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand,
Ben Stiller and Blythe Danner.  That story took place in Florida but was filmed at this
house.  The production company restored it to the Fantasy Island colors of red and
white when they finished that production.
As I said, I couldn't go inside the house but I took some pictures through the windows
and I think you will be surprised at what I found.  It may have been left from another
television or movie set...or maybe someone's fantasy on Fantasy Island.






Here are a few other views around the house...



On the way back to my car I met up with this mom and dad and their teenagers.
Actually you can only see one teenager because they kept trying to slip away
from their parents(sound familiar?).  Mom and dad are not quite ready to have
them leave the nest just yet...I know some of you can relate to this because you
are sending your teenagers off to college for the first time.  I guess this is a slightly
different way of feeling like an empty nester. I believe for the peacocks living here,
much like for the human species, the nest will never be empty just a little different.

I was not able to get a picture with both the teenagers and parents at the same time. 
The kids moved too fast...I bet mom and dad think they're growing up way too fast!

And my new friend was waiting to say good-by to me.  He seems to like living on
Fantasy Island.

17 comments:

Lynn said...

Looks like you had a very nice day! Fun birds, great location and cool house!

Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita said...

This was terrific! I never knew the house from Fantasy Island was in LA. ( I remember only the end of the show - when it first came on, it was on late, and my mother didn't want me watching it. Funny how tame it was compared to what's on now!) And peacocks are beautiful - we had some at home growing up until I was about 23 or so - but they make the most terrible screaming sound! Still gives me the shivers. Thanks for a little walk down memory lane!

Olive said...

The peacocks are just stunning and I have seen the house before! Thanks for the visit to my rust! hugs♥olive

Leo said...

Beautiful photos. I love the peacocks...and this house is very interesting. I do remember the show - and of course, Tatoo. It look different inside from what I would have thought.....I wonder who owns the house...it looks very nicely maintained and the grounds are beautiful.

Privet and Holly said...

Loving your
sweet boyfriend!!!
Isn't the iridescent
color of peacocks
something to behold?
That house was really
amazing, too ~ Who
knew that the Fantasy
Island wasn't an island
at all....and that it
was in CA?! Great pics
of a great adventure!
Happy weekend : )
xx Suzanne

Pondside said...

Gorgeous creatures, gorgeous house.
Sometimes I regret giving up the peacock that The Great Dane bought for me earlier this year - then I think of my garden and decide that it's better to go somewhere else to see the glorious birds, and keep my garden intact!

Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita said...

Just me again - I had to pop in and thank you for your sweet comments. You really made me smile!

Drawn to The Sea said...

I was sad to reach the end of this post... wonderful fun to play with the birds & visit Fantasy Island with you. If I ever come out that way, I'm definitely going to the Arboretum :-))

Pleasant weekend!

Melissa Miller said...

I just adored this wonderful post. The Fantasy Island house is very unique and pretty. How neat to see someone in the window. Love it! The peacocks are gorgeous as well.

Thank you for the lovely and informative tour. ~Melissa :)

Beach House Living said...

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. What a day you had! I had no clue the Fantasy Island house was in California. It's nice to see it so well kept.

As for the peacocks, well, they are just divine. It's great you got to see a feather showing.

vicki archer said...

I loved Fantasy Island...what memories ......
The peacocks are magnificent and the babies just so sweet.....A beautiful place to spend the day, xv.

René said...

How neat to be able to see Tattoo's old stomping grounds. I was an avid Fantasy Island fan back in the day.

As for peacocks, our son is still terrified to this day by them. Let's just say that we had an encounter when he was in his stroller...

-Rene

Bella's Rose Cottage said...

Hi... I grew up in LA and loved Fantasy Island... I never knew the house was at the arboritum!! What a fun day!! You sure made some beautiful friends :-)
Thanks for the trip!
Bella

Kristine at The Painted Hive said...

What beautiful gardens. Aren't peacocks just wonderful birds? When I was little some of our neighbours had a few peacocks and they used to walk around on our patio roof making lots of noise. I have such fond, vivid memories of them.
Kristine
xx

Stephanie Lloyd said...

So many colors and patterns on the peacocks. So many colors and patterns on the house. Nature and man...they sure do have a way with making beauty. Very nice!

Tricia said...

What wonderful photos...aren't peacocks so pretty? I love the waterfall pictures too. It looks like such a pretty place to visit.

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Hello! I thought it was about time I stopped by to thank you for your nice comments on my blog. I love your post...what a beautiful home this is and I LOVED Fantasy Island...it was such a fun show. Cute birds especially momma with her chicks :) I will look up your friends blog in the morning but for now I'm hitting the hay. Have a wonderful day tomorrow....Maura :)