There’s something about old architecture that I find fascinating, especially when it is surrounded by gardens and a live oak grove. I visited the Arden, otherwise known as the Helena Modjeska House, out in Modjeska Canyon in Orange County, California. It’s a historical landmark dating back to the nineteenth century, and the drive through the canyon to get there was pretty. There are a lot of really cool, symmetrical windows on the house, so I am sharing it for Ludwig’s Monday Window.

Helena Modjeska was a world-renowned actress in her time and built this now-historic home and gardens where she entertained a lot of famous people. There’s a museum at one end of the house where you can learn more about Modjeska and her property, or you can book a tour to go through the home, which is maintained by Orange County Parks. It is sort of hit or miss as to whether the tours are available, but I was able to wander the grounds, exploring the paths and taking photos.


A gorgeous place and you photographed it beautifully. Indeed, peaceful and serene. Thank you.
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Thank you! 😊 It’s a quiet and peaceful place at the end of an uncrowded canyon—sometimes hard to find in Southern California. 😎
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There’s something about the way you captured the architecture and the oaks surrounding it that infers calmness and peace, a place where time passes more slowly, perhaps?
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It definitely feels like it there! It’s very quiet and peaceful (except for the woodpeckers drilling holes everywhere on the house). There’s a lot of little garden seating areas to just sit mindfully and enjoy the nature. 😎
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What a peaceful old house! You seem to find such interesting places to visit
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It was a nice day to poke around there! 😊
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Wonderful windows Dawn 🙂
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Thank you 😊
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This looks very amazing 🙂
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Glad you liked it! 😊
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