January 30, 2026  As a resident since 2012, Cathie Brown initially moved into a one-bedroom apartment with her husband of 60-plus years. Fewer rooms mean less to maintain, and more energy for the things that actually matter. Cathie explains how letting go of extra space invited her to let go of extra stuff, extra stress, and expectations that no longer served her. She found simplicity, comfort, and a surprising sense of freedom, proof that smaller can still feel just right. In November, I moved from a one-bedroom apartment to a studio apartment. Moving from the apartment my husband and I shared to a smaller unit, ten years after he died, was the best idea I’ve had in a long time. My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner. In the ten years I stewed around, I expanded my belongings from half the space to fill the whole space. More space to fill with more stuff. In moving to a studio with less space, my brain kicked in and I had to take a hard look at what I really wanted or needed. These decisions focused on clothes, books, kitchen stuff and memorabilia. If I didn’t want items I offered the best ones to my family, daughters and grandchildren. And fortunately, the helper I hired to move me knew what to do with things I no longer wanted. One of my better ideas was to select one book that meant a lot from our collection for each grandchild. A way of passing on the heritage. Another critical idea was to hire Resident Margie Beal for decorating advice. Even if you think you know what you’re doing, you don’t. Margie does. That was a great decision and wonderful to have her expertise here at the Gardens. Within the process of moving, I felt the whole Gardens community supporting my transition to a studio. One of my daughters, who has worked managing major commercial properties (including the leasing of the Wells Fargo Center on Capitol Mall in Sacramento), said she has never experienced a community responding as rapidly as they did here for my move. A Gardens staff member did a wonderful job rehanging my art collection and my family photos in my new studio home. Wow! I love my apartment. It’s perfect for me. I have more than adequate space. I love that I have everything simplified. I can find things more easily than ever. I have a “home” for everything. The only furniture I had to buy was a twin bed. I feel right at home. I entertain guests with the help of my small Lucite tables, one beside each guest and it works great. My patio contains a  table and chairs I purchased from a previous resident. I’m eager for spring and warm weather to spend more time on my patio. Life doesn’t get any better. To see Cathie’s home, call to schedule a tour at 909-399-1208. [...] Read more...
December 22, 2025Holiday letters are often a tradition to many at Mt. San Antonio Gardens. These letters can be a sentimental, personal touch greeting friends, family, and loved ones. This year, we are delighted to share some excerpts from Melanie and Harold’s holiday greetings. As residents who moved in over a year ago, their holiday letter shares deep resident insights and how they live daily at the Gardens Dear Friends and Family, As we step into 2026, we find ourselves reflecting on the remarkable year of 2025—marking eighteen months into our residence here and life in Claremont. Since moving from our apartment in Los Angeles to Mt. San Antonio Gardens in June 2024, the transition has proven to be far more transformative than we could have anticipated. It is with genuine joy and gratitude that we share our experiences and invite you to understand how this move has redefined what it means to live fully in our eighties. The paradox of our new life at the Gardens strikes us most profoundly: we have discovered that we are simultaneously more independent and more interdependent than we have ever been. The freedoms that come from relinquishing certain daily burdens—the preparation of meals, the search for medical care, the endless maintenance that a traditional household demands—have opened unexpected avenues for growth and engagement. A resident physician and a welcoming dining room have liberated us from these responsibilities, allowing us to redirect our energy toward what truly nourishes our spirits and minds. Here at the Gardens, we have established rhythms that bring us profound satisfaction. On Sunday afternoons from September through June, we make the brief drive to Disney Hall to experience concerts by the Los Angeles Philharmonic—an extraordinary gift that sits just a short 45 minutes from our residence. During the week, we audit classes at Pomona College, itself only a five-minute drive away. This past year, we enrolled in two courses that captivated us entirely: Asian Traditions, which traced the histories of China, Korea, and Japan from 700 BCE to 1600 C E, and Latin and Chicano History in the Americas, spanning from Columbus’s explorations to the Vietnam War. Both were masterfully taught, and perhaps most wonderfully, our exposure to college students has deepened our appreciation for their intellectual engagement and the genuine concerns that animate their generation. Our cottage opens onto a rose garden that demands and rewards our care, and an orchid tree that teaches us the rhythm of tending growing things. Melanie’s daily walks through the thirty acres of the Gardens have become a meditation in themselves. She moves through the grounds several times each day, collecting leaves, observing the squirrels, appreciating the azure skies and crystalline light of Southern California. We are blessed with sufficient rain to keep the lawns verdant and the air crisp; the number of days graced with clear skies, brilliant blue and free from clouds and oppressive humidity, seems improbably generous. Friendship has flourished here in ways that surprise us. We have cultivated genuine connections with many residents, and several friendships have deepened into relationships of real substance. Among our closest companions are Abe and Julia, who share our fascination with China and music. Most evenings find us dining with friends sometimes at modest local Chinese or Japanese restaurants (where a fine meal for two costs less than sixty dollars) –_or in The Gardens’ dining room.  We eat at our cottage for breakfasts where we read paper copies of the NY Times, the WSJ and the LA Times featuring baked goods from our local bakery, Crème, which rivals anything we discovered on the Rue du Bac in Paris. I have found particular joy in delivering lectures to our community on Impressionism and the ways painters like Monet and Caillebotte depicted the Paris that Baron Haussmann transformed in the 1860s—and equally important, what they chose not to paint, but what Émile Zola captured in novels such as L’Assommoir. These lectures have become interactive dialogues with residents, enriching our shared understanding and deepening our connections. As we look toward 2026, we do so with a profound sense of gratitude and possibility. We understand that growth in one’s eighties looks different than it did in our thirties or fifties—it is quieter, perhaps, and more inward-turning—but it is no less real or significant. We have discovered that joy can be found in the simplest gestures: a well-prepared meal shared with friends, the sight of a blue sky, a brilliant lecture, the presence of those we love, and the freedom to pursue understanding without the weight of excessive responsibility. We invite you to share with us how you are managing and growing as the minutes, hours, and days unfold in your own lives. We wish you the health, wisdom, and openness to find meaning and joy in whatever 2026 brings. The Gardens have taught us that life’s value is not measured by the magnitude of our activities or the extent of our possessions, but by the quality of our presence, the depth of our connections, and the willingness to embrace transformation whenever it presents itself. With deep affection and warm wishes for the year ahead, MELANIE AND HAROLD Mount San Antonio Gardens Claremont, California   [...] Read more...
April 15, 2025Donna Good said she didn’t need the extra space of anything larger than a studio. “I feel like I have plenty to take care of in my studio.” Donna said. “I’ve made it my own and I love it!” She purchased a Murphy bed so that she can transition the apartment as needed. She has space for her desk and a living room area. Although Donna lives in her 430 square-foot studio, she never considered that her space spans from her studio throughout the Gardens’ campus. With over 30 acres and many amenities, she enjoys the large dining room with friends and a new state-of-the-art-training room with a variety of work-out equipment. “I use the wellness center everyday. The rowing machine, stair stepper and treadmill are what I love using the most!” Aside from the wellness center, Donna enjoys knitting with other resident-friends and meeting with her C-Building community. “The people here are very friendly,” she said. After looking at six different retirement communities, she heard that many residents had a good experience at Mt. San Antonio Gardens and decided to move in. “I have felt the same way,” she said. “It’s a great place to live!” [...] Read more...
April 2, 2025Written by people who know: Residents and Staff You will find new and old friends here. The Garden is ever-growing and ever-changing, yes, including the plants. There are annual resident ducks and ducklings. You can find staff members that are like family members, living and growing together. The resident’s self-determination single-handedly keeps the Gardens going. You will have access to the wide variety of reading materials in our on-campus library; you’ll be surprised. You will find staff members who get lost in the 31-acre campus, even after working for over 10+ years. You can take a trip back in time to your college years by taking classes at Claremont College with current college students. You can find 65 different bird species on campus. You can even get loaner binoculars to go bird watching. You can join the aquanauts to get special privileges to use the pool and swim with other avid swimmers on campus. Riding the bike at 15 miles per hour on campus is the norm, although not recommended by Clinic staff. You can have your special family recipe feature in our meal plans. You can bribe the cook with homemade cookies. You’ll be surrounded by people who are compelled to keep the Gardens flourishing in all aspects of life. You can bring a car if you like, but you won’t need one. Golf carts are welcomed and space is made for them near the dining room. You can bring a golf cart if you’d like, but you’ll probably only use it on rainy days. It’s always sunny in California. Our founder’s family are residents on campus. We have our own resident publication called “The Green Leaf,” and it is wildly popular within the community. You can apply to be a writer on the Green Leaf. Impromptu swing dancing is normal, if not expected. You can join the Gardens’ Choir Chorale, but you may need to audition. The existing Committees: (70 committees) and counting. You will know all the names of the plants and trees in the Gardens; they are all labeled. There are no door-to-door solicitors, ever. We make sure they can’t find you. Downsizing is the new trend, but nobody wants to admit it. You can live a fuller life with new and intriguing activities and opportunities. You can have it all in a lifelong learning atmosphere with other residents. You can bet on all the trees planted on campus that you will find your support group here. Moving here will be a great gift to your children. The squirrels on campus perform Olympic-like acrobatic stunts – always entertaining. You’ll never have to change your own light bulb again. You can show off your green thumb in the area around your home if you’d like. If you don’t have a green thumb, no one will know because our grounds team will make sure it always looks immaculate. There are no library fees for books returned late. If our 31-acre campus isn’t large enough for you, it is a 7-minute drive to the 1,693-acre Claremont Hills Wilderness Park. You can find shopping and good eats at the Claremont Village, which is a short 1-mile walk from the Gardens. There is probably someone on campus who has a shared interest with you, no matter how random or farfetched it may be. The koi fish will let you pet them, just don’t fall into the pond. The water lily logo looks good on everyone. No outfit is uncool. The number of butterflies on campus will make you feel like a Disney princess. Residents are encouraged to have pets, and pets can sometimes move with you into higher levels of care as well. You don’t have to go off-campus to hear high-quality speakers. Our resident forum committee brings the speakers to you. There is museum-quality artwork on display throughout our common areas. Someone on campus will always greet you and say hello. There are beautiful “hidden” areas on campus to stumble upon. Different areas of our campus bloom throughout the year. Our chef and dining team is award-winning. There are no hidden fees — just a clear, inclusive pricing structure that helps you plan your financial future with peace of mind. We are a non-profit organization, and our mission and values complement that status. A bouquet of hummingbirds makes the Gardens their home. Bright orange and blue dragonflies can often be seen visiting our koi ponds. The Pomona Arts Colony is a 9-minute drive away. Claremont and Pomona have a rich history that has developed over the past 100 years. There are a variety of home styles to choose from, and you don’t have to stay in the same home forever. You are a 40-minute drive from downtown LA, a 30-minute drive from Pasadena, a 45-minute drive from Disneyland, and a 60-minute drive from the beach. You are a 5-minute drive from the most extensive garden dedicated to state natives, the 86-acre California Botanic Garden. Among the 950 trees planted, there are 134 different species spread all across campus. There is always someone on campus who will help you snap selfies to send to your grandkids. With all the amenities, you’ll never get bored. Never worry about long-term health care. It’s all at the Gardens. It’s impossible not to have good friends here. Even those who care for you become dear friends. You can bring your exotic pets on campus. Yes, even your imaginary dragons. You will find an intergenerational environment at the Gardens. You will come across people of all ages, either working or visiting. Say goodbye to social isolation, you will always have someone to meet and connect with. You’ll have not only the fastest access to medical care on campus but also friends who will support and advocate for you when you need it most. Daily activities and events keep you as busy as you want. Part of our campus is designed using the Greenhouse™  project. We are only one mile away from the Pomona and Claremont Colleges, grocery stores, antique shops, and local restaurants. You can be in two places at once! Our 31-acre campus is built between two cities: Claremont and Pomona. We have a campus store that sells everything from jewelry, clothes, snacks, and more. The Cutting Garden has flowers all year round. The Cutting Garden has flowers, trees, bees, and seasonal fruit, which most residents pick and deliver to other residents. Residents and staff will get to know you and your interests and hobbies. You will build relationships quickly that will feel like you have had them forever. Our brand-new fitness center, the Evergreen Commons Center for Wellness and Community Life, is available 24/7, seven days a week. Opportunities to collaborate with others on new projects and interests. Plenty of walking paths to explore. You will always have someone to learn from and learn with. Artwork is everchanging in our gallery and throughout campus BHT Theater group’s show-stopping performances. There is a “Hidden” picnic bench along Bamboo Lane. Your neighbors will invite you over for an endless intellectual conversation. If you practice music, you’ll have a built-in audience. You can participate in folk singing, a choir, theater, and jazz band all at the same place. Residents have been instrumental in bringing sustainability efforts, including solar panels and drought-tolerant plants, to campus. Our community celebrates diversity and inclusiveness. You’ll have access to a built-in physical, emotional, and mental health support system 24/7. Never clean a bathroom again. Dining room conversations range from anything to everything. You can view Mt. Baldy from the Gardens. You will find daily classes, movies, and entertainment. Everything you might need is nearby or at the gift shop. Gardens Council is a driving force of activities and action on campus. Never go to the grocery store or cook again if you don’t want to. Or cook as much as you want. Lounges are often utilized for resident-driven parties and entertainment. Multiple generations of Gardeners live here. There are plenty of published authors on campus to help you with your book if you want. On Friday afternoon, you can hear singing from the dining patio and you are welcome to participate. You can row across the world in the Hydro rowing machine in the Evergreen Commons. We wear name tags the first week of every month to help us remember names. You can volunteer with CLASP and have a blast with local school kids. We are a 5-Star CMS-rated community. You can enjoy your neighbor’s pets. They are friendly and loveable. You don’t have to interact with any pets you don’t want to. You can produce a major theater or video production without any prior experience. You can form a band of any kind and hold your own televised concert. There is always popcorn or cookies in the dining room. We are only 16 minutes from an international airport. In a world of large systems, The Gardens remains a unique, single-site nonprofit — and we think that’s a beautiful thing. At The Gardens, residents don’t just live here — they help lead. Six serve on our Board, with five having a vote. Our Gallery features new artwork from local artists every month. There is always a built-in exhibit. There are tax benefits to being a resident. Enjoy a predinner cocktail at the bar in the social center. We pay for magazine and newspaper subscriptions, so you don’t have to. There is a committee for everything. The bird watchers will help you identify any birds you see or hear. Fitness classes that are welcoming to all fitness levels. There is magical energy when you walk through the campus. Dining services to catering delicious food for all special dinners. You will find hidden art sculptures throughout the campus. You will find pianos in most lounges and social areas. You’ll be surrounded by people who are compelled to live in a community with you. Your friends will check on you when you are not feeling well. We will accept you exactly as you are and make sure you know you are family. [...] Read more...
July 14, 2023    [...] Read more...
July 14, 2023Artist Elizabeth Turk speaks in the gallery of the “LOOK UP” exhibition at the Claremont Museum of Art on August 7, 2021. Learn about ET Projects, the creation of Project LOOK UP at Mt. San Antonio Gardens and plans for a LOOK UP event at Scripps College in September. The exhibition, created by ET Projects, sends a message of hope, unity, resilience and optimism with Elizabeth Turk’s immersive artwork produced with the residents of Mt. San Antonio Gardens. It shares both intimate moments and spectacular aerial video clips of the residents’ movement patterns while carrying brightly colored umbrellas throughout the Gardens. This experience allowed for the community to be a voice of hope to each other and the world. As one masked participant proclaimed “In play we can SEE each other again”. [...] Read more...
July 14, 2023Immersive Art event: Mt. San Antonio Gardens A message of hope and responsibility for a dark winter from a retirement community. [...] Read more...
July 14, 2023Join in on the fun as LeadingAge California celebrates its 60th Anniversary with our 60/60 Tour! Our CEO and President, Jeannee Parker-Martin will be making 60 stops in 60 days. The tour will highlight 60 communities and consist of interviews, talent showcases, celebrity chats, and more. Mt. San Antonio Gardens (The Gardens) Pomona, CA Participants: Maureen Beith, CEO Tom Beal, Residen Lee Jackman, Resident Hosts: Jeannee Parker Martin, President & CEO, LeadingAge California [...] Read more...
January 17, 2023New state of the art Wellness Center coming spring 2022 53 exciting new apartment homes The Cedars coming in fall 2023 Visit our website https://msagardens.org or call for a personal tour: 909-624-5061     [...] Read more...