some of the gardens surrounding wattles mansion have been designated as wattles park. in the 1970s and 1980s, the park was popular among l.a.'s punk scene. gurdon wattles met the original head gardener during his world travels in 1910, and retained him for the next 20 years until his death in 1930. gurdon's concept for the gardens was influenced by trips to mexico and japan; he bought a tea house, shrines and lanterns from japan for use in the gardens. four gardens were eventually developed, with the first corresponding to the architecture of the house, the second italian, the third american, and the fourth japanese.