Guide To Descanso Gardens
Los Angeles has quite the landscape. Indigenous plant life is meant to be explored, and what better way to do it than at Descanso Gardens? An accredited member of the American Association of Museums, Descanso Gardens is truly a living and breathing collection of art. 10,000 years ago, the Native American Tongva people lived on this land and today, Descanso Gardens welcomes young and old to learn about and experience the land. Make a day at Descanso Gardens — whether you sign up for a guided walk, or tour the gardens on your own, there is always something new to experience.
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Drive
La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
(818) 949-4200
www.descansogardens.org
Centrally located in the Los Angeles area, Descanso Gardens is a historical outdoor museum featuring the living collections and natural beauty of California. The 160-acre botanical garden features native plants and oak woodlands, camellia plants, a rose garden like no other, lilacs, maple trees, cherry trees and much more. In the spirit of education and preservation, Descanso Gardens has a broad spectrum of year-round and seasonal activities including yoga and tai chi practices, guided walks all day long including evenings, which offer a very different perspective on the landscape, live music performances, children's activities and a ride on the Enchanted Railroad, and the popular RISE of the Jack o'Lantern event. Californians and visitors alike enjoy spending a peaceful day at Descanso Gardens to see current blooms (summer months feature roses, crape myrtle and cassia), tour the Boddy House and see art and botanical exhibits in the Sturt Gallery.
Upcoming Events
Ancient Forest Grand Opening
September 26
General admission $9, seniors 65 and over/students $6, children 5 -12 $4, Descanso members and children under 5 free.
The Ancient Forest celebrates Descanso Gardens' new cycad collection. Cycads are seed plants (non-flowering) from the Jurassic age, when dinosaurs lived millions and millions of years ago. The Ancient Forest is a collection of 150 cycads, including 66 species, and requires little water and very low maintenance, which will thrive in the dry drought conditions of Southern California. The grand opening of the Ancient Forest will include two guided tours, an education and display of fossils courtesy of the Natural History Museum, and a plant fossil family-friendly activity.
RISE of the Jack o'Lanterns
Rose Garden
Oct. 1 - Nov. 1
$22 - 30
Returning to Descanso Gardens, RISE of the Jack o'Lanterns is an extravaganza which surprises and inspires its guests. In tribute to Halloween, RISE takes place after hours for families (strollers and wheelchairs are welcome) to see more than 5,000 hand-carved pumpkins. Artists sculpt varying designs, including traditional Jack o'lanterns to pop culture creations. The exhibit is displayed artfully for visitors to stroll along a scenic trail no more than 1/3 mile, and takes about 45 minutes, with music playing in the background for a true Halloween experience. Tickets are available beginning Aug. 24.
Related: Best Pumpkin Patches In SoCal
What To See
Oak Woodland
Oak Woodland, the newest addition to Descanso Gardens, is a 7.7-acre landscape featuring a garden of oaks, perennials, and shrubs that may have been present in California's past life. This space is a haven for more than 60 species, including Bigleaf maple, California lilac, Coast sunflower, California poppy, deerwood, sage, chia and Blue-eyed grass. With the goal of recreating what the L.A. Basin looked like a hundred years ago, Oak Woodland can be accessed from the Rose Garden, the lake and the bird observation point. Visitors will also see native birds and gray squirrels. Picture-worthy, Oak Woodland's guided walks are informative and feature winding paths and benches for resting.
Rose Garden
The rose, which is America's most popular flower, is known to bloom from May to November. Descanso Gardens' 5.5-acre International Rosarium brings a distinct collection of old species and modern roses categorized by micro-garden. Visitors will breathe in the intoxicating rose blooms as they walk through rose-covered archways and gazebos. There are more than 3,000 roses which embody horticultural history and countries around the world. The exhibit features many of the All-America Rose Selections winners since 1940. The Rose Garden's pavilion is one of the more special spaces at Descanso Gardens for brides and grooms to exchange wedding vows and celebrate.
Places To Eat
Descanso Café is a delightful outdoor restaurant with Patina Restaurant Group's Chef Joachim Splichal at the helm. The menu, which suits both children and adults, presents seasonal fruit, vegetables and herbs from locally sourced farms and gardens, including Descanso Gardens' Nature's Table. Nature's Table is an on-site edible garden (citrus, pomegranates, pumpkins, herbs, corn, apples and more) designed by Cal Poly Pomona's Landscape Architecture Design students. Favorite menu items include seasonal salads, sandwiches, beer, wine and homemade desserts. Wine tasting and food events, as well as specialty holiday events and menus, are on the calendar.
