Last week March of this Pandemic Year, we visited Descanco Botanical Gardens for the first time. It was one colorful, refreshing, gentle respite, right in the midst of busy Los Angeles County. Bring a book, read under the cherry blossoms next to a brook, or come in your hiking gear and work up a sweat with the trails around the 15-acre botanical land. Whatever spring mood you are in, Descanso Botanical Gardens is well worth checking out.
Descanso Botanical Garden has a cafe, but I advise to bring your own snack as it a huge property and you would rather have your snack under the tree, rather than a sandwich a mile away from where you already are. Also always bring drinks, and hat and sunscreen.
Address, fees, regulations
Located at 1418 Descanso Dr, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011. It’s about 40-50 minutes away from Los Angeles Airport. Opens 9am-7pm weekdays, 9-5 on weekends. Some of the featured gallery, boddy house and the railway was closed due to the pandemic. The gift shop is open though. There is an entrance fee and reservations are needed ahead. Link to their website https://www.descansogardens.org/
Tickets prices:
- $15 adults
- $11 seniors (65 and older)
- $11 students with ID
- $5 children (5–12 years old)
- Free for children 4 years and younger
Visiting during pandemic carries certain rules we’ve gotten used to:
- Maintain social distance of 6 feet or more with staff and other visitors
- Wear a face covering
- Bring water (All drinking fountains are closed). Drinks can be consumed inside the garden.
- Enjoy any food at the picnic tables outside of the Visitor Center
- Get a ticket in advance if you are NOT a member
- Note that we will be a cashless establishment
What to see and do in the garden
With nine botanical gardens Descanso Botanical Gardens offer, you will have enough in your hands. You roam the place however you fell like it. We chose to just circle around and make our way inwards, depending on where our visual delight pull us to.
Ask for a map from the informations desk as this is a huge area. You will need a bit of perspective so make use of your visit the way you planned it to. We took photos from the wisteria blooms by the entrance. Don’t forget to smell them. They are fragrant. https://www.descansogardens.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/New-map.pdf
Center Circle, The Railway, The Promenade
From there, we continued to go in and came upon the center circle that has multi colored tulips and other plants. Took the right towards the Promenade where you will pass through a railway. They do have a functioning mini train. Unfortunately, due to pandemic, it was not operating at that time.
The Promenade is where you will be delighted with colorful tulip blooms. There are different varieties but mostly huge flowers of vivid rainbow. To the left is a man-made stream with benches for you to sit and talk a while. To the right is the rose garden, which we chose to check out next.
Rose Garden
Daffodils line the way before the entrance to the the rose garden. You will cross a little stone bridge and start to hear birds upon entry. There was not much roses blooming that time but there will still other flowers in display. The mountain backdrop on its south side, the pavilion in the middle, an arch walkway that’s great for photo ops, a stream with blooming cherry, or maybe peach, a fountain, and another stone bridge, makes this garden a good start to explore.
Oak Grove
At the northland of the rose garden where you exit, comes the Oak Forrest. You will not mistake it for anything else as the tree that resembles “Lord of the Rings” ancient “Ents”, stand tall and encompassing. The Oaks surround a man made lake with turtles and probably lots of fish on them. There is a cottage and patio with seats for you to rest you feet.
California Natives
Half way circling the lake, we started to see trees of pinks and yellow flowers. Around the bend, we saw a huge nest. I had to have picture with it, of course. We passed by a few people hanging in the canyon view cottage. We continued walking through the greens of trees and grass. It was calming and somewhat spiritual. About half a mile, we headed south and crossed the oak grove to the camella forrest.
Camella Forrest
There were pink, white and red Camella lining the area. A stream passes through the middle, and the railroad next to it. Kids have fun playing in the water, curious of everything around them. There was a photo shoot ongoing, which I did not realize until I had to disturb them to pass through. We sat on one of the bench, looking at a distant white cherry tree in bloom. When our feet are ready to go, we checked out the white flowered tree. Not sure if it was white magnolia, but it was gorgeous.
Japanese Garden
We passed through the amphitheater to the Japanese Garden. This tranquil aura of a garden seem to just present itself unapologetically. Cross an arched bridge and walk on shaded paths along a koi-filled stream to the teahouse. The sharp yet melancholic shade of blue roof of the teahouse is one of the most visible, in contrast to the subtle pinks surrounding it. The ball light hanging inside the teahouse made a good prop for a snap.
At this time, we were thirsty and hungry. After all, we have been walking for 2 1/2 hours already. The line from the cafe was long, so decided to just drive out for a filipino cuisine, which was only a 15- minute drive. The taste of my native delicacy trumps over exploring the Lilac garden, Hilltop Forrest and Ancient Garden. I, anyway, will not have been enjoying the visit if my stomach grumbles. So, off to the restaurant. Thank you Descanso Gardens. You are beautiful! Link to a video in my you tube https://youtu.be/npqRkHsN5QI.
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