Descanso Gardens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Descanso Gardens |
|
|---|---|
Descanso Gardens rosarium
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Type | Botanical garden |
| Location | La Cañada Flintridge |
| Nearest city | La Cañada Flintridge |
| Area | 150 acres (61 ha) |
| Open | 9 am-5 pm |
| Status | Open year-round |
Descanso Gardens is a beautiful 150-acre botanical garden located in La Cañada Flintridge, California. It's a special place where you can explore many different kinds of plants and enjoy nature. Locals often call it simply "Descanso."
The gardens feature large forested areas with streams, ponds, and open lawns. You can find many fruit trees here, like oranges, peaches, pears, and pomegranates. There are also grapes and passionfruit growing. It's a wonderful spot to learn about plants and relax outdoors.
Contents
- Exploring the History of Descanso Gardens
- Planning Your Visit to Descanso Gardens
- Navigating the Gardens
- Discovering the Plant Collections
- Animals Living in the Gardens
- The Historic Boddy House
- The Sturt Haaga Gallery
- Food Options at Descanso Gardens
- Fun Activities at Descanso Gardens
- Special Events at Descanso Gardens
- See also
Exploring the History of Descanso Gardens
The land where Descanso Gardens now stands has a long history. In 1784, the first Spanish governor of California gave this land to Corporal José María Verdugo. It was part of a huge 36,000-acre ranch. The Verdugo family owned the property until 1869.
How Descanso Gardens Began
In 1937, a man named Manchester Boddy bought the property. He owned a newspaper called The Los Angeles Illustrated Daily News. He called his new ranch "Rancho del Descanso." Boddy built a large 22-room house, designed by architect James Dolena. He also bought more land to the north, which provided water for the gardens from mountain streams.
In 1942, during a difficult time, many Japanese-American families had to leave their homes and businesses. Boddy bought over 100,000 camellia plants from two Japanese-owned nurseries. These nurseries belonged to his friends, the Uyematsu and Yoshimura families. He grew his collection of camellias, and later roses and lilacs, with help from plant experts.
Becoming a Public Garden
In 1953, Boddy sold the property to Los Angeles County. Four years later, local volunteers created the Descanso Gardens Guild, Inc. This group now helps manage the gardens with Los Angeles County. The gardens were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2021. This means they are recognized as an important historical site.
Planning Your Visit to Descanso Gardens
Descanso Gardens is open almost every day of the year, except for Christmas Day. The normal hours are from 9 AM to 5 PM. Members can enter earlier, at 8 AM.
Admission and Membership Options
Tickets for general admission cost 15 dollars. There are discounts for seniors and students, who pay 11 dollars. Children aged 5 to 12 can enter for 5 dollars, and children under 5 are free.
Descanso Gardens also offers different membership plans. These plans allow you to visit the gardens for free all year. Members also get discounts at the gift shop, on food, and for special events.
When you arrive, you'll find a large parking lot. The entrance building is where you buy tickets. This building also has a restaurant and a gift shop. You don't need a ticket to visit the restaurant or gift shop.
Exploring the Garden Layout
After your ticket is checked, you enter the main part of the gardens. There's often an information desk where staff can help you plan your visit. They also provide a map of Descanso Gardens. You can then explore the gardens at your own pace. The map shows sixteen different areas and many buildings to discover.
Discovering the Plant Collections
Descanso Gardens is home to many different plant collections. Each area offers a unique experience.
- Ancient Forest
- California Garden
- Camellia Forest
- Promenade
- Japanese Garden
- Lilac Garden
- Hilltop Gardens
- Oak Grove
- Oak Woodland
- Rose Garden
Animals Living in the Gardens
Descanso Gardens is also home to many animals that live in the area. You might see deer, birds, and squirrels. Sometimes, you might even spot snakes. These animals often feed on the plants and live among the trees and bushes in the gardens.
The Historic Boddy House
The Boddy House is the original 22-room mansion built by E. Manchester Boddy in 1937. It was designed in the Hollywood Regency style. The house is located in the far southeast part of the property. From there, you can see the San Gabriel Mountains.
Boddy House Exhibits
The Boddy House has been restored and now features a Heritage Exhibit. This exhibit teaches visitors about the gardens and Manchester Boddy's life. It also honors important people who have helped Descanso Gardens. The house is sometimes decorated by designers for special events.
The Sturt Haaga Gallery
The Sturt Haaga Gallery opened in the fall of 2011. It was made possible by a generous gift from Heather Sturt Haaga and Paul G. Haaga Jr.
Art and Exhibitions
The gallery is located in Boddy's original garage, which was restored. A new modern building was added, making the gallery much larger. This new space allows for bigger art pieces. The gallery shows three different art exhibitions each year. These exhibits often feature art that connects to nature and the Descanso Gardens.
In the first half of 2023, the Sturt Haaga Gallery showed an exhibit called SHIKI: The Four Seasons in Japanese Art. This exhibit featured Kimonos and paintings from the Scripps College collection. These artworks showed how the four seasons are seen in Japanese art.
Food Options at Descanso Gardens
Before you enter the gardens, you can find food at The Kitchen at Descanso. They offer items grown right in the gardens. You can also get drinks like coffee, hibiscus lemonade, and other beverages.
Descanso Gardens also provides catering for events. It's a popular place for weddings, so they often cater for those celebrations.
Fun Activities at Descanso Gardens
Besides exploring the beautiful gardens, there are other fun things to do at Descanso.
The Enchanted Railroad
The Enchanted Railroad is a small train that guests can ride. It travels around the promenade garden. The train is open from 10 AM to 4 PM and costs 5 dollars to ride.
Other Attractions
In the Japanese Garden, there is a tea house where special events are sometimes held. There is also an Amphitheater on the main lawn. This is a place where performances and gatherings can take place.
Special Events at Descanso Gardens
Descanso Gardens hosts many events throughout the year. These include yoga classes, guided tours, and special events just for members.
Seasonal Celebrations
Two large annual events are Enchanted and Carved. Every year, Descanso Gardens puts on a light and art show called Enchanted. Guests walk along a path to see amazing lights and art displays. Carved is a Halloween-themed event. It features carved pumpkins and other fun Halloween activities.
See also
In Spanish: Descanso Gardens para niños
