kids encyclopedia robot

Descanso Gardens facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Descanso Gardens
RosarieDescansogardens1.jpg
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 9am-5pm
Status Open year-round

Descanso Gardens is a huge and beautiful botanical garden in La Cañada Flintridge, California. It covers about 150 acres, which is like 113 football fields! The gardens are on the northern edge of the San Rafael Hills.

Descanso stream
A stream with ducks in the Camellia Forest

Descanso Gardens has many different areas. You can find forests, man-made streams, ponds, and open grassy areas. It also has a large collection of fruit trees. These include oranges, peaches, pears, pomegranates, and grapes. Many local people just call it "Descanso."

Descanso Gardens walkway
A walkway in Descanso Gardens
Pear tree descanso
A pear tree at Descanso Gardens

History of Descanso Gardens

The land where Descanso Gardens sits 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 this property until 1869.

In 1937, a man named Manchester Boddy bought the land. He owned a newspaper called The Los Angeles Illustrated Daily News. He called his new property Rancho del Descanso. Boddy built a large 22-room house there. It was designed by an architect named James Dolena.

Boddy also bought more land to the north. This land had mountain streams that still provide water for the gardens today. In 1942, many Japanese American families were forced to leave their homes. They had to go to special camps during World War II. Boddy bought many camellia plants from two Japanese-owned nurseries. These nurseries belonged to his friends, the Uyematsu and Yoshimura families. He wanted to help them during this difficult time.

He grew his collection of camellias, roses, and lilacs. He had help from plant experts like J. Howard Asper and Dr. Walter E. Lammerts.

In 1953, Boddy sold the property to Los Angeles County. He then moved away. Four years later, local volunteers started the Descanso Gardens Guild, Inc. This group now helps manage the gardens. They work with Los Angeles County to keep the gardens running. In 2021, Descanso Gardens was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special historic site.

Visiting Descanso Gardens

Tickets and Hours

It costs 15 dollars to get into Descanso Gardens. If you are a senior or a student, tickets are 11 dollars. Children aged 5 to 12 can enter for 5 dollars. Kids under 5 years old get in for free!

Descanso Gardens also offers different membership plans. These plans let you visit for free all year. Members also get discounts at the gift shop and for special events. The gardens are usually open from 9 AM to 5 PM. Members can enter an hour earlier at 8 AM. The gardens are open every day of the year, except for Christmas Day.

What to Expect Inside

When you arrive, you will see a big parking lot. The entrance building has a place to buy tickets. There is also a restaurant and a gift shop. You don't need a ticket to visit the restaurant or gift shop.

Once you have your ticket, you enter the gardens. You will find a "center circle." Often, there is an information desk here. Employees can help you plan your visit and give you a map. You can then explore the gardens on your own. The map shows sixteen different areas to visit. There are also many buildings and structures to explore.

Plant Collections

Descanso Gardens has many different plant collections. Each collection focuses on a specific type of plant or garden style.

  • Ancient Forest
Descanso Ancient forest
The Ancient Forest
Camellia forest
The Camellia Forest
  • Promenade
  • Japanese Garden
  • Lilac Garden
  • Hilltop Gardens
Descanso grape
Grapes at Descanso Nature's Table
  • Oak Grove
Oak lawn
A lawn in the Oak forest
  • Oak Woodland
  • Rose Garden
Rose garden rosarium
The Rose Garden at Descanso

Animals at Descanso Gardens

Many different animals live at Descanso Gardens. These animals are native to the La Cañada Flintridge area. You might see deer, birds, snakes, and squirrels. Sometimes, even mountain lions are spotted. Many of these animals eat the plants in the gardens. They also make their homes among the plants.

Deer descanso
A deer feeding on rose flowers at Descanso Rosarium
Pear-
Pears at Descanso rosarium

Boddy House

The Boddy House is the original mansion built by E. Manchester Boddy in 1937. It has 22 rooms and was designed in the Hollywood Regency style. The house is in the far southeast part of the gardens. It has a great view of the San Gabriel Mountains.

In 2007, the Boddy House was updated. It was decorated in a modern way, but still kept its original Hollywood Regency style. Later, a special exhibit was added inside. It tells the story of the gardens and Manchester Boddy's life. It also honors people who have helped Descanso Gardens. In 2019, the house was redecorated again by different designers.

Sturt Haaga Gallery

Sturt Haaga Gallery
Outside of the Sturt Haaga Gallery

The Sturt Haaga Gallery is an art gallery that opened in 2011. It was named after a large gift from Heather Sturt Haaga and Paul G. Haaga Jr. Other people also donated money to help build it.

The gallery is in Boddy's old garage, which was fixed up. A new, modern building was added next to it. This made the gallery much bigger. It also has tall ceilings, which allows for larger artworks. The new part was designed by Frederick Fisher & Partners.

The gallery usually has three new art shows each year. These shows feature art by modern artists. The art often relates to nature or the Descanso Gardens. For example, one show had photos of the gardens. Another show in 2023 was called SHIKI: The Four Seasons in Japanese Art. It showed Kimonos and paintings from a college collection. These artworks showed the four seasons.

Kimono from Sturt Haaga Gallery
A Kimono from the Sturt Haaga Gallery's SHIKI four seasons collection

Food at Descanso Gardens

Before you enter the gardens, you can find a place to eat. It's called The Kitchen at Descanso. Some of the food items are made with ingredients grown right in the gardens! They also have drinks like coffee and homemade hibiscus lemonade.

Descanso Gardens also offers catering for events. It's a popular place for weddings, so they often provide food for those celebrations.

Activities and Events

Activities

Descanso Train Tracks
The Enchanted Railroad at Descanso Gardens

Besides exploring the beautiful gardens, there are other fun things to do. The Enchanted Railroad is a small train that guests can ride. It goes around the promenade garden. The train runs from 10 AM to 4 PM and costs 5 dollars.

In the Japanese Garden, there is a tea house. Sometimes, special events are held there. There is also an Amphitheater on the main lawn. This is a place where performances or talks can happen.

Events

Descanso Gardens hosts many small events. These include yoga classes, guided tours, and special events just for members. They also have two big events each year.

"Enchanted" is a light and art show held every year. Guests walk along a path and see amazing lights and art displays. "Carved" is a Halloween-themed event. It features carved pumpkins and other fun Halloween activities.

|

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Descanso Gardens para niños

kids search engine
Descanso Gardens Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.