Descanso Gardens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Descanso Gardens |
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Descanso Gardens rosarium
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| 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 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."
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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
- California Garden
- Camellia Forest
- Promenade
- Japanese Garden
- Lilac Garden
- Hilltop Gardens
- Oak Grove
- Oak Woodland
- Rose Garden
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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See also
In Spanish: Descanso Gardens para niños
