descanso gardens

I have been to Descanso throughout the year, but it is clearly in the winter months when the camellias are showing off in their glory. This garden has the full spectrum of colors and varieties. If you also want to have a quiet spot off the beaten path from the LA freeways to enjoy mother nature, this is a fine retreat.Lots of winding paths, water features, japanese garden, art gallery display and more.

We spent several hours at Descanso Gardens looking at the flowers, trees, ponds and other attractions. Lots of birds, butterflies, turtles and fish in the pond. Reasonable admission. Great photography opportunities.

This is the perfect spot to stroll through gardens, you can enjoy camellias, roses, oaks and step back in time in LA. The staff at the gardens do a great job of maintaining the huge property and always have new attractions. We attended the Halloween Pumpkin Festival and it was amazing. If you have kids they run a "ride on" train on weekends that my kids have always loved riding. It takes them on a 5 to 7 minute ride along the streams, past the ponds and through the camellias. If you live near here it is a great walking area and you can buy an annual pass which helps keep the park open and running. Once you are inside you feel like you are in another world, while just beyond the gates is the real world. Depending on the time of the year there are ducks, swans and all kinds of birds on their small lake. Go, see, explore and enjoy.

This place is very beautiful and tucked away in the hills away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. Don't worry, it's very easy to get to. -What really stands out is their world class collection of camellias. They literally have a forest of them. Also you have a quaint Japanese tea garden with koi ponds and the like. They have concessions in the front with a nice seating area and the gift shop has some quality items. Honestly, I would recommend this over the L.A. Arboretum as it is more dense in trees and truly is magical. There's a bird observation platform overlooking a pond and opposite that is a lovely rose garden.-Although it is large facility, it is not as big as The Huntington Library or the L.A. Arboretum. This makes navigating the entire place very manageable to most fitness levels and age groups. This in turn leaves one very satisfied and not overly pressured into "hiking" for hours or make one feel like they "missed" anything. It is all very accessible and doable.-The reason why only 4 stars is it can get very crowded...and that really can spoil the tranquility of the place. They have a sit-on train...a tiny little train...that you can buy tickets for to tour the park (more for kids) and their docent lead tours are very informative. So much to see and do.-My advice to those that want the most out of this experience, go during the week and be there right when they open. You'll for the most part have the place to your selves with the odd member or two strolling around. If you are really particular, call them and ask what their landscaping schedule is as you don't want chainsaws and leaf blowers blaring the whole time.-If you visit, I hope you have a great time!

A perfect place to enjoy the gardens, camellias, roses and a lovely art gallery. The paths are easy to follow and the birdwatching is excellent.

After dropping off our daughter early at the airport, my wife suggested we take advantage of our early departure to visit descanso gardens. As we had visited before, I was less than enthusiastic. While I like camellias (I have seven different varieties in my garden) this garden doesn't really display them in an interesting or insightful way. Some of their later improvements are nice enough, but with so many better gardens to visit it is really hard to recommend them. Add to this their relatively high admission price and out of the way location, and I would have to recommend many other gardens first. You can do better.

Our trip to Descanso in January was clearly not what it would have been later in the year. Some camellias were blooming and the gardens were certainly lush enough for a nice walk around. If you've been dealing with freeways and buildings, take the drive and get away!

Our children grew up visiting the gardens with us, and now, with 4 grandkids ages 10-2, we are still enjoying Desanso. The environment has evolved, is and still evolving, over the years. Fortunately,the Enchanted Railroad still does a little spin around the main walk. We do miss the little red ticket cottage, but are grateful that the tiny train remains. Also, the serene wildlife lake with its turtles,fish and ducks is such a delight to the younger kids. The added waterfall is a welcome, cool retreat during our all-too-often heat waves. Would love to see the return of tea and snacks at in the Japanese Garden, an environment that really sustains lingering if it just offered that cherry blossom punch, tea and tiny treats of years gone by. Summer time does bring some evening life to the Japanese Garden as all of Descanso opens for light-hearted concerts. Boddy House art exhibits are not as rich as I would like, but there an attempt. Rose Garden is a seasonal treat, a bit too warm in summer and barren in winter of course, but spring and fall are a delight. Do go to see the Cherry Blossoms, to smell the lilacs, treasure the old camellias and grand oaks. It is not the floriferous entrance of yore, but the space does welcome and the patio cafe usually delivers tasty soup and sandwiches. Would like to see a refreshing of stock in the gift shop. I think most of the merchandise order must not have changed in many years. As we have just returned from the garden capital of the world, The Cotwolds,where we so enjoyed the gift shops as well as excellent luncheon and tea meals. California has the environment to be outdoors, but does not offer the amenities of so many European gardens.

Love Descanso . Great walkingAmong the nature and gardens.Surprises around every bend...A tea house, amphitheater, historic Boddy House, and mostRecent...lake trail. Deer, ducks,Birds, squirrels...little ones love to visit.Have lunch...great outdoor cafe,And gift shop. Seasonal fun!

Our family was visiting LA for the holidays and enjoyed the beauty of the gardens inspire of the fact it is off season. Some of the Camelias and roses were still in bloom. I appreciated the free wheelchair since I injured myself the previous day. I have been to the gardens in all season now and truly look forward to more visits.

Camellias in bloom in November, fall color in the tranquil Japanese garden, plus wildlife viewing [a couple of packs of mule deer]. There is a great gift shop as well.

Perhaps faces in the garden is too strong, yet if you take the time to pause, some of the old oaks actually do seem to have faces in the gnarled knots where large limbs once grew. Puckered and perhaps grumpy old men, these oaks and redwoods shelter the deer which can often be seen at the gardens in early morning or late afternoon. Quiet and patience is rewarded by seeing a buck with antlers on display as well as does calmly eating as patrons (quietly and softly) walk by. And then there are flowers, and ducks, and fish begging to be fed--a no no. A place of calmness and beauty before returning to the bustle and noise of Los Angeles.

Right in the middle of the most beautiful gardens, this restaurant provides a wonderful repast while walking the gardens or just sitting and feeling the wonderment of nature.

The fall weather was spectacular this one day and we enjoyed the fresh air and lovely grounds. Mothers with toddlers were showing their kids the flowers and all was pleasantly quiet and invigorating. Liked the new garden area and look forward to its "natural" development.

For years I saw the announcements for special events and informational lectures at DG. And for years, I said I would go. I finally went last week, and now I wonder why it took me so long to get there.We went on an unseasonably warm November day, and we're surprised by how much the temperature drops just a short distance from the entrance. The blacktop parking lot was at least 20 degrees warmer. We went to see the Taiko Drum group and an Ikebana (floral arrangement) display, so the Japanese Garden was teaming with people and activity. The rest of the grounds were less populated and we meandered through without a map (I forgot to pick one up), managing with well-placed signage. Descano Gardens is such a departure from what most of us see everyday. It's not exactly a forest, and it's certainly not "natural woodlands" since part of the property was originally planted as a camellia or floral farm. However, the canopy and greenery can make you feel that nature is not so far away from our little asphalt jungle. If you live close enough, I would suggest the annual pass (we got a family pass for $80/yr), that includes free admission to other gardens. (It's not a membership to the other venues; just admission.) I know we have Griffith Park and the Angeles National Forest right around the corner for free, but proximity and ease of access with ample free parking make this a no-brainer for a quick escape back to nature.Try to make the trek to the top of the hill to see Boddy House. It's fully furnished with period pieces, with a small adjacent art gallery and botanical specimens showing vertical landscaping. Inside the home is filled with historical articles and info. Just imagine what it would have been like to live there surrounded by nature! The entire property is 160 acres and we barely covered the area from the Visitors Center to the Boddy House in 2-3 hours. That's another reason the annual pass is such a great deal! We have a lot more exploring to do!