Descanso Gardens

Great place to spend an afternoon!

The crocheted artsy entrance is cute and loved the fruit trees! Simply loved this enchanting garden in a beautiful neighborhood! Immediately made a beeline for the rosarium… so many kinds of roses and wonderful pic taking opportunities! The enchanted train is primarily for kids so dont waste your money on it (like we did) if you dont have kids in your group. Would have appreciated if the ticket seller had mentioned it to us.
It has an ancient forest section and a lilac and camellia section. The camellia garden in one of only 4 such gardens in the entire US and 14 in the
hosts the largest collection of camellia in North america. Made a mental note to revisit in spring to enjoy the cherry blossom in the japanese garden section and camellias.
It has a café and resrooms.
Deets:
Descanso Gardens is open daily except for Christmas. Hours are 9 am to 5 pm (last entry is 4:30 pm). There is ample free parking. The Boddy House is open daily except Mondays from 10 am to 4 pm.
Admission: General $ 9. Seniors 65 and over/​Students $ 6. Children (5 to 12 years) $ 4. Descanso members and children under 5 free.

Flowers up high, flowers down low, whistle from the train, welcoming scent of roses, shade covered path by the wise trees looking down upon us, crochet hanging items cover the entrance.
The 1991 remake of the television series Land of the Lost was filmed on location in the Gardens. The Enchanted Railroad, an eighth scale replica of a diesel train, took us for a ride around a small section of the park, so cool! More highlights include a Rosarium, (opened in 1994 featuring more than 3,000 roses) as well as a Japanese tea house, Japanese garden, (opened in 1966) lilac garden, bird sanctuary, xeriscape, and an awesome gift shop. Nationally accredited in 2004, as a museum of living collections by the American Alliance of Museums. Quite impressive!
The Oak Woodland opened in November 2014. This garden recreates the oaks and meadows habitat of the Los Angeles Basin in the times before European contact. The Ancient Forest opened in September 2015, a collection of cycads sited amid other plants of ancient, «living fossil» lineages. Descanso Gardens History.

Absolutely beautiful !!! :) There’s definitely a lot to see so you can take your time, stroll around, and take plenty of amazing pictures. Their rose garden reminds me of «the secret garden» book and movie haha. Definitely make sure you bring lots of water and wear a hat because it gets hot and some part of the garden doesn’t have much shade.
Their cafeteria is pretty nice too, they have this mushroom sandwich that is BOMB! Lol: D oh, and parking is free! You can also do street parking if their lot is full, which does happen.
They even have a little train that goes through the garden haha I believe it’s kind of a short ride and only costs a few bucks.

Love it fantastic place to take small children
A cute little train ride will get you hooked on this wonderful bit of «Americana»
Truly one of s kind place
The tea house is enchanting
And the garden shop a delight !
Price seems high for the entrance
But the care they take on the grounds very labor intensive & meticulous
just lovely

I was first taken to Descanso Gardens in the early 90s, while attending high school in La Canada. Since then, I have been to several weddings, some special events, a philanthropy evening or two, and many plain ol’ «put the kids in the car, we’re staying more or less local today» days in the sunshine.
Each trip to Descanso has been a pleasant experience. The gardens are always manicured and beautiful, and each season, in its turn, brings forth blooms and foliage that appeal to the senses and the soul. Set against the backdrop of the native legacy oak trees and other local flora of the rolling hills above La Canada and the Arroyo, there is a simplicity to this place.
Golf has been called, «a good walk, ruined.» A trip to Descanso Gardens, on the other hand, is a good walk, augmented.
Seasonally, there are holiday activities like a mini train ride with a conductor Santa, summer events, autumn/​harvest festivals, and spring plant sales. You can wander here, or get a tour. And if you insist on buying something, there are opportunities for food and souvenirs at the front end.
If you like the Huntington Library and the Arboretum, you’d enjoy Descanso, too.

I really love this place. It’s so spacious and beautifully planned. Great for exercise, going on a date, family outing, and for photography! For pros though, permits are needed I believe!
The café and gift shop is a little overpriced but still quaint. My favorite place is the rose garden :)

This place is HUGE!!!
Amazing place to check out!
Tips: bring comfortable shoes, shades, and some sunscreen. It can get hot and cold at some places. Make sure to get a map and check everything out. I think 2 – 3 hours is enough. Bring a blanket and relax.
Kid friendly! They have a little train thingy and adults can ride too!
Parking is huge and 9 bucks isn’t bad considering how many pics you can take

This is a great place to explore with different types of flowers & trees. It’s a lovely spot for a day trip. We came on a Monday and it wasn’t crowded at all. I hadn’t been here in at least 20 years, and forgot how beautiful and large the property is. The Rose Garden is exquisite and very peaceful. I love that the gardens offer off the paved path trails to explore and there are many benches throughout the walk that you can sit and rest and take in the beautiful scenery. One of my favorite places & views was at the top of a short hike near the Boddy House to Hope Garden I think it’s called. It has a awesome view of the San Gabriel mountains and surrounding area. I could have stayed up there all day.
This place is fairly large, and although we were there about 4 hours we still didn’t quite see it all. I recommend taking a snack or a picnic lunch with you and taking your time to experience all that the Gardens have to offer. It’s not only a great place to learn about nature, it’s a great place to stop and take the beauty of it all in.
The Boddy House & the museum next to it are closed on Monday’s so I’ll definitely be back to check it out. I’m interested also in looking into prices to hold an event there such as a wedding.
If you like the Los Angeles County Arboretum you are sure to enjoy a trip to Descanso Gardens.

Couldn’t have been more pleased with my visit.
I highly recommend his place for a cute day date.
We went on a Sunday and it wasn’t too crowded.
Their on site café was delicious! They offer beer/​wine, but also Espresso beverages.
Have no fear my vegans: their kale salad was SO good!!!

When there are three impressive gardens in one area (Huntington Library, LA Arboretum, and Descanso Gardens) you would think it would be hard for them all to compete with each other. Somehow though each park is able to offer something unique that makes each of them unique.
What I liked about Descanso was the fact that it was a nice balance between the elegance and refinement of Huntington but the open and casual feel of the Arboretum. While they may not have the range of gardens as the other two, they make up for it by having superbly well maintained grounds.
The lack of a wide range of gardens to explore is also a plus here because it allows them to really highlight a specific genus of flowers. I have never seen so many different types of camellias before. They have successfully taken what could have been a negative, and turned it into a positive.
The grounds are also quite expansive. There were times when I was walking around wondering if I was still even in the gardens. That was nice because I got to feel like I was on a hike in the forest, but it was easy enough for my mother to enjoy.
There were also a lot of «hidden» gems here. We would go wandering around and find a bench or covered sitting area (almost gazebo like).
The only thing that I thought they lacked was giving a sense of scale and direction. The map they provided became quite useless once you got out into the gardens a bit. I am sure we saw everything, but there were times that we felt a little lost. Still getting lost allowed us to find new things, so not the worst.
This is a great garden for enjoying a quiet stroll (saw a lot of parents/​grandparents with strollers) or just a quiet place to get away for a bit.
³⁵⁄₁₀₀

Went on a Sunday, had a lovely time.
Learned about birds and ducks by the lake by a nice volunteer gentleman who spent time talking with us.
Explored the beauty of the area, stopping to smell the roses
Because of the time of season, some flowers/​plants not in bloom (to be expected).
Japanese tea garden area was beautiful.
Admission was $ 9 and hours are 8 – 4. If you want to really spend time exploring the entire space, get there early. Plenty of parking. Passes for the year are 70.
Gift shop was cute.

What can you say but it is a beautiful garden and that the grounds are well kept. The prices are very reasonable. On Mondays the Boddy residence is closed which all the more reason I will have to come back again. Great Roses and an amazing Cactus garden.

I love nature!
There isn’t anything negative that I can say about the gardens.
I’ve visited now a few times and every time it has been breathtaking. I finally got the opportunity to visit while the cherry blossoms were blooming and it was amazing.
Every corner at the garden has some sort of flower, plant, rose, bush, tree, cactus, and waterfalls. In every area of the garden you will find a place to sit and enjoy the view.
While there you can check The Bodie House, Japanese Garden, the turtle pond in the back and my all time favorite the rose garden. I love it! Oh can’t forget the gift shop is a must stop. It’s located at the entrance of the garden across from their café so perfect to either come in when you get their or before you head out.
During the month of October I checked out the pumpkin lantern festival in the evening and it was awesome.
I highly recommend visiting the gardens at least once. It’s a place for everyone no matter your age.
I will definitely continue coming to the garden!

Despite the huge crowds for Cherry Blossom Festival on the weekend of March 12^th and 13^th, once we got in, we were in awe at the floral display Mother Nature put on this year.
Very glad to be members. When there are special events, members have a separate line to enter, which skips all the backup at the entrance. The sooner to get in and visit the wonders of nature!
Recent weather conditions have yielded a magnificent display of flowering trees. The tulips are vibrantly showing off their colors. Even some camellias and azaleas are hanging in. Descanso lilacs (bred for Southland warmer winters) are starting to blossom. Absolutely stunning.

Came here on their free day (every 3^rd Tuesday) to admire their tulip garden and cherry blossoms. I came here with my mother and sister to enjoy a nice walk in the sun. The gardens weren’t too crowded but had a good amount of people with their kids. There were many elderly here as well.
This is definitely quality garden with the plants well labeled. The tulips were breathtaking, and I saw tulips I’ve never seen before with fuzzy edges. The cherry blossoms were magnificent and beautiful as well.
This place changes their features based on season, and I was told next month there will probably be roses instead of tulips. Can’t wait to come back. Even on a non free day, the admission isn’t too steep at $ 9.

Came here to see the Cherry Blossoms this pass weekend and boy was it packed.
Streets were jammed. Parking lot was full. The wait at noon was over 3 hours long.
Lucky I did not wait because the reviews seem to say there were not many Cherry Blossom trees to even see.
If you do go, make sure you go early!

This is a very beautiful and well kept garden with a variety of different plants. I’m glad I skipped the Cherry Blossom festival last weekend since I heard it was so chaotic, but we had a wonderful time today and the blossoms are still in full bloom! The Japanese garden is gorgeous, there isn’t a plethora of cherry trees, but the whole atmosphere was nice and soothing. It wasn’t very crowded and even though this garden is much smaller than the Huntington, there is still a lot to explore and see. The gigantic oak trees, tulips, lilacs and cherry blossoms were all gorgeous, it’s a great place to spend a morning.
–Admission is around $ 9 for adults, $ 6 for students and free for kids under 5
–Parking lot is big and its free to park

Diggin’ that DG.
* YES — Beautiful outdoor 160-​acre garden once home to the Boddy family
* YES — Garden grounds are easily walkable and quite small in scale
* YES — Perfect for young families (saw lots of babies), elderly, and everyone in-​between (tempted to bust out in a Mary Poppins song)
* YES — Enchanted Railroad is a small train that goes through the grounds, perfect for lil kids
* FYI — See the Boddy House and Sturt Haaga Gallery; and Erskine Garden right outside
* FYI — Cherry Blossom season already… worth a visit!
* FYI — Free large parking lot in front
* FYI — Inexpensive admission, open 7 days a week
Recommend~

The girlfriend and I visited Descanso Gardens last Saturday when they were offering free admission to the public. Arrived there a little after 2 and the line was pretty long! Fortunately, parking was free and wasn’t an issue and it didn’t take us too long from where we started to the ticket booth.
Although the map may make the whole establishment seem big, I’d definitely say it doesn’t come close to the size of Huntington Library. But it’s definitely an area big enough where you can end up spending several hours in, especially if you’re just trying to enjoy the sights and try to have a picnic there.
Didn’t seem like there was much to see in terms of flowers and what not, considering it’s Winter and the cold weather. They do have activities and events though that are complimentary with your visit. For instance, the weekend we were there, they had tea tastings and arts & craft activities for most of the day.
Overall, it was an enjoy experience and I definitely wouldn’t mind coming back to check this place out again to do more exploring. Too bad it’s quite a distance from the OC area though…

We became members again last October during The RISE of the Jack o’Lanterns. Gives us a chance to return during the year. They pulled us in last weekend with an invitation to the Camellia & Tea Festival.
Didn’t realize that it was Museum Free-​For-​All Day on ¹⁄₃₀. I’d never seen so many people at the gardens before, even at the RISE! Many were parked far beyond the parking lot, out on the neighborhood streets.
Everyone got in free, but non-​members had to stand in a long line for the privilege. Members had a quick line, which was convenient.
There are a huge number and variety of camellia bushes on the property. Some had already bloomed and were moving past their peak. Others were bursting with buds just waiting to pop. There were enough blossoms showing off their ruffled petals to make it worth the trip.
Miss the tram ride with narration. We tramped up the hill to the Boddy mansion and checked out the latest art exhibit. Even with so many other guests there, we enjoyed the quiet serenity of the gardens.

Came here on free museum day. Felt like I was transported to another place. This place is huge! Not everything was in bloom as it changes with every season but there was still a lot of greenery. There are hiking trails up the hillsides that take you high enough to get a great view of the gardens and surrounding mountains (I definitely got my exercise in today). The Boddy house there tells you the history of the gardens & of the man who created & once owned the property. There’s plenty of benches to sit on throughout the place, some tucked away in private little nooks that are great for picnics. It’s typically $ 9 to get in but it’s well worth it as you can spend hours wandering through here!

This is a wonderful place to be with your family. Exploring Descanso Gardens and taking amazing photos of different kinds of plants, trees, forest hills, Japanese garden with classic tea tasting, flowers, etc. It’s a good walk, so wear comfortable shoes.

Love this place! it is a huge land that offers some cool gardens and mini forests, my personal fav is the rose garden. Highly recommended for parents to take the kids.

It is hard not to love this place! Have been a member for two years now, return often to walk, visit the outdoor café, check out the art up at the Boddy House or just meander around the expansive gardens. In the summer months there are free concerts for members under the oaks. Lovely, lovely venue, year round due to the mild Southern California climate. At Halloween they host The Rise of The Jack-​o-​lanterns, which is amazing and changes each year. There are monthly activities, walks and such that are offered as well as Yoga classes for a fee. I’m currently enrolled in a Yoga class and am thoroughly enjoying it!

Had the best time ever in these beautiful gardens! Can’t wait to go back with a picnic basket!

My grandparents took me here as a child, so I have many great memories here. As an adult, I enjoy walking around and enjoying the horticulture and nature. I sometimes go jogging on the trails. On Halloween they close down the rose garden area for the RISE Pumpkin carving viewing. These tickets are sold separately and it takes place at night. It is not scary and is child friendly. You can find discounted tickets online. The pumpkin carvings are phenomenal ! Well worth the ticket price. I will post some pictures later. Enjoy.

Descanso Gardens is a neighborhood gem. This place is great to bring jthe kids to for a picnic. It does get hot in the summer, and I would watch out for mosquitoes.
I’ve also attended their Mother’s Day brunch which was pleasant! Seating is located in the rose garden. However much too over crowded. So if you want an intimate mother’s day meal I wouldn’t recommend.

Just delightful. We have been faithful members for years and enjoy the gardens through every season.
Highlights in the Fall are the golden ginko trees w/​the path covered in golden leaves. I even saw some folks pick up the fruit and take home, perhaps to make tea?
Winter. Do we really have winter in LA? On the rare occassion it does get below 50° it is a good excuse to bring your best peacoat and scarf and get some exercise. Anytime of year is great to get lost in the trees, walk in the labrynth and feel, at least for a moment, like your out of the city.
The Spring is king in the rose garden, though they had to enclose it in a fence due to the deer. If you can’t get to D.C. for the cherry blossoms, Descanso has a few as well as a serene Japanese garden and koi pond.
The gallery on top of the hill is small and quaint and highlights nature artists. Lucky to have met the director of Descanso (very tall gentleman) as well as BOD of other museums there and learned quite a bit of history!
Summer. everything is in bloom and we picnic to the sounds of live jazz and classical music. Membership is so worth the money.
A recent addition is the lake, populated by a swan and of course ducks. They seem happy there. There’s a nice path to walk around the lake if you don’t mind the sun.
Past years had much more aesthetic decorations for Christmas, but, hopefully next year will be better.
The Boddy house was decorated nicely and open for the holidays and had the most informative and interesting volunteer docent in the house. Do make time to chat with the volunteers, with age comes wisdom and the best candid stories. you won’t be sorry! Enjoy!

Great place to come and take a stroll! Great for families and /​or a great idea for a date !!! would most def come back! Nature at its best. I went during winter but I can only imagine what this place looks like during spring time! I for sure want to come during free museum day! Why not! It’s so peaceful and also it’s a great place for photography

CAUTION: don’t go during the winter.
I should start by saying that I messed up and went in winter. Duh. December and January are not good times to go see plants. Everything was mostly dead. However I still had a good time. We got to see dear which was awesome. So overall I had a good time but there was really nothing to see so $ 18 down the hole. Go during the summer :)

What a nice and quiet place to come enjoy an afternoon. We made the mistake of coming during the winter, where most of the plants were dormant. It’s clean and the paths are well maintained. The enchanted railroad is more so for kids, although it has a fun, speedy downhill part. Overall, it’s a nice place for a leisure afternoon.

What an amazing hidden gem in La Canada. I’ve driven on Foothill countless times and never had the chance to adventure out to the gardens, until today. Tickets are $ 9 for general and $ 6 for senior citizens and students. The staff is beyond accommodating and friendly (thank you David at the bird observatory for all your intellect). I would recommend going during the Spring or Fall, as that’s when flowers blossom and leafs change color. Mr. Boddy’s house complex also gives a unique taste of the history of the compound. The gift shop also has household amenities, ranging from kitchen supplies to holiday gifts. Overall, a great experience (would recommend to go with family). Definitely coming back again!

I’ve only ever been here for the jack o lantern event during Halloween. It’s a place to check out. The pumpkin art were fantastic. I was fascinated to see all the artwork. I can’t even imagine all the hours and hard work that was put into carving each pumpkin.
Needless to say, I’ve never seen the garden in broad daylight. I’d imagine it’s beautiful during the day. I was told that they hold events here often, sometimes even weddings.

I absolutely love Descanso Gardens!
It’s such a peaceful place! I like to wander around and find the perfect spot to set up my doodling. They’ve got plenty of benches around the gardens if you’d like to do something similar, or it’s also a nice place to walk around their pathways.
There’s a little café for some snacks and drinks and a little gift shop too. They’ve always got cute things in there I want to buy (it’s just kinda pricey!). They also hold special events here! I went to the Rise of the Jack ‘o Lanterns pumpkin carving display here a few weeks ago and I highly recommend it! It’s a great event to see the place at night with the kiddos or with your friends.
I wish I lived closer so I could come here more!

A great place for a walk and exercise. The property was large enough for me to feel like I was on an adventure of learning and discovery. I even ran into deer during my walk.
I would recommend coming in the springtime when the property is in full bloom. I would imagine the best time to come is around April — May. The only area with flowers was the rose garden and the patch of flowers on the way to the rose garden.
There’s also a rare pre-​historic garden featuring cyad plants that were around during the dinosaur era.
I image this is a great place for people who have kids to let them roam around and ride the train.

This place is pretty nice. However, be prepared for the hot summer heat if you go during this time now (June/​July/​etc).
There’s an okay amount to see, but I feel like there isn’t enough to see. There’s really no wow factor for me. I like the rose gardens the best.

Another gem in Los Angeles — a peaceful oasis to spend a day with family or friends. It is not as big as Huntington or Arcadia Arboretum, but still covers enough ground and offers a lot to see. It doesn’t hurt to check on the website what plants are in season at the time of your visit. For instance, lilacs bloom in early spring, roses in late spring and summer, camellias — throughout fall and winter.
I highly recommend stopping at the Boddy House to learn about the history of the garden and the life of its founder — Manchester Boddy. It is a beautiful space (newly renovated in 2007) and a great little history lesson.
Rose garden is an enchanting place to sit, relax, people watch and just be. I saw a couple people who snuck in some Happy Hour material, and those were really having fun :) Rose garden is also where they host weddings and parties, so keep that in mind. If you want to make your inner-​child happy, take a choo-​choo train (for 3 bucks) that goes around in a short loop. You would be surprised how many adults take it :)
There is also a gift store and a café on premises, but I’m yet to try them out. We went to grab some food in downtown Montrose — a charming little town with lots of options. Basically, you can spend a great day in the area and have all sorts of fun!

My parents took me here when I was a kid, and all I remember was the high voltage power lines above the parking area. Well, 40 years later, I’m here again, and can say that this place is relaxing and a great hike for those needing to get their Fitbit into the 10,000 mark with elevation changes. I ended up buying a $ 70 couples membership because I plan to come here many more times over the year.
Today, the air was crisp after last night’s rain, so dust and pollen was down and the trees actually smelled fresh after the rain. I took the short hike to the Boddy House, and noticed a new structure opening May 3^rd; I’m glad I joined!
If you wanted to do a one-​day ticket, it’s $ 9 and still a bargain, since spring is starting to bring out the flowers and if you have little kids, the train is the best deal in town for young entertainment. If you walk around the park, it’ll take you about 2 hours at a slow pace. On the west side, there are more water features, with various types of fowl, reptiles and mammals. Bring some peanuts to feed the wildlife, which are very friendly; you may even see deer in the morning!