red poppies at Descanso Gardens 2018
Los Angeles Gardens / Montrose Glendale

A Sunday stroll in Descanso Gardens near Los Angeles

by carollightwood
Family at Descanso Gardens
A family in the Rose Garden part of Descanso. It is not rose season, but a few trees were in bloom.

Originally the Descanso Gardens was an estate where camellias and roses were grown commercially. The owners back then, Mr. and Mrs. Boddy, also replanted California oak trees after a wildfire burned through the property decades ago. Today we have to thank them for one of the most beautiful gardens in Southern California, now part of the Los Angeles Park system.

Wisteria at Descanso entryway
Wisteria plants grow along the pergola at the entry to Descanso Gardens. Their peak bloom has already passed.

Camellia trees still thrive as understory trees beneath the oaks. Roses from around the world still bloom in summer although they are gradually being replaced with more drought-tolerant plants. A garden of lilacs suitable for hot climates has been added, as has a Japanese garden.  And more.

Here are a few photos from my Sunday walk around the garden.

Admiring flowers Descanso rose garden
I am not sure which plants this couple were admiring, but most of the roses are really not yet in full bloom. Love the umbrella!
Foxgloves near the gazebo
The gazebo and nearby pavilion are often used for weddings. Foxgloves have replaced roses in this photo.
waterfalls Descanso Gardens
While there is a small natural lake in Descanso Gardens the streams that wind through the property and the small ponds are all fed by pumps.
spring grass oak woodlands
Every year for a few weeks in Spring all the hills in Southern and Central California flush with green grass, then as the heat builds the hillside begin to fade to a lovely golden brown as summer wears on.  Shady trails wind through the oak woodlands part of the gardens.
aeonium in bloom
If you look closely behind this Aeonium in bloom you will see the Canada goose paddling  around in the circular pool. The little lake at Descanso is nearby, but I guess the pool is more appealing to this goose.
Red poppies in rose garden
Roses are very thirsty plants so the powers that be at the Descanso Gardens are gradually replacing the roses with other plants like this poppy. It is not a California native, however, and can be a source of heroin.
California 'lilac' ceanothus
Called the “California Lilac” this Ceanothus “Ray Hammond” grows near the entry to the drought-tolerant California native plant garden. It is really not a lilac at all. There is, however, a true lilac garden at Descanso near the Japanese garden.

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