Descanso Gardens
Park · La Canada Flintridge, CA
About
While most Los Angeles gardens feel like formal landscapes, Descanso Gardens offers 160 acres of natural Southern California beauty set in a secluded bowl in the San Rafael hills. This is a place where Japanese Garden camellias, reddening prickly pears, and fall pumpkins coexist. It's wheelchair accessible and easy to navigate, making it a relaxed choice for a queer-friendly outdoor outing. You'll find a small gallery on site, but the real art is the ever-changing seasonal display.
Open daily from 9am to 7pm, you have ample time to explore the woodlands and chaparral. Visit during fall for the rich tones of berries and turning leaves. Regulars know to check the Natives Garden—it's a quiet spot with great views. If you're in the mood for more cultural gardens, nearby The Huntington offers a different but equally impressive experience.
Features
- ✓Explore the Japanese Garden daily surprises
- ✓Wheelchair accessible paths throughout
- ✓Watch fall berries and pumpkins ripen
Good for
Practical
What people say
Rated from 2,119 reviews. 24 community ratings. View this venue on Yelp
From the community
“Now is the best time to view the gardens!”
The Gardens are showing their autumn colors now, with acorns falling, berries ripening, and camellias beginning to bloom again. In the lovely Japanese Garden, there are new flowering surprises daily. The creamy buckwheat flowers in the Natives Garden are turning red, and the prickly pears on the opuntia cactus are also reddening. And you definitely shouldn't miss the fall pumpkins getting plump and deep orange. These stunning gardens sit in a hidden natural bowl in the San Rafael hills. Drive out and explore to your heart's content.
A visitor · Over a year ago
“Great Gardens”
This is a stunningly large botanical garden in La Canada Flintridge, a suburb of Los Angeles. It's definitely worth a visit; we brought my mother during one of her trips to Los Angeles and she absolutely adored it. She uses a wheelchair most of the time, and navigating the grounds was quite easy for her.
A guest · Over a year ago
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Descanso Gardens wheelchair accessible? +
Yes, one reviewer noted it as easy to maneuver with a wheelchair throughout the gardens.
What are the hours for Descanso Gardens? +
The gardens are open daily from 9am to 7pm.
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