User:GO1313/Descanso Gardens

Descanso gardens is often referred to as simply "Descanso" by locals and consistent patrons.

Stuart Haaga Gallery

From February 18th to May 21, 2023 the Sturt Haaga Gallery is showing the exhibit SHIKI: The Four Seasons in Japanese Art. The exhibit is from Scripps College collection. The collection includes Kimonos and paintings that display the four seasons.

Animals

Descanso Gardens homes many different animal species native to the area. The species native to La Canada Flintridge include deer, mountain lions, birds, snakes, and squirrels. Many of these animals feed on the plants in the gardens as well as live in the plant life.

Food

The outside of the Sturt Haaga Gallery

The landscape of Descanso Gardens

Picture of the Descanso Gardens mini train tracks

Kimono from Sturt Haaga Gallery in the SHIKI four seasons collection

Before you enter Descanso Gardens there is a place go get food called The Kitchen at Descanso. Some of the items on the menu include items grown in the gardens. It also includes food items like coffee, house made hibiscus lemonade, as well as alcoholic beverages.

Descanso Gardens also does catering for various events. It most often caters for weddings as the gardens are also a popular venue for weddings.

General Information

General Admissions Tickets are 15 dollars. There is a senior and student discount for 11 dollars. Children 5 to 12 are 5 dollars and children under 5 are free. Descanso Gardens offers a membership that allows extra benefits. There are 7 different membership plans ranging in price from 70 dollars to 1000+ dollars. Each plan allows for a different number of guests to enter the gardens free of charge for a year. Other benefits include discounts on the gift shop, food, and special events. The normal hours are from 9am to 5pm, but members are allowed to enter at 8am. The gardens are open everyday of the year besides Christmas Day.

Layout

When you first enter the property there is a large parking lot in front of the entrance. In the entrance is the admissions building where you can buy a ticket, the restaurant, as well as a gift shop. It is not required to buy an admissions ticket to enter the restaurant or the gift shop. In order to enter the gardens you must buy an admissions ticket and have it checked before you enter, unless you are a member. When you pass the entrance you enter the center circle. Oftentimes there is an information desk where employees at Descanso Gardens help guests with planning their visit in the gardens in the center circle. At the center circle the employees also provide a map of Descanso Gardens. Guests are then free to explore the gardens at their leisure. There are fifteen different locations you can visit in the gardens listed on the map. There are also many different buildings and structures marked on the map that guests may explore.

Activities

Aside from the gardens themselves there are some other activities Descanso Gardens offers. The Enchanted Railroad is a small diesel train that the gardens allows guests to ride on. It has a track that circles around the promenade garden. The train is open from 10am to 4pm and costs 5 dollars to ride. In the Japanese Garden there is a tea house where events are held on occasion. There is also an Amphitheater on the main lawn of Descanso Gardens.

Events

Descanso holds many small events in the gardens including yoga, tours, and events for members only. Other large events include Enchanted and Carved. Every year Descanso Gardens has a light and art show called Enchanted. There is a set path that guests walk through and see all the lights as well as art instillations. Carved is a halloween themed event that has carved pumpkins as well as other typical halloween activities every year.