Plan an excursion through our urban oasis of cultivated gardens and nearly wild, natural landscapes. Set aside a smidge of extra time for unexpected garden secrets and delights along the way!
Come to Descanso Gardens to experience, learn, and expand with an activity, class, program, or event designed to inspire.
Discover our world-class botanical and horticultural wonders and how we care for them.
Dive into a wellspring of opportunities for kids and adults to learn, observe nature, and participate in the garden.
As a non-profit public garden, we welcome you to join us in supporting our mission through membership and giving. With you, we grow in gratitude!
At Descanso Gardens we connect people with nature and one another. Read about our rich history and future plans to preserve the beauty and heritage of the gardens.
After-hours and daytime events with programs designed to connect garden visitors of all ages to nature. Join us for festivals, immersive installations, music, workshops, tours, and more.
Come join our monthly walk for birders of all levels. Bring binoculars! Keep your bird count tallied on the updated and now downloadable Descanso bird checklist. No reservations required, exclusively […]
Focusing on Descanso Gardens’ magnificent heritage coast live oaks, Trees Talk explores the hidden network that allows trees to communicate with one another. This beguiling exhibition showcases touchable and interactive elements, drawing on actual wood taken from oaks that tragically fell during a severe storm in 2023. Visitors can investigate acorn sprouts that show how […]
In honor of Memorial Day, Descanso Gardens invites all veterans, active-duty military members, and up to six guests to enjoy a free day in the garden on May 27 from 9am–7pm. Tickets will be available at the Visitor Center on Memorial Day with no advance registration required. Attendees are asked to bring proof of military […]
Focusing on Descanso Gardens’ magnificent heritage coast live oaks, Trees Talk explores the hidden network that allows trees to communicate with one another. This beguiling exhibition showcases touchable and interactive elements, drawing on actual wood taken from oaks that tragically fell during a severe storm in 2023. Visitors can investigate acorn sprouts that show how […]
Focusing on Descanso Gardens’ magnificent heritage coast live oaks, Trees Talk explores the hidden network that allows trees to communicate with one another. This beguiling exhibition showcases touchable and interactive elements, drawing on actual wood taken from oaks that tragically fell during a severe storm in 2023. Visitors can investigate acorn sprouts that show how […]
Join us for songs, puppets and of course books! Great for children ages 2–7 with a caregiver. Meets at Feather Falls in the Camellia Forest, which is near the Main Lawn. No registration required, free with admission or membership.
Focusing on Descanso Gardens’ magnificent heritage coast live oaks, Trees Talk explores the hidden network that allows trees to communicate with one another. This beguiling exhibition showcases touchable and interactive elements, drawing on actual wood taken from oaks that tragically fell during a severe storm in 2023. Visitors can investigate acorn sprouts that show how […]
Focusing on Descanso Gardens’ magnificent heritage coast live oaks, Trees Talk explores the hidden network that allows trees to communicate with one another. This beguiling exhibition showcases touchable and interactive elements, drawing on actual wood taken from oaks that tragically fell during a severe storm in 2023. Visitors can investigate acorn sprouts that show how […]
Focusing on Descanso Gardens’ magnificent heritage coast live oaks, Trees Talk explores the hidden network that allows trees to communicate with one another. This beguiling exhibition showcases touchable and interactive elements, drawing on actual wood taken from oaks that tragically fell during a severe storm in 2023. Visitors can investigate acorn sprouts that show how […]
Join this members-only tour to see horticulture in action! Meet in the Courtyard and walk to the Ruth Borun Nursery and Propagation Center. The nursery serves as the backbone for […]
Focusing on Descanso Gardens’ magnificent heritage coast live oaks, Trees Talk explores the hidden network that allows trees to communicate with one another. This beguiling exhibition showcases touchable and interactive elements, drawing on actual wood taken from oaks that tragically fell during a severe storm in 2023. Visitors can investigate acorn sprouts that show how […]
Focusing on Descanso Gardens’ magnificent heritage coast live oaks, Trees Talk explores the hidden network that allows trees to communicate with one another. This beguiling exhibition showcases touchable and interactive […]
This class is sold out Join artist Virginia Hein for a sketch walk through the gardens on Thursday, June 6 from 5–6:30pm. This class is designed as an introduction to quick location sketching and each participant is given a small panorama sketchbook and waterproof pen (included in class price). Bring a spirit of curiosity, play […]
Join us for the inaugural weekend of the Descanso Gardens plant expo and sale, June 7-9. This event will focus on everyone’s favorite desert plants: Cactuses and succulents! The expo will feature the talents of The Los Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society — a community of enthusiasts who cultivate the study and enjoyment of cactus […]
Come explore, play and create with us at Descanso Gardens! Families with young children (age 2-5 years old) will enjoy doing arts and crafts and nature exploration together each month. No registration required, free with admission.
Join us for the inaugural weekend of the Descanso Gardens plant expo and sale, June 7-9. This event will focus on everyone’s favorite desert plants: Cactuses and succulents! The expo will feature the talents of The Los Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society — a community of enthusiasts who cultivate the study and enjoyment of cactus […]
Come explore, play and create with us at Descanso Gardens! Families with young children (age 2-5 years old) will enjoy doing arts and crafts and nature exploration together each month. No registration required, free with admission.
Join us for the inaugural weekend of the Descanso Gardens plant expo and sale, June 7-9. This event will focus on everyone’s favorite desert plants: Cactuses and succulents! The expo will feature the talents of The Los Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society — a community of enthusiasts who cultivate the study and enjoyment of cactus […]
Connect with other parents in Parent Pathways! Parents, parents-to-be, and parents with their children are invited to connect and chat on a leisurely walk through Descanso Gardens. Please dress in outdoor appropriate clothing and bring a water bottle. Meets at Center Circle. No registration required, free with admission. The walk leaves promptly at 9am.
Join us as we explore the themes of the Sturt Haaga Gallery and Boddy House exhibits through books! Gallery Story Time is great for children ages 2-7 with a caregiver. No registration required, free with admission.
Our Plant Expo and Sale is back June 14-16, this time with a focus on bromeliads! Bromeliads are a diverse group of plants that include air plants and pineapples. Though mostly tropical, these plants can grow in a wide variety of climates and many can be grown indoors. Come learn more and see some unusual […]
Stroll through the garden and connect with other members of the Descanso community. Bring a friend or make a new one! This walk involves multi-surface paths throughout Descanso Gardens. Please dress in outdoor appropriate clothing and bring a water bottle. Meets at Center Circle. No registration required, free with admission. The walk leaves promptly at […]
Get hands-on gardening experience by mulching in the garden and help care for Descanso at this volunteer opportunity. Instruction will be provided. All experience levels are welcome. Ages 16 or older. Must be able to lift, bend and stand for long periods of time. Moderate to heavy lifting involved. Bring gardening gloves and water. Remember […]
Our Plant Expo and Sale is back June 14-16, this time with a focus on bromeliads! Bromeliads are a diverse group of plants that include air plants and pineapples. Though mostly tropical, these plants can grow in a wide variety of climates and many can be grown indoors. Come learn more and see some unusual […]
Summer in SoCal is the season of snakes, but don’t be scared, be smart! Join Natural History Museum Senior Manager of Vertebrate Living Collections, Leslie Gordon, for a meet and greet with some live animals on Saturday, June 15 at Mulberry Pond. Learn some basic identification and other fun facts about these neat neighbors. No […]
Our Plant Expo and Sale is back June 14-16, this time with a focus on bromeliads! Bromeliads are a diverse group of plants that include air plants and pineapples. Though mostly tropical, these plants can grow in a wide variety of climates and many can be grown indoors. Come learn more and see some unusual […]
Celebrate Hawaiian culture with Hālau Hula Keali`i O Nālani “Hula, once learned, is to be shared.” Kumu Hula Kealiʻi Ceballos shares his passion for Hula and the core values of Hawaiian culture, aloha (compassion) and ʻohana (family), in this special performance. Guided by his vision, the dancers of Hālau Hula Keali`i O Nālani offer a […]
Come explore, play and create with us at Descanso Gardens! Families with young children (age 2-5 years old) will enjoy doing arts and crafts and nature exploration together each month. No registration required, free with admission.
Surround yourself with other nature-lovers at Cultivate, a monthly event that brings together music, dancing, refreshments, and engaging experiences in nature that will connect you more deeply to the world around you. Wander the grounds at your own pace, with new activities around every corner. The event is free with admission, so come celebrate summer […]
Come explore, play and create with us at Descanso Gardens! Families with young children (age 2-5 years old) will enjoy doing arts and crafts and nature exploration together each month. No registration required, free with admission.
Come join our monthly walk for birders of all levels. Bring binoculars! Keep your bird count tallied on the updated and now downloadable Descanso bird checklist. No reservations required, exclusively […]
Join us for songs, puppets and of course books! Great for children ages 2–7 with a caregiver. Meets at Feather Falls in the Camellia Forest, which is near the Main Lawn. No registration required, free with admission or membership.
Join us on Thursday, June 27 from 5-7pm for the opening reception of HWAJODO: Flowers and Birds in Korean American Art, our newest exhibition coming to the Sturt Haaga Gallery through September 29. Meet the artists, enjoy a no-host bar and traditional Korean music. Drawing from centuries-old traditions, HWAJODO explores the enduring themes of nature, particularly flowers […]
Drawing from centuries-old traditions, HWAJODO: Flowers and Birds in Korean American Art explores the enduring themes of nature, particularly flowers and birds, that have been a focal point in Korean art. […]
Drawing from centuries-old traditions, HWAJODO: Flowers and Birds in Korean American Art explores the enduring themes of nature, particularly flowers and birds, that have been a focal point in Korean art. […]
Drawing from centuries-old traditions, HWAJODO: Flowers and Birds in Korean American Art explores the enduring themes of nature, particularly flowers and birds, that have been a focal point in Korean art. This exhibition uniquely combines traditional representations of flowers and birds with contemporary artists' abstract and stylized interpretations, reflecting a bridge between the past and present, […]
Drawing from centuries-old traditions, HWAJODO: Flowers and Birds in Korean American Art explores the enduring themes of nature, particularly flowers and birds, that have been a focal point in Korean art. This exhibition uniquely combines traditional representations of flowers and birds with contemporary artists' abstract and stylized interpretations, reflecting a bridge between the past and present, […]
Drawing from centuries-old traditions, HWAJODO: Flowers and Birds in Korean American Art explores the enduring themes of nature, particularly flowers and birds, that have been a focal point in Korean art. This exhibition uniquely combines traditional representations of flowers and birds with contemporary artists' abstract and stylized interpretations, reflecting a bridge between the past and present, […]
In celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department, get your own seeds to grow at home on July 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31 from 10am–12pm. Plant a Seed is perfect for families, friends, and solo nature enthusiasts! No reservations required, children receive free admission.
Drawing from centuries-old traditions, HWAJODO: Flowers and Birds in Korean American Art explores the enduring themes of nature, particularly flowers and birds, that have been a focal point in Korean art. This exhibition uniquely combines traditional representations of flowers and birds with contemporary artists' abstract and stylized interpretations, reflecting a bridge between the past and present, […]
Drawing from centuries-old traditions, HWAJODO: Flowers and Birds in Korean American Art explores the enduring themes of nature, particularly flowers and birds, that have been a focal point in Korean art. This exhibition uniquely combines traditional representations of flowers and birds with contemporary artists' abstract and stylized interpretations, reflecting a bridge between the past and present, […]
Exclusively for Family and Friends, Nature Lover, and Perennial Circle Membership Levels Model trains will be running from 8:30am–6:30pm Train rides are from 9:30am–4pm (limited number of tickets available for […]
Come explore, play and create with us at Descanso Gardens! Families with young children (age 2-5 years old) will enjoy doing arts and crafts and nature exploration together each month. No registration required, free with admission.
Drawing from centuries-old traditions, HWAJODO: Flowers and Birds in Korean American Art explores the enduring themes of nature, particularly flowers and birds, that have been a focal point in Korean art. This exhibition uniquely combines traditional representations of flowers and birds with contemporary artists' abstract and stylized interpretations, reflecting a bridge between the past and present, […]
Exclusively for Descanso Gardens members Model trains will be running from 8:30am–6:30pm Train rides are from 9:30am–4pm (limited number of tickets available for purchase) Members will have exclusive access to […]
Come explore, play and create with us at Descanso Gardens! Families with young children (age 2-5 years old) will enjoy doing arts and crafts and nature exploration together each month. No registration required, free with admission.
Drawing from centuries-old traditions, HWAJODO: Flowers and Birds in Korean American Art explores the enduring themes of nature, particularly flowers and birds, that have been a focal point in Korean art. This exhibition uniquely combines traditional representations of flowers and birds with contemporary artists' abstract and stylized interpretations, reflecting a bridge between the past and present, […]
Edo was a remarkable period in Japanese history (1603-1868) when artists broke from tradition and experimented with asymmetry, abstraction, stylization, and empty space to depict the natural world. These artists set the stage for modern art through their innovative, open-hearted depictions. Inspired by Edo 2024 is a national art competition based on the Smithsonian’s Investigating […]
Make your own art piece and learn more about the Japanese Edo period on Saturday, July 6 at the Boddy House. Participants will explore the Inspired by Edo national student art competition alongside the people who designed it. This workshop includes information about Edo era art depicting nature, an in-depth look at the competition finalists, […]
