The most beautiful botanical gardens in Los Angeles

It is sometimes difficult to simply stop and look around at the frantic pace of modern life. Still,  there are incredibly beautiful botanical gardens and hidden oases in Los Angeles that are worth seeing with your own eyes. Los-Angeles Name shares a list of the best such places.

Descanso Gardens

The views here are breathtaking. There are over five hectares of roses on the grounds and the Teahouse surrounded by seasonal cherry blossoms. Descanso Gardens received this gift from the Japanese American community.

Here are some interesting places that one should visit.

1. The Rose Garden with more than 1,600 flowers. This place reveals the centuries-old history of gardening. Entire collections of garden and modern roses can be seen here.
2. The Japanese Garden, which features four classic garden styles, deserves attention. Visitors should cross the arched bridge as well as the shady paths by the stream designed by Whitney Smith. It was built in 1966. The plants that grow in the tranquil Japanese-style garden are native to Asia. The Japanese Garden also features a minka (traditional Japanese house) designed by Kenneth Masao Nishimoto. It was built in 1969.
3. The Camellia Forest in the Descanso Gardens is mesmerizing. After the acquisition of the territory, the land was an oak forest. In 1942, the founder Elias Manchester Boddy purchased three Japanese nurseries. By the time the manufacturing families were imprisoned during World War II, they had managed to sell their life’s work. Thus, rare, unique breeds of camellias survived and became the basis for future collections. Plants bloom from early autumn and spring and in winter they have the brightest color. This should be taken into account when planning a visit.
4. The California Garden was opened in 1959. It is a vivid example of the refined beauty of the local flora. The garden was designed by the famous Theodore Payne. Spring and summer are the best times to visit this place.
5. You can end your walk through the Descanso Gardens at Nature’s Table. The design was developed by students of the landscape design studio. The territory is surrounded by vineyards, bushes and green areas.

Arboretum & Botanic Garden

The vast area was formerly part of the agricultural outpost of Mission San Gabriel. It was Rancho Santa Anita, which Elias Jackson “Lucky” Baldwin bought in 1875.

The Arboretum was founded in 1947. It was then that 111 acres of land were purchased. Plants were arranged according to geographic region. There is the Herb Garden, the Aquatic Garden and the Prehistoric and Jungle Garden here. It is also interesting that one of the parts of the Jurassic Park movie was filmed here.

For modern townspeople, this is an impressive area in Arcadia, near the Santa Anita racetrack. Initially, the natural oasis was designed as an educational institution. Later, the place became associated with peace and beauty. You can wander through the gardens endlessly, forgetting about time. This is one of its features.

The tropical forests of the area, waterfalls, as well as the presence of various trees and even fish are fascinating.

Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden

This place is associated with Zen and a sense of peace, devotion and patience. After visiting it, you will feel free from city life. During the visit, you will see bridges, a cedar log cabin and lush gardens, which are surrounded by two ponds.

The Japanese Garden was created by Charles and Ellamae Storrier Stearns, who were fans of Fujii and hired him to design the garden. In 1937, the construction had just begun. Fujii was a respected person because he designed Japanese gardens for Americans in Hollywood, Santa Barbara and Ojai. However, a tragedy occurred in 1941. Japanese bombers attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States entered World War II. This in turn led to the persecution of Japanese Americans. One such innocent person who was sent to an internment camp was Kinzuchi Fujii. Therefore, the creation of the garden was completed without him.

There have been ups and downs in the garden’s history. Thus, after the decline, it was sold at auction to Jim and Connie Haddad. They realized how valuable his story was and decided to support the legacy.

The future of Storrier Stearns

After the sale of the garden and thanks to the efforts of the owners, it got a chance for the future. The Haddads contacted Fujii’s son and received authentic photos and the artist’s original plans. It has become a valuable tool for garden restoration.

Los Angeles residents today know Storrier Stearns as the last garden of Kinzuchi Fujii. The gardens are maintained by volunteers and the grounds are open from Friday to Sunday. To visit this place, you need to register in advance.

Huntington Botanical Garden

These enchanting landscapes are open all year round. There is a variety of flora in the thematic gardens and the territory reaches 130 acres. There are the Chinese Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden and the Desert Garden. It is worth telling a little about the history of this place.

It all began in 1903, when Henry Huntington purchased the San Marino Ranch. The land was located near Los Angeles and was impressive in its diversity that includes:

• citrus groves
• nut and fruit orchards
• alfalfa crops
• small herd and poultry.

An important role in the development of such a diverse collection of plants was played by the head of the ranch, William Hertrich. The total area was 600 acres. Later, it was reduced to 207 acres, of which only 130 acres are open to visitors.

In addition to the themed gardens, the Botanical Garden is famous for its collections of living botanical plants, which are also part of Huntington’s educational programs. The latter includes botanical lectures, gardening workshops and demonstrations. Plants are available for sale.

Hidden Gardens of Los Angeles

1. Amir’s Garden. It is located on the territory of Griffith Park. In 1971, the tourist Amir Dialameh arranged a corner in a shaded place, away from prying eyes. Thus, the 5-acre area was later called the volunteer garden, where tourists and athletes like to come. The garden is difficult to reach but there are flower beds and picnic benches at the top.
2. Arlington Garden is the only public garden in Los Angeles. It is an Italian-style nature reserve with a seven-circuit labyrinth. This place deserves attention.
3. Meditation Gardens. The name encourages us to discover more. The mysterious temple of Self-Realization Fellowship is located not far from the coast of the Pacific Highway, on 10 acres. The gardens were used for shooting famous films. They serve as a reminder of old Hollywood. Visitors will be interested in the gilded lotus gates that surround the Shrine, where Gandhi’s ashes are kept.
4. The Gardens of Oz are located between the Hollywood Reservoir and the Hollywood Sign. It is a monument of history and culture. The garden is designed for a quiet and slow, measured pace of exploration of the beauty of nature.

Los Angeles is associated with beauty. It is filled with wonderful places and combined with wildlife, clear skies and incredible views. This is one of the common reasons why people fall in love with the city and its surroundings. Everyone is familiar with parks. Still, botanical gardens also deserve attention.