Petal Paradise

Visit the Beautiful Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

03.27.2025
Los Angeles County
Relaxing
A woman stands amid an array of yellow and purple flowers at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

Tulips, lilacs, and daffodils—flower power is in full bloom at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge. Sprawling across 150 acres surrounded by mountains, the gardens are putting on their best show right now.

A woman walks by a blooming cherry blossom tree at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

A woman is admiring the cherry blossom trees at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

If you’re seeking that quintessential spring bloom experience, stroll through the Lilac Garden, where 400 lilac trees fill the air with their delicate scent.

A woman is walking a pathway at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

A red rounded bridge at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

Walk among the charming rows of colorful tulips that take over the Promenade; every step feels like stepping into a postcard from the Netherlands.

In the Japanese Garden, cherry blossoms bloom each spring, inspiring a feeling of tranquility by the Tea House and its babbling pond.

Be sure to also wander through one of North America’s largest camelia collections, where shades of pink, red, and white paint a truly enchanting landscape. 

While Descanso Gardens is worth a visit year-round, there’s something truly special about this season—when mild days and blossoming blooms add a little extra spring to your step. Don’t miss it!

From downtown Los Angeles, take the CA-2 N/Glendale Freeway towards Glendale. Stay in the right lane to continue towards CA-2 N, then take Exit 21A towards Verdugo Blvd./Montrose. Turn right on Verdugo Blvd., then another right on Descanso Dr. After about 0.2 mile, you’ll find the garden entrance on your right.

Descanso Gardens. Be sure to check out their website and Instagram page for peak bloom updates.

Story and photos by Yvonne Pasquini, @yvonne_pasquini

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman with her arms outstretched to the rolling hills scenery while on a rock outcrop at Barnabe Peak in Samuel P Taylor Sate Park in Marin

    Barnabe Bonanza

    Sure, there are higher mountains in Marin (Mount Tam) and easier ascents (Mount Burdell), but is there a more expansive North Bay view? Barnabe Peak in Samuel P. Taylor State Park offers a glorious panorama including Mount Tam, Mount Diablo, and Mount St. Helena.

    View

  2. Tamtastic Sunset

    Sure, the East Peak of Mount Tam is absolutely spectacular at sunset, but some magic-hour enthusiasts head to a nearby spot, Trojan Point, for a little more personal space in their panoramic viewings.

    View
  3. Hiker on the SCA trail in Marin Headlands with view of the Golden Gate Bridge

    Headlands Over Heels

    People come from all over the world to get a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge. Get a dramatic and novel view of the bridge without all the people on this moderate 6-mile hike in the Marin Headlands.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman hiking the San Onofre Bluffs Loop Trail to San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County

    Bluffing Good!

    Lovely coastline, beautiful beaches, unique geological history, and picturesque sandstone cliffs with limited foot traffic in San Diego County? Head to San Onofre State Beach and the 5-mile San Onofre Bluffs Loop Trail.

    View

  2. Can We Get a Whoop Whoop!

    City, mountain, and ocean views all in one hike? Whoop whoop! It’s no surprise the the Kenter Fire Road and Whoop-de-Doos Trail (a combo of fire road and singletrack) is a favorite among local mountain bikers and hikers alike.

    View

  3. Waterfall Hunter

    If you ask a local in Reno about one of the best hiking trails in town, odds are high they’ll point you to Hunter Creek Falls. It’s a year-round favorite, but it absolutely shines in spring, when desert peach wildflowers make a splash—and so does the marquee waterfall.

    View