Strengthen and tone with Pilates

10 Wednesdays beginning Sept. 8 | 8-9 a.m. | Rose Pavilion

Pilates focuses on strengthening your body’s core with special emphasis on stretching and lengthening tight muscles and improving balance and posture. Sessions run for 10 Wednesdays. Bring mat and towel, comfortable clothes; no single sessions.

Cost is $150 general, $120 members. No walk-ins available. Register by calling (818) 949-7980.

Learn the secrets of 'Painting Nature'

Jay R. Ewing leads this series of watercolor classes which meets for six Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Learn beginning to intermediate techniques for capturing the beauty and light of nature on canvas. The class is held in the Birch room.

Cost of the class is $120 general, $90 members. Space is limited; register by calling (818) 949-7980.

Wind down from a busy day and enjoy Descanso "after hours."

Through the summer, Descanso will keep its gates open until 8 p.m. for guests to visit the Gardens in the cool of the evening. Extended midweek summer hours continue until Sept. 9 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Another plus for midweek summer visitors: Descanso’s Japanese Full Moon Tea House will be transformed into the Camellia Lounge, a hip, soothing and exotic location to enjoy signature cocktails and appetizers. The Camellia Lounge is open 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday until Sept. 9.

Regular Gardens admission fees apply for extended midweek summer evening hours: $8 adults, $6 senior/students and $3 children ages 5-12. Reciprocal Gardens admissions are not accepted during the 5 to 8 p.m. extended hours.

Tuesday-Thursday | 3-8 p.m. | Camellia Lounge (AKA Full Moon Tea House)

Escape the summer heat at the coolest spot in Descanso. Join friends for upscale sips and appetizers in the Camellia Lounge, located in the Full Moon Tea House in the Japanese Garden.

Enjoy signature cocktails, beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages and enticing appetizers created by Patina Catering. Check out the Camellia Lounge menu here.

Admission to the Camellia Lounge is free with Gardens admission. Camellia Lounge hours are 3-8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 9.

Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 16-17 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Celebrate “plein air” landscape painting and the changing of the seasons under the famed Descanso oaks. Meet local artists who will be painting in the garden and selling their artwork. Two workshops, priced separately, will also be offered: seed mosaics for children at 11 a.m. Oct. 16 (cost: $10) and seed ball making for adults at 11 a.m. Oct. 16 (cost: $20 general public, $15 Descanso members). Advance registration recommended.

Autumn Air is free (except for workshops) with Gardens admission: $8 adults, $6 senior/students and $3 children 5-12.

Friday-Sunday, Oct. 22-24 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Autumn is peak gardening time in Southern California. Lush plants from the Descanso plant propagation program and the Mount San Antonio College horticulture program will be available for sale. Descanso’s horticulture staff and other experts will present talks, demonstrations and workshops through the weekend. Children’s activities include costume parades and sing-alongs at 10 and 11 a.m. Saturday.

Harvest Festival and Plant Fair is free with Gardens admission: $8 adults, $6 senior/students and $3 children 5-12.

Saturday and Sunday | Nov. 6-7

Descanso celebrates Japanese arts, crafts and culture in our beautiful Japanese Garden. Enjoy a performance by taiko drummers, special food for purchase and other fun. Free with Gardens admission: $8 adults, $6 senior/students and $3 children 5-12

Thursday, Nov. 25 | Seatings at noon and 2 p.m. | Van de Kamp

Patina Catering will serve a bountiful harvest feast of turkey and all the trimmings. All the fun of Thanksgiving with no dishes to wash! There will be two seatings in Van de Kamp Hall.

$45, $37 members. Reservations required: (818) 790-3663