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.
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1 event,
Explore, play, and create with us at Little Explorers. Families with young children (aged 2–5 years old) will enjoy doing arts, crafts, and nature exploration each month. Specific projects and activities vary, come see what we’re up to this time! This program is generously funded, in part, by Perenchio Foundation. Free with admission.
Included with admission or membership
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1 event,
Explore, play, and create with us at Little Explorers. Families with young children (aged 2–5 years old) will enjoy doing arts, crafts, and nature exploration each month. Specific projects and activities vary, come see what we’re up to this time! This program is generously funded, in part, by Perenchio Foundation. Free with admission.
Included with admission or membership
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1 event,
Explore, play, and create with us at Little Explorers. Families with young children (aged 2–5 years old) will enjoy doing arts, crafts, and nature exploration each month. Specific projects and […]
Included with admission or membership
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3 events,
Explore, play, and create with us at Little Explorers. Families with young children (aged 2–5 years old) will enjoy doing arts, crafts, and nature exploration each month. Specific projects and […]
Included with admission or membership
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Please note that this class is sold out. Learning to paint negative shapes is the quickest way to take your art to the next level. Join artist Julie Crouch for a four-week series that focuses on negative space. This class will guide you in creating depth within your paintings. You will be amazed when objects […]
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Enjoy Brazilian dance, live music, and ancestral traditions with Viver Brasil. Uplifting and joyful, Viver Brasil is a legacy-driven institution deeply rooted in the Afro-Brazilian heritage of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. […]
Included with admission or membership
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2 events,
Explore, play, and create with us at Little Explorers. Families with young children (aged 2–5 years old) will enjoy doing arts, crafts, and nature exploration each month. Specific projects and […]
Included with admission or membership
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Don’t miss the opening reception of Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World at the Sturt Haaga Gallery and Boddy House. Meet the artists and curators Edith and Jolly de Guzman, and enjoy music and a no-host bar. Through a series of indoor and outdoor art installations, Roots of […] |
9 events,
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Drop in for a rejuvenating yoga session on the Main Lawn, facilitated by CorePower Yoga. All levels are welcome; attendees are encouraged to bring yoga mats. Free with admission, no registration required.
Included with admission or membership
Experience a peaceful 15 minute guided meditation walk through the Ancient Forest with Mariko Tu on July 12 and 19 at 9, 9:30 or 10am. No registration required, free with admission or membership. About Mariko Tu Mariko Tu is a certified meditation teacher and educator specializing in mindfulness and compassion. She has developed and led […]
Included with admission or membership
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Click here for Sketch a Story on July 25. Please note that Sketch a Story on July 12 is sold out. Learn to tell the story of a place through sketching with John Pitblado. This workshop begins with a short tour of Descanso Gardens and goes on to an exploration of simple compositional strategies used […]
$35 – $45
Explore, play, and create with us at Little Explorers. Families with young children (aged 2–5 years old) will enjoy doing arts, crafts, and nature exploration each month. Specific projects and […]
Included with admission or membership
Experience a peaceful 15 minute guided meditation walk through the Ancient Forest with Mariko Tu on June 7 and 14 at 9, 9:30 or 10am. No registration required, free with admission or membership. About Mariko Tu Mariko Tu is a certified meditation teacher and educator specializing in mindfulness and compassion. She has developed and led […]
Included with admission or membership
Experience a peaceful 15 minute guided meditation walk through the Ancient Forest with Mariko Tu on June 7 and 14 at 9, 9:30 or 10am. No registration required, free with admission or membership. About Mariko Tu Mariko Tu is a certified meditation teacher and educator specializing in mindfulness and compassion. She has developed and led […]
Included with admission or membership
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban […] 
See the Roots of Cool exhibit through new eyes as curators Edith and Jolly de Guzman conduct a tour of the exhibition on July 12 at 11am and 1pm. Curators […]
See the Roots of Cool exhibit through new eyes as curators Edith and Jolly de Guzman conduct a tour of the exhibition on July 12 at 11am and 1pm. Curators […] |
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1 event,
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban […] |
1 event,
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban […] |
3 events,
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Click here for the July 16 (Wednesday) class and here for the July 18 (Friday) class Join us for an eight-week yoga class with Barbara Wood in the Rose Pavilion […]
$136
Enjoy the garden for free! Free Tuesday occurs on the third Tuesday of the month. Advance tickets are required and are released on the first day of the month at […]
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban […] |
3 events,
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See the beauty of Descanso Gardens through the lens! In this Photography 101 workshop series, teens will be introduced to essential and basic DSLR functions, how to control settings, consider […]
$100 – $125
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban […]
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Join us for an eight-week Wednesday yoga class with Kitty Schaller in the Rose Pavilion every Wednesday from July 16–September 3, 5–6:30pm. Yoga at Descanso Gardens is based on Hatha […]
$136
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1 event,
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban […] |
2 events,
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Join us for a yoga class with Joyce Blum in the Rose Pavilion from July 18–September 5, 8:30–10am on Fridays. Yoga at Descanso Gardens is based on Hatha Yoga, which […]
$136
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban […] |
5 events,
Experience a peaceful 15 minute guided meditation walk through the Ancient Forest with Mariko Tu on June 7 and 14 at 9, 9:30 or 10am. No registration required, free with […]
Included with admission or membership
Experience a peaceful 15 minute guided meditation walk through the Ancient Forest with Mariko Tu on June 7 and 14 at 9, 9:30 or 10am. No registration required, free with […]
Included with admission or membership
-
Please note that the Kokedama Workshop is sold out. Learn about the art of kokedama, the centuries-old Japanese style of growing plants in a moss-covered soil ball. Led by Descanso […]
$50 – $65
Experience a peaceful 15 minute guided meditation walk through the Ancient Forest with Mariko Tu on June 7 and 14 at 9, 9:30 or 10am. No registration required, free with […]
Included with admission or membership
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban […] |
|
1 event,
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban […] |
2 events,
Explore, play, and create with us at Little Explorers. Families with young children (aged 2–5 years old) will enjoy doing arts, crafts, and nature exploration each month. Specific projects and […]
Included with admission or membership
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban […] |
2 events,
Explore, play, and create with us at Little Explorers. Families with young children (aged 2–5 years old) will enjoy doing arts, crafts, and nature exploration each month. Specific projects and […]
Included with admission or membership
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban […] |
2 events,
Explore, play, and create with us at Little Explorers. Families with young children (aged 2–5 years old) will enjoy doing arts, crafts, and nature exploration each month. Specific projects and […]
Included with admission or membership
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban neighborhoods livable. Curated by Edith and Jolly de Guzman, Roots of Cool presents artworks in the Sturt Haaga Gallery, Boddy House, and throughout the gardens. […] |
3 events,
Explore, play, and create with us at Little Explorers. Families with young children (aged 2–5 years old) will enjoy doing arts, crafts, and nature exploration each month. Specific projects and […]
Included with admission or membership
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban neighborhoods livable. Curated by Edith and Jolly de Guzman, Roots of Cool presents artworks in the Sturt Haaga Gallery, Boddy House, and throughout the gardens. […] 
Join us for story time in the garden! Great for children ages 2–7 with a caregiver. No event registration required, free with admission or membership.
Included with admission or membership
|
4 events,
-
Learn to tell the story of a place through sketching with John Pitblado. This workshop begins with a short tour of Descanso Gardens and goes on to an exploration of simple compositional strategies used to record the Descanso landscape. $35 members, $45 non-members. Advance registration required, register here. This program is generously funded, in part, […]
$35 – $45
Explore, play, and create with us at Little Explorers. Families with young children (aged 2–5 years old) will enjoy doing arts, crafts, and nature exploration each month. Specific projects and […]
Included with admission or membership
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban neighborhoods livable. Curated by Edith and Jolly de Guzman, Roots of Cool presents artworks in the Sturt Haaga Gallery, Boddy House, and throughout the gardens. […]
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Experience the gardens in a whole new way through Cultivate, a monthly series that features tours, workshops, live demonstrations, and music throughout the gardens. July’s theme is “Made in the Shade,” to compliment our Roots of Cool exhibit. Roots of Cool explores the topic of shade equity as installations throughout the gardens and in the […]
Included with admission or membership
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3 events,
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Get hands-on gardening experience 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 to wear comfortable clothing and […]
Free
Explore, play, and create with us at Little Explorers. Families with young children (aged 2–5 years old) will enjoy doing arts, crafts, and nature exploration each month. Specific projects and activities vary, come see what we’re up to this time! This program is generously funded, in part, by Perenchio Foundation. Free with admission.
Included with admission or membership
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban neighborhoods livable. Curated by Edith and Jolly de Guzman, Roots of Cool presents artworks in the Sturt Haaga Gallery, Boddy House, and throughout the gardens. […] |
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2 events,
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 for Descanso Gardens members.
Included with Descanso Gardens membership
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban neighborhoods livable. Curated by Edith and Jolly de Guzman, Roots of Cool presents artworks in the Sturt Haaga Gallery, Boddy House, and throughout the gardens. […] |
1 event,
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban neighborhoods livable. Curated by Edith and Jolly de Guzman, Roots of Cool presents artworks in the Sturt Haaga Gallery, Boddy House, and throughout the gardens. […] |
1 event,
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban neighborhoods livable. Curated by Edith and Jolly de Guzman, Roots of Cool presents artworks in the Sturt Haaga Gallery, Boddy House, and throughout the gardens. […] |
1 event,
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban neighborhoods livable. Curated by Edith and Jolly de Guzman, Roots of Cool presents artworks in the Sturt Haaga Gallery, Boddy House, and throughout the gardens. […] |
1 event,
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban neighborhoods livable. Curated by Edith and Jolly de Guzman, Roots of Cool presents artworks in the Sturt Haaga Gallery, Boddy House, and throughout the gardens. […] |
1 event,
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban neighborhoods livable. Curated by Edith and Jolly de Guzman, Roots of Cool presents artworks in the Sturt Haaga Gallery, Boddy House, and throughout the gardens. […] |
2 events,
Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World invites visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees play in making urban neighborhoods livable. Curated by Edith and Jolly de Guzman, Roots of Cool presents artworks in the Sturt Haaga Gallery, Boddy House, and throughout the gardens. […]
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In conjunction with the Roots of Cool exhibition, celebrate shade throughout Los Angeles at A Celebration of Cool! Roots of Cool explores the topic of shade equity as installations throughout the gardens and in the gallery invite visitors to connect to and cultivate appreciation for the life-giving role trees and shade play in making urban […] |
