In Fall 2014, we opened the Oak Woodland, which transformed an uncultivated behind-the-scenes area into seven additional acres of native plant garden. Join us to learn more about the iconic trees that dot the landscape, and celebrate five years of this beautiful part of Descanso.

Entry to the Oak Woodland: 5 Year Celebration is included in the price of regular Descanso Gardens admission.

Oak Tree Talk with Emily Han | 10am
While sitting under a canopy of oaks, learn about these essential and majestic California trees from herbalist, educator and author, Emily Han.

Wildflower Seed Search | 10am–1pm
Fall is the best time to plant California wildflower seeds. Pick up a wildflower map at the Information Station that will guide you Seed Stations in the garden. Visit the Seed Stations and make your own wildflower seed packet to take home.

Foothill Municipal Water District Information Table | 10am–1pm
Learn about water-wise practices, local rebates for your home and more.

Oak Woodland Highlight Tour | 1pm
Take a guided walk of the Oak Woodland to learn about the different plants and animals that thrive here.

To join us on Free Tuesday, you will need advance tickets.

Descanso Gardens opens its gates for free the third Tuesday of every month, and the response has been great. So great, that in order to ensure a great experience for visitors, advance tickets are now required for all non–members on Free Tuesday.

Tickets for Free Tuesday on September 17 will be available at Tuesday, August 27 at 10am.

Please note:

• Tickets are free and must be reserved online in advance, by phone at (818) 949-4200 or in person. No tickets will be available on-site at the Gardens on Free Tuesday.
• Tickets are available three weeks before the date of Free Tuesday. There are two times available to enter: 9am and 1pm. Once you are in the Gardens, you man stay until Descanso Gardens closes at 5pm.
• All visitors – including infants – need a ticket.
• Descanso Gardens members do not need a ticket.
  
• Members of other gardens that participate in the Reciprocal Admissions Program must reserve a free non-member ticket.
  
• Tickets will be scanned for entry and can only be used for the date and time printed on them.
  
• Tickets are limited to 6 per household; those reserving more than 6 tickets will have all additional tickets invalidated. Ticket purchaser must be present with entire party in order to enter the Garden. Descanso Gardens staff may request identification from the ticket purchaser.
  
• Please read our garden etiquette guidelines to better understand the expectations of behavior when visiting Descanso.
  
• Food and picnicking are not permitted in the Gardens; however, you are welcome to use the picnic area adjacent to the parking lot. 
  
• We cannot accommodate tour groups/buses on Free Tuesday. For group availability, contact grouptours@descansogardens.org or (818) 949-4202.

Join artist-in-residence Carole Kim in the Sturt Haaga Gallery as she discusses the method, inspiration and background behind the Shine a Light exhibition featuring her work.

Eight-week morning yoga session starting Friday, September 20. Includes a 25-minute fitness walk and 60-minutes yoga practice. $116 for eight-week session. Advance registration and minimum enrollment required. Please note that this program is non-refundable.

Register online here, in person at the Descanso Gardens Visitor Center, or by phone at (818) 949-7980.

MEMBERS ONLY.

Discover SILENCE, a new concert series presenting music and performance unconstrained by genre, at specific sites within Descanso’s “living collection” of horticulture. On Sept. 21, we explore the theme Light with artist Suzanne Ciani. Mia Barcia-Colombo, Yuri Inoo, Cristina Montes Mateo, Vicki Ray, and Diana Wade perform Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s In the Light of Air.

Tickets are $30 for Descanso Gardens members and $37 for non-members. Get your tickets here:

ABOUT SILENCE

Created by artistic directors Christopher Rountree, the conductor/composer who founded Wild Up, and Anna Bulbrook, the indie-rock musician and founder of Girlschool, SILENCE presents artists at the intersection of experimental popular music and classical new music. SILENCE explores three themes – Ritual (Sept. 7), Light (Sept. 21), and Listening (Sept. 28) – bringing unbounded sounds to the special outdoor space at Descanso Gardens.

ARTISTS

Suzanne Ciani | Mia Barcia-Colombo | Yuri Inoo | Cristina Montes Mateo | Vicki Ray | Diana Wade | Anna Thorvaldsdottir, composer

MEDIA SPONSOR

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.

MEMBERS ONLY

SILENCE, a new concert series unconstrained by genre within the Gardens, concludes on Sept. 28 with an exploration of the theme: Listening. L’Rain and Julia Holter perform their own works; Lisa E. Harris performs her pieces alongside the participatory deep listening pieces of Pauline Oliveros; and Gloria Cheng performs selected John Cage’s Sonatas and Interludes for prepared piano. 

Tickets are $30 for Descanso Gardens members and $37 for non-members. Get your tickets here:

ABOUT SILENCE

Created by artistic directors Christopher Rountree, the conductor/composer who founded Wild Up, and Anna Bulbrook, the indie-rock musician and founder of Girlschool, SILENCE presents artists at the intersection of experimental popular music and classical new music. SILENCE explores three themes – Listening (Sept. 7), Light (Sept. 21), and Ritual (Sept. 28) – bringing unbounded sounds to the special outdoor space at Descanso Gardens.

ARTISTS

Gloria Cheng | Lisa E. Harris | Julia Holter | L’Rain | John Cage, composer | Pauline Oliveros, composer

MEDIA SPONSOR

Join us in the Oak Woodland as students from the Mount San Antonio College horticulture program sell a variety of potted plants from Thursday to Saturday, October 3–5. All plants for sale are grown and cared for by students at Mt. SAC’s whole sale production nursery, and proceeds from the sale are used to support the horticulture program.

Join us in the Oak Woodland as students from the Mount San Antonio College horticulture program sell a variety of potted plants from Thursday to Saturday, October 3–5. All plants for sale are grown and cared for by students at Mt. SAC’s whole sale production nursery, and proceeds from the sale are used to support the horticulture program.