Descanso's Garden in March

Hello there, here are some more pix of what Descanso looks like in the late winter, early spring.  This is an incredible Rhododendron with raindrops still on the petals!  As a rule, they don't do well here in our mild climate.  Years ago, when I made a trip up the west coast to Oregon, on the side of the road were these huge bushes with large red flowers all over it and I had to stop the car to take a look.  They were robust Rhododendrons and I'd never seen anything like them.  I haven't yet tried to grow them here in my yard but I like to visit them here and at the local nurseries....someday....

Please click on the pic to see the bigger version, it will be worth it!

Here are pix of the rose garden not yet in bloom...

 

 

Looking south on the path...

Those people with their children that you see in the upper right, are waiting for the mini train ride to take them for a garden tour.

A young, flowering Magnolia tree...

A hedge of a hundred Narcissus bulbs in bloom with a live lattice tree fence beginning to bud out with new leaves...

Information about the new art gallery....

Here's where it will be...

A succulent garden.  Perfect for our scant rainfall that we receive here.

The Camellia Forest.  If I were a fairy this is where I'd live...

Last but not least, Mr. Mallard enjoying his morning swim...

Hope you have a peaceful day!

Camellias

Hi, A couple weekends ago, Descanso Gardens had one of their Camellia shows. Here are some samplings of the show.

 If you click on the photo you can see the whole picture.

These are the most common Camellias and they are what most people think of when they think of Camellia flowers. These are my favorite type of camellias and I don't like to think of them as common for they are sooooo pretty!

These are full, ruffly, petaled varieties and they remind me of Carnations.  Most Camellias don't have any scent but recently they've hybridized some to have a scent.

Here is a new hybrid.  Ruffly in the center.  I've never seen this kind before!  The pix is a bit out of focus.

This one was such a pretty deep red.

 

There were so many entries and these are some that I wanted to share with you.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Yes, We Have Snow in LA, Flowers too

A pic of my commute into work of the mountain range after the recent rains.  You can snow ski here and in the same day go surfing at the beach if you wanted to!

Looking more like spring everyday.  Some flowers from my garden...Early blooming iris with a delicious scent...

A pink peonie...

A lavender freesia...

A crimson freesia....
More flowers to share in the days to come as I visited Descanso Gardens yesterday and took some pix of the Camellia Festival.  Be back soon.

My Happy Place

 

I took a much needed 3 day holiday over the Columbus Day weekend.  Since I rarely have a Saturday off I decided to attend the First Annual Fall Plant Sale at my fav place, Descanso Gardens.  It was in cooperation with Monrovia Nursery, Mt. San Antonio College Agri Dept. and Descanso.  They had speakers on Saturday which is why I wanted to attend Sat.  I learned all about the magnificent Oak tree and it's symbiotic relationship with other life forms.  Amazing!

 

 

Descanso has the most Camellia plants of any public garden in California.  They are everywhere throughout the garden but there is one place under the oaks where the majority of them live.  The best show of Camellia flowers is in January through March.  If you've never been there you should go because it's beautiful and peaceful.  They're open everyday except Christmas day.  Check it out www.descansogardens.org .  They have a large rose garden where you can get married.  This is the entrance to the rose garden:

 

On Sat. I also learned about how to graft citrus trees so you can have different citrus fruit on the same tree, new plants that have been hybridized by Monrovia Nursery that will grow well in So. Cal. and added my to my knowledge about vermiculture (worm farming); how to make compost tea that plants just love. Because I'm moving, I didn't buy even one little plant, boo, hoo.   Here's the plant sale on the main lawn:

 

They even have fish (Koi) in their ponds:  They'll swim close to the edge and the kids can reach down and touch them!

I've been going to Descanso Gardens for years; I  used to stroll my babies there.  It has improved over time although, I miss the Japanese arts/crafts/book shop they used to have.  I still have the origami books and some of the special square papers that my daughter just had to have.  I always stop in at the new Gift Shop before leaving:

Have a beautiful day!