April is Earth Month, a global movement founded in 1970 that was inspired by Earth Day. And we can’t think of a better way to celebrate than touring LA’s gorgeous gardens and communing with nature. The Huntington, Descanso Gardens, and LA Arboretum are in full bloom, with vivid displays of lilacs, wisteria, roses, and California native plants. Our city is rich with unexpected delights, such as Arlington Garden in Pasadena and Virginia Robinson Gardens in Beverly Hills. We even found some secret gardens “hidden in plain sight” not far from Circa, like the Blue Ribbon Garden at Walt Disney Concert Hall and Exposition Park Rose Garden, considered one of the most important public-display rose gardens in the state.
Blue Ribbon Garden Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012
The Blue Ribbon Garden is a hidden rooftop oasis at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Nearly an acre in size, the garden is enclosed by the hall’s flowing exterior and filled with lush landscaping that blooms throughout the year. What started as a personal connection between just two people: Frank Gehry and Lillian Disney, has become a shared public art experience for concertgoers and Los Angeles tourists alike. One of the garden’s highlights is the Frank Gehry-designed fountain, a tribute to the late Lillian Disney and her love for Royal Delft porcelain vases and roses.
Exposition Park Rose Garden 701 State Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90007
One of the LA’s best-kept secrets, Exposition Park Rose Garden is a historic 7-acre sunken garden located in Exposition Park near USC. Featuring 15,793 rose bushes in about 200 varieties, it is currently among the three major public-display rose gardens in Southern California and one of the most important in the state. In 1991, the Rose Garden was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Exposition Park is home to some of LA’s top cultural attractions and venues, including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the California Science Center, and the California African American Museum.
Nature Gardens Natural History Museum 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007
If you’re visiting Exposition Park, be sure to explore the Nature Gardens, an urban wildlife wonderland at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Over 600 kinds of plants, including California natives and others from around the world, make a home for birds, butterflies, lizards, squirrels, and more. One of the most popular spots is the Pollinator Meadow (pictured above). Flowers are blooming, seeds are ripening, and wildlife is paying attention!
Descanso Gardens 1418 Descanso Dr. La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
Just 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, Descanso Gardens is a botanical garden, living museum, and serene urban sanctuary. Situated on 150 acres of cultivated and wild land, Descanso Gardens is nestled in a natural bowl by surrounding mountains. Visitors can explore the many paths and trails, verdant woodlands, lush gardens, and colorful native flowers. Gorgeous flowering trees are an April bloom highlight, featuring crabapple blossoms, trumpet trees, wisteria, and exquisitely fragrant lilacs. To discover the year-round beauty of Descanso, check out their Bloom Calendar.
The Huntington 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108
Explore a winding canopy of wisteria blooming now in the Chinese Garden, Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Shakespeare Garden, and Children’s Garden at The Huntington. Encompassing over 130 acres, The Huntington Botanical Gardens feature living collections in 16 stunning themed gardens with more than 83,000 living plants, including rare and endangered species, and a laboratory for botanical conservation and research. After touring the gardens, indulge in high tea at the Rose Garden Tea Room, featuring a selection of teas, seasonal house-made scones, and a variety of savories and sweets. Reservations are highly recommended.
Arlington Garden 275 Arlington Dr. Pasadena, CA 91105
A hidden gem in the heart of Pasadena, Arlington Garden is the city’s only dedicated free public garden. This three-acre community-built Mediterranean garden includes thousands of California-native plants such as poppies, sunflowers, cactus and succulents, and orchards of orange and olive trees. Arlington Garden is not only friendly to people and pets, but also exists as a refuge for Pasadena’s native fauna. Birds, bees and butterflies are particularly abundant and can be seen throughout the year.
Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden 270 Arlington Dr. Pasadena, CA 91105
Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden was created by Kinzuchi Fujii for Charles and Ellamae Storrier Stearns in 1935. Fujii designed and built Japanese landscapes across Southern California in the first half of the 20th century. Storrier Stearns is his only remaining garden and the only intact example of a major Japanese-style garden created before World War II for a residence in Southern California. This pond-style stroll garden features a fifteen-foot waterfall and a formal teahouse on approximately two acres of land. The garden is considered by many to be a masterwork and it demonstrates the adaptability of Japanese culture in modern America.
Virginia Robinson Gardens 1008 Elden Way, Beverly Hills , CA 90210
The Virginia Robinson Gardens is a unique historic estate, a cultural jewel that transports the visitor back to the birthplace of Beverly Hills. Built in 1911, it was once the residence of retail giants Virginia and Harry Robinson of the J.W. Robinson Co. Department Store. It occupies an illustrious place in history as the first luxury estate built in Beverly Hills. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is open to the public by appointment. The beautiful six-acre property is located behind the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel and has a breathtaking display garden, mansion, and pool pavilion.
UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden 707 Tiverton Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90095
Located on the UCLA campus, Mathias Botanical Garden is a a 7.5 acre public garden, outdoor classroom, and research facility that maintains one of the most important living botanical collections in the U.S. Over 3,000 types of plants grow in the garden and a wide range of environments are found within its borders, from the dry desert and Mediterranean sections on the eastern end to the shaded, lush interior. A stream and series of ponds run through the center of the garden, which is home to koi and turtles.
Los Angeles County Arboretum 301 N Baldwin Ave. Arcadia, CA 91007
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is a unique 127-acre botanical garden and historical site located in what was once the heart of the historic Rancho Santa Anita in the city of Arcadia. A stroll through the Arboretum will take you through a variety of gardens and landscapes that offer beauty and tranquility as well as ideas for your own outdoor spaces. The Arboretum is also home to historic structures including the Queen Anne Cottage, Coach Barn, and Reid-Baldwin Adobe.
Photo Credits:
Photo #1: Arlington Garden
Photo #2: LA Phil
Photo #3: Exposition Park
Photo #4: Natural History Museum
Photo #5: Descanso Gardens
Photo #6: The Huntington
Photo #7: Arlington Garden
Photo #8: Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden
Photo #9: Virginia Robinson Gardens
Photo #10: UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden
Photo #11: LA Arboretum