This is an excellent hidden little gem on the UCLA campus…read more Free of charge to get in but you do need to find parking and it is pretty much not free. There is a nearby parking garage .2 miles, 6 minute walk and on weekends it is like $6 for 3 hours or $12 for 12 hours. The staff is very nice and friendly. They warn you before l inning the gates at 5 pm that you need to leave or get locked in. They have signs posted about the closing hours too. There are 12 or 13 different little habitat zones including an awesome koi pond, a waterfall, a bamboo grove and other sections. If you are nearby it is definitely worth checking out for 30-60 minutes or longer. Besides the wonderful flora and fauna, some people go there to read, meditate, and relax too. There are some large picnic tables and I think they can be reserved if you have a large group. Enjoy the photos.

What an amazing hidden gem! We went on a docent led tour of the gardens. Our docent was Lynn…read more She was excellent sharing her wealth of knowledge and answering our many questions! There is a nice easy pathway to walk around with many of areas of shade. Lots of chairs amd benches around to sit and enjoy the beauty. There are even some tables to enjoy a picnic with the family or friends. Lots of interesting trees, plants, and flowers. Some endangered ones. Some growing wild like California Poppies. Each one is labeled with a sign that included the latiin and common names(s) and where they are typically found. There is a pond with koi. Lots of birds and butterflies to see as well. I would recommend this as a nice (and free) activity for anyone! They also have special events including a Twighlight Visit.

It's fine for a quick walk, but don't plan your whole afternoon around it…read more Wrigley Gardens is decent enough for what it is. It's definitely nice that it's completely free and open to the public, and the roses and grounds around the Tournament House are well-kept and pretty.

Wrigley Mansion is the owner of Wrigleys chewing gum. We didnt go in because had to reserve and…read morethey were closed. The mansion is huge. The garden area was beautiful.

Most Recently: March 13, 2026 | Exposition Park | As someone who absolutely loves flowers, the Rose…read moreGarden rocks my world during each and every visit! It's all so pretty! Scenery | Serene! Beautiful roses of all colors and sizes! The views are just amazing at every return! I've also spotted beautiful Birds of Paradise flowers, which is my Mom's favorite flower! Every time I see one, I think of her & usually send her a photo! Garden Hours | 9AM-7:30PM! Closed annually from January 1st to mid-March! On my most recent visit, though the Rose Garden was closed, it didn't stop me for enjoying all of the beauty, as I walked around on the outside of the garden! Notes | Each time I visit the Rose Garden, I think of walking through the garden with my Dad while he was in town visiting! I also once saw a girl wearing a beautiful gown and doing a photo shoot for her Quinceanera! So pretty! Overall | Serene views, beautiful and colorful roses, always a win! I enjoy every single visit and I also look forward to returning since the Rose Garden is now officially open!!

I don't know what I was expecting. Probably much more than I saw here. For a place to be called a…read morerose garden in southern California, I was actually expecting more roses. The lawn was manicured, but some spots looked better than others. Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough, but the only benches I could find were all around the fountain, and for someone with mobility issues, that deterred more exploration of the grounds. Maybe we were there at the wrong time. Maybe it has seen better days. It's difficult to believe this is all there is to it.

Can't give an experience because it was locked up! Weren't…read moreable to see anything. They are doing construction around the area.

Gardens were permanently closed when we tried to go in November 2026. Lots of construction at the…read more Veterans Administration in Westwood. Nine hole golf course open and inexpensive but not in the best of condition.

Great event for the local community. They've thrown it for 3 years straight each summer and it only…read moregets bigger and better. I've seen everything from music shows indoor and outdoor, dancers, an art walk, vendors, food trucks, art installations, DJs, and even a beer garden once. You never know what you'll find there, but it's always nice summer fun.

It is always a struggle to write beyond a cliche. Case in point, I want to express that the…read moreArlington Garden in Pasadena is a green oasis amidst urban noise and pace but that would say little since people consider their backyard and their local parks to be a green space of peace. And they would be right- who am I to judge the green that someone holds precious whether it be jade from feudal China or a patch of blades that are bed for the soul to rest. So I am left with one task: to express the serene beauty of this place that is also engaging in a quiet way, with almost ethereal words to truly defend and display that this, in all its glory, is a green oasis that wins by a short shot. The grounds are not huge, it is small but comes close to being medium. But what I loved is that its green branches and brown barks and twigs were immersive. I had entered a green swirl that moved all around me in stillness of movement but blurs of garden spirits. The place was like an outside museum that honors mother earth and her mantra of tender care that explains how flowers grow best. One of the most engaging experiences was their wishing tree. It was about two to four big trees with hanging wishes written by everyday folk. As I walked the steps to the trees, as I passed between them my skin could feel the words of hope hanging from branches. It was like the cards spoke in lovely whispers that reminded me that days of beauty are created when people do not forget to see that joyous petals that are in the wind and all around in the everyday. And as one note reminded us, joy is not ready made, to find it takes action. Reading the notes was a way in which I elected joy, as an act of resistance toward anger and disapointment. There was also this gazebo with a statue of a greek goddess. These are guesses of mine, I did not find some type of placards to confirm my notions. She was framed in the gazebo by a quasi-window. I entered the small gazebo and sat in the only green bench maybe big enough for two.I did not understand why she was giving me her back, I wanted to face her. But then I realized that Demeter or Gaia (maybe?) was not facing me because she was looking at her creation, like any person would when they have a garden to admire. From that seat I saw a man doing Tai-Chi and being filmed by his partner in all red. I sat and viewed him quietly and ask that whatever he was calling forth with his movements also entered my own person. From this seat, I also saw a pregnant woman taking pictures. She was wearing a white dress with a tasteful floral pops around. At times, she laughed with a wide smile, at times she held the bundle with her hands. It was seeing a place of growth, welcome a being with life about to begin. Her partner joined and they were directed into stances that made sense--- like the one where they look longingly at each other while he held her, and she held the coming boy. I could see their happiness, I could see their true connection, and I knew that the baby was being born into comfort and love. It was great reminder that sometimes life blooms with ease into joy. I also saw a lizard run and move its neck, both in a funny way. I saw a sole butterfly flutter. I saw folks sitting, relaxing, eating, all in with a calm demeanor. So I would like to think that this place is a green oasis or at least a place where rest is each to come by.

The Arlington Garden is a nice, public garden in Pasadena. Admission is free and street parking is…read moreplentiful. It's not a big garden, yet it does a great job at displaying native species, sustainable land scaping, and climate appropriate plants. I came during the hot days of summer, so there's not a lot that's in bloom. I did spot plenty of California poppies, milkweed, and yarrow. The trees, like the holly leaf cherry and eastern redbud, were beautiful on its own. I also had the rare privilege of seeing a flowering agave plant. The citrus area is a standout. They have some dwarf species and trees that were rehoused after being part of an art installation. They use the fruit to make marmalade. What's unused gets donated.

Wonderful Memorial Day Parade!!Thousands of parade goers and many participants!! Organized friendly…read moreand fun. Very safe and respectful!! Great job Bill Ratner!!

This historical society has a nice little museum. It is only open to the public on the second…read moreSunday of each month, from 2-4 PM. Free but feel free to make a donation. The staff I met were friendly and knew a lot about the local area. There were some temporary displays and permanent exhibits.

The tea house sits behind a small Japanese garden with a pond with koi fish, bridge, waterfall, and…read morelotus flowers. While small it's very serene and has mostly everything a traditional Japanese garden needs. The teahouse has some events but it's rarely open. You need to really pay attention to their website and keep checking back the event page. I find this is the most current, even more than their Instagram. I saw an event for matcha tea whisking workshop, but it was sold out unfortunately, but it looked cool and I was able to catch a glimpse inside of the teahouse which looks very traditional. The garden around the teahouse is open Mon-Thurs 10am-3pm. This is a really cute place to stop by if you live in Glendale/Burbank and walk around and sit near the pond or bring a book and sit in the grass. If you live farther just be forewarned that the gates to the garden are not always open when they say they are open. I've been here around 3 different times, and it wasn't open which was really annoying because I don't live anywhere near Glendale and I came out specifically to see the garden. The best bet to go is when there is going to be an event at the teahouse that way you can be certain or if you are already coming out here to go on a hike in the mountains behind the park. For something larger check out my list of other Japanese Gardens: bit.ly/3CLXWV9

Came during open house event. The tea house is open during special events and festivals. It's well…read moremaintained and capacity is about 30 people. The Urasenke style tea ceremony went a little different from what I expected. I thought we would all be sitting on the mat and participating in the ceremony. They chose about 5 volunteers to participate on stage while the rest of us watched from the benches. We were all served green tea and mochi. The question and answer portion is at the end.