Always enjoy visiting Descanso Gardens. This place is a true hidden gem and urban oasis just a…read moreshort drive from LA. From the moment you step in, you're surrounded by incredible beauty and tranquility. The gardens are impeccably maintained with so much variety.. stunning rose gardens, one of the largest camellia collections in the world, and the highlight for us was the Japanese Garden. It felt like stepping into another world. We also enjoyed wandering through the oak woodland and catching the beautiful seasonal blooms. Everything was in full glory! We brought the kids and they had a blast riding the little train (super fun and a great way to see more of the grounds). The staff was friendly, the paths are easy to walk, and there are plenty of benches to sit and soak it all in. It's the perfect spot for a relaxing day date, family outing, or even a peaceful solo walk. Admission is reasonable and totally worth it. We'll definitely be back for the special events and different seasons. Highly recommend!

Overall, the gardens are beautiful, but I left feeling a little disappointed with the overall…read moreexperience. I understand charging an admission fee, but it's hard to justify when many of the flowers and plants didn't appear to be very well maintained. On top of that, several areas and gardens were closed off due to private events, which meant we couldn't fully enjoy everything that was included with admission. I was also surprised that the train ride required an additional fee, especially since the ride itself lasted only about two minutes. Between the entry fee, limited access to parts of the property, and extra charges for attractions inside, the experience didn't quite feel like a good value. I hope this feedback is taken constructively because the gardens have a lot of potential. Better maintenance, ensuring guests have access to the advertised areas, or adjusting pricing when sections are unavailable would make for a much better visitor experience.

A hidden gem in Glendale you'll definitely want to save…read more Brand Park is such a peaceful and beautiful place, perfect if you want a quiet break from the busy city. The park is quite spacious, with scenic trails, lots of greenery, and lovely picnic spots. There's also plenty of free parking, which makes it super convenient. One of the highlights is the stunning Brand Library & Art Center. The building itself is -- with unique architecture that really stands out. It feels more like visiting a museum than a regular library. You can easily spend a few hours here just walking around, enjoying the views, and exploring the area. Highly recommend for a calm, relaxing day in nature

Brand Park is a cute little spot in Glendale, though it's definitely on the smaller side (for me) ~…read moreI couldn't quite hit my 6,000 steps here. Still, it has a lot to offer for all ages. The Japanese Friendship Garden is a peaceful highlight, with a beautiful koi pond and well-kept landscaping. It usually opens around 10 AM, so plan accordingly. There's a small playground for kids and a few picnic tables around, which makes it family~ friendly. The library on-site hosts events sometimes, and the big staircase in front is perfect for photos. Parking inside is pretty limited, but there's usually plenty of street parking nearby if you don't mind a bit of a walk.

It would be hard to express all that is wonderful about this place, there's just too much to…read moremention. The best host and location we've ever had the pleasure of being a part of. Our Bulldogs didn't want to leave and neither did we. Don't miss this one if you have the option... Georgia is a person of magic and nothing but a giver. We may have found the most amazing VRBO but the true gift of the trip was meeting and being hosted by such a special human. She's also incredibly logical, level headed and generous as hell as a host. She's the best yet.

We were looking for a unique venue for our November wedding. We knew we wanted it to be outdoors…read moreand a place for both a reception and the ceremony so that our guests wouldn't have to travel between the two. The Enchanted Manor was the first place we looked at and we both felt that it was the right fit. Georgia has created a little oasis in her back yard that we felt fit our vibe - lowkey, but classy. We had booked originally for approximately 60 guests, however once all the pieces fell into place we were closer to 50. Unfortunately our guest count dropped below 50 just after our window to let Georgia know, but she was kind enough to offer us the price difference. We applied that balance towards renting some heaters and lighting the fire pits as the weather got colder than anticipated, as well as to handling the trash. (Pay attention to the contract, you are responsible for removing trash or there is a fee.) One thing I didn't realize before booking was that there is space for a kitchen, but it needs to be built out for your event, so make sure you consider that into any costs. Georgia was really helpful and responsive to all of our questions (we had so many) and anything that we couldn't do she had very reasonable reasons. (For example, at one point I thought I'd like confetti, but she explained why she doesn't allow that on her property which made total sense!) The weeks before I became worried that there wasn't enough decor, so we bought some items that we ended up returning. Once the rentals arrived, combined with the lighting, everything was beautiful as it was. Though there is excellent lighting, I would recommend watching your step as we did have a few tripping incidents (that were not alcohol fueled in some cases) as the ground changed. It was more due to the way things were spaced and we'd have to make sure to look down as we stepped around things, but we managed to survive. We've started to see some photos and everything looked beautiful; it was a romantic but relaxed vibe which was just what we wanted. I worried it wouldn't feel like a wedding, but it did. Georgia was a gracious host, our guests enjoyed her home (we made sure to tell them that they could rent it as well for an overnight getaway) and we can't wait to start reading her book. She gave us the sweetest compliment after, saying how kind our guests were and how that spoke to who my husband and I were as well. We stayed in touch after the wedding and I hope we meet again in the future for events or just a dinner to hear of her adventures! PS - her cats were big hits all around, too!

A very cute and cozy park tucked away in a residential area. We were driving in the area for work…read morewhen we spotted this park. We parked and walked through the park and learned about the history of the place. It's all dated back to 1847. There was a huge oak tree planted here which died in 1987 and was cut down. The Oak of Peace played an important role in the history of California. it's a historic spot to be at it feels very serene here beautiful trees and plants all around picnic tables and restrooms available I also learned that you can rent it out and do private parties here. How nice would that be, specially kids birthday parties where they can be in nature, explore and run around. Very lovely find.

Small park, trees, no grass, and old building with history. residential houses all around.read more

I urgently needed to get some hedges and trees trimmed at our Pasadena property and Miguel and his…read moreteam showed up early to get the job done. He brought 6 people with him so that things can be done quickly and they did a good job cleaning up as well. We're happy with his service !

Miguel and his team are seriously the best -- I worked with them on a large project involving tree…read moreremoval, tree bracing, landscaping, serious weeding (months of overgrowth from last residents), mulching, gutters, trimming fully grown palm trees requiring harnesses etc, sprinkler/irrigation system planning and repair, hauling, hardscaping, planting and more I don't have the words for how awesome they are -- I feel like I have a brand new front, back and side yard and my place finally feels like a home and manageable with their expertise, wisdom and experience. THANK YOU! Appreciate the time, effort and incredible value they bring as a team -- every dollar was hard-earned by them and money well-spent. Miguel came to give estimate and walk through strategy, plan, timing to make sure we were aligned from the beginning -- and he made sure he and team could meet timeline I needed given some constraints on my side. He and his team are a true pleasure to partner and do business with, insightful and kind and deeply knowledgeable. I was really impressed and humbled by how much they can do in such a short time, all the more amazing given how high-quality and comprehensive their work is. I am so grateful to Miguel and his team and can't wait to work with them again, hope to work together going forward.

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.

My mom and I took my kids to see the Christmas markets in France this past December. It was a…read morebucket list trip for my mom, and while my boys had a great time, the travel was complicated and arduous, mostly because of my wild three-year-old Wade B. A couple weeks later, my husband and I took the boys to the Enchanted Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens. They had an absolute blast, and my five-year-old Leo B. declared, with utmost sincerity, "I think this is the nicest place I've ever been." Matt B. and I had been once before, almost a decade ago, with our friends Caroline Y. and Scott S., when we were all young and childless. We came back together, this time with five kids, and as much as I enjoyed it back in the day, I found it even more compelling this second time around. The magic was amplified ten times by the presence of my sons, who absolutely loved all the beautiful, colorful lights. I did buy them shitty Christmas light necklaces, one of which broke almost immediately, causing considerable strife. The alternative, of course, was to deny Wade his request before even entering the garden, where he would badger me every time he saw another child with the necklace. I was not surprised to see that most of the children seemed to have them, every parent having made the same calculation on their way in. Smart and evil of Descanso Gardens to put that vendor right by the entrance. I'm guessing Enchanted is their big revenue generator for the year, and this is a McKinseyish way to maximize. The kids oohed and aahed at every exhibit, marveling at all the colors and lights. We oohed and aahed right with them, and had the additional pleasure of watching them play and interact with the elaborate, immersive displays. They loved the tulip fields, the model trains, the stained glass houses, the trees and music and light. There was also a large platform that served as a dance floor for small children, who partied to the ambient music. Wade was especially taken with this stage, and the one part of the night that did not go well was when I yanked him away so we could see the rest of the installations. It was cold and the kids were up way past their bedtimes, but we all had a blast at the Enchanted Forest. When pressed, Leo admitted that Paris was in fact as nice as Descanso Gardens, but the point was made. Come Christmas, we can take the boys to France or we can just drive to La Cañada and buy a few tickets that support a wonderful botanical garden. We might even manage the latter every year.

My family and I visited Thanksgiving weekend and had a blast wandering around all the light…read moredisplays in the garden! This isn't necessarily a holiday-themed "Christmas" light experience, but it put us all in the holiday mood nonetheless. The themed light displays are well curated, the event is organized, staff are friendly, and the free parking is orderly and well managed. There are ten different themed exhibits found on the mile-long path. By far our favorite was the Ancient Forest, but the Garden of Good Fortune and the Fantasy Forest were close seconds! They do a wonderful job of using the light displays to really compliment and highlight the giant oak trees and other featured plants - as well as excellent music choices to really immerse you in a serene fantasy forest type experience. Some of the exhibits are interactive, like the Symphony of Oaks where you can step on the lights to make them change colors and sing - so fun! They also had a large village of tiny stained glass houses and other buildings you could actually enter and walk through - really beautiful. Another display I loved was the giant light built to resemble the moon - it was placed directly over one of the ponds and the reflection was magnificent! And everyone loves the massive, sprawling field of tulip lights which has a rotating show that will occasionally send waves of lights towards you. We spent a good hour and a half meandering around the path, which is well maintained and mostly flat with plenty of maps to find your way around the exhibits. The staff did a great job of respecting ticket entry times and the exhibits are so well laid out that we hardly noticed the crowds. Very well done! They don't sell tickets at the door so be sure to purchase online in advance. Booking our timed entry tickets was very easy via their website. They also take advanced reservations for their on-site Farmhouse restaurant and for valet parking. The restaurant and gift shop area was packed so I'd recommend restaurant reservations. But the parking was ample, even at 6pm on a Saturday and so well staffed and managed that we found a spot easily with zero chaos. This was my first visit to Descanso Gardens and now I'm wishing I had seen it in the daylight so I could compare haha! Tickets are a tad pricey but ee loved their Enchanted Forest of Light and can highly recommend it. Plus you're supporting a local botanical garden! I'll definitely be back to see all the splendor of the garden in the daytime.

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.

Hidden secret in our own backyard. Bests of all this is free until 10pm daily. Breath taking views…read moreof LA and my fav is the view of a former winery house that is a nature center (museum like with ac). Free parking for about 40 cars. Elevation is over 2700 feet. Able to park near homes but prepared to walk steep uphill. Clean bathrooms. Hiking here is the most popular so can get busy. Trails of all types for beginners, moderate and super hikers level. About 10 miles of hiking available. I love the scenic views of the city/LA. It can get really hot because there is very little shade. Plenty of picnic tables to rent. The ones closest to house is not rentable. Half of the tables are not in the shade. Small amphitheater is there too. Very safe if you visit alone. There are bears, snakes, coyote and small critters. Wilderness park named in honor of George Deukmejian, the 35th Governor of California. Has so much history. Former vineyard and winery. 1885-1890s: French immigrant and winemaker George Le Mesnager purchased acreage in Dunsmore canyon to plant extensive vineyards. The vineyard has 81 grapevines which have been planted since 2004 and are maintained by the Stone Barn Vineyard conservancy which is a part of the historical society of the Crescenta Valley. You can still purchase Stone Barn wine bottles of Chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, and white zin for $10-$20. City of Glendale purchased land to preserve it from developers. 2009 a severe wildfire swept through the terrain, though resilient landmarks like a historic 200-year-old oak tree survived. 2022 historic stone barn reopened to the public as the Stone Barn Nature Center. You can still see the gorgeous vineyards.

Beautiful park n trails ! Clean restrooms ! BUT, they need tree health care . The oaks tree planted…read moreare dying . 7of them. Sad to see that . It's next to the flat area where the large pepper tree is located . HELP THEM LIVE. Thanks plenty of parking . Park open till 9pm . Trees need - water bladders and mulch at least to help them survive

Rudy and Miguel and the rest of the guys do a great job for fair prices. I have used them many…read moretimes and recommend them strongly. You can trust their design ideas and instincts, which will support and enhance your environment. They also have good advice for which trees and plants to add if you would like input.

Rudy the owner and Miguel did a fantastic job trimming and shaping our massive Eucalyptus tree,…read morethey didn't just hack the tree, they took their time a shaped it beautifully, and all for a very reasonable price, I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.