The March of the Flowers

Photos of Descanso Gardens coming into bloom, during the month of March, 2025.  

After a cataclysm of wind in January, and a frosty February, March brought in dark spring weather: mostly temperate and drizzly, with bursts of showers and cool breezes.

This weather report, only to set up the backstory of the bloom depicted below.  Fragrant and fresh, Descanso is at its prettiest, and offers its most romantic moments, in spring rain.

The Japanese Garden

The Ancient Forest - Cycads!

The Camellia Forest Show - with special guest stars, Azalea Corner and Clivia Path!

California Natives Slowly Waking Up...

Calliandra eriophylla, called Fairy Duster

Bladderpod: Cleomella arborea

Oregon grape, Berberis aquifolium

Lemonade Berry, aka Rhus integrifolia, and her cousin Sugar Bush, dba Rhus Ovata:

Purple nightshade, Solanum xanti

Monkeyflowers - Diplacus

Ravishing in the rain, Nevins barberry - Berberis nevinii

Salvia munzii

Aristolochia California: Dutchman's pipe. 

Sea dahlia, Leptosyne marítima

Meanwhile, Up at the Boddy House...

The Laurus nobilis, bay laurel, bloomed in synch with the opening of the fabulous exhibition, Daphne's Wardrobe at the Sturt Haaga Gallery. The show features wearable costumes made of plants, and takes its theme from the Greek myth of Daphne, who was turned into a bay laurel to avoid being ravished by randy Apollo.

Don't Forget the Lilacs and Tulips...!

Yeah Yeah, All Great - But What About The New Fence? 

Record visitation to Descanso this March was, no doubt, sparked in part by demand to see our new obstructive art project complementing and enclosing the latest garden attraction, Magnolia Court. "Now I've seen that fence," opined most visitors in informal exit polls, "I guess I've seen everything."