Descanso Gardens

I have always wanted to visit Descanso Gardens but never had the opportunity until this past week. Although the weather has been sweltering, I waited until the late afternoon to go and enjoy a nice walk through the gardens. And since they have extended summer hours until 8 p.m., it was a perfect time to beat the heat. Living in the heart of the city, I sometimes crave the calm and beautiful setting of nature. The serene setting of Descanso Gardens truly satisfied that craving.

Opportunities are available for both students and adults to volunteer at Descanso Gardens. Volunteer Coordinator Tali Arnold will meet potential student volunteers at the Visitor Center on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 9 to 10 a.m. to lead a tour of the Gardens. Students must be 14 years of age or older to participate in the program. Orientation for adults will be from 9 to 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16. "I encourage every potential volunteer to check the Descanso website at www.descansogardens.

Marshall Allen Richard Schulhof, executive director of Descanso Gardens since 1996, has announced his resignation so he can pursue field research and graduate studies at Harvard University. Schulhof, who will leave the 160-acre botanical gardens in September, also will become deputy director of Harvard's Arnold Arboretum. He is leaving behind a community of Descanso Gardens supporters, he said. "Descanso is remarkable for the dedication and commitment of its staff, volunteers, trustees and members," Schulhof said.

F "PumpkinPalooza is sure to grab the imagination of children and adults alike," said Public Relations Manager Mary Ellen Walker. "Descanso Gardens will be filled with pumpkins as well as activities for all ages." Planned events include costume parades, hay rides on a tractor-drawn wagon, a tractor display and crafts such as the Fairy Gourd Father’s Craft Table where children and adults will be able to create a flower-power pumpkin, and the Pun’kin Head Design workshop where participants can create 2-D pumpkin heads using stencils and rubbings.

Descanso Gardens really dresses up for spring, with thousands of vibrant flowers and trees blooming through weeks and months. The season will begin this year with daffodils and the exhibit by the Southern California Daffodil Society. The following events are scheduled at Descanso Gardens through March 24. Unless noted, events are free with Gardens admission. All fees include Gardens admission. Thursday, March 8 ? Flower Confidential?7 to 9 p.m. There is more to a bouquet of cut flowers than its ability to beautify a room, and author Amy Stewart knows the ins and outs of the extraordinary business of flowers.

The Founders' Day celebration for the Glendale Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) Reciprocity came off without a hitch. The 200-plus members and guests present should be proud. P.E.O., founded in 1869, is based on providing opportunities for women. “Our Star Spangled Sisterhood” was the patriotic luncheon theme, carried out through American flags and red, white and blue balloons. The Pickwick Gardens' Terrace Room in Burbank was the setting on Saturday's (Feb. 4) sunny afternoon.

Florence Agnes Brawders     Florence Agnes Brawders was born in Los Angeles on 8/28/1921. She married the love of her life, Lt. Jack Brawders in 1941 and settled in La Canada. She is survived by her 6 children, Ronald, Larry, Robert, Marilyn, Jim, Bill and her 2 sisters, Bettie Bean and Rosemary Ashley. Her 12 grandchildren will miss their loving granny. She volunteered at Descanso Gardens and was a member of the Garden Club as she loved gardening. She was active in her book club, the Thursday club and Legion of Mary Catholic Society.

E. Manchester Boddy, owner and publisher of the Los Angeles Daily News, was a legend not only for his sharp editorials and shrewd business skills, but for the fantastic parties he threw in his backyard. Of course, it wasn't just any backyard. In 1937, Boddy purchased 125 acres of land in La Cañada and commissioned famed “architect to the stars” James Dolena to build a home for his family, which included his wife Berenice and the couple's two sons, Bob and Calvin. Dolena constructed a 12,000-square-foot, 22-room home on hillside with sweeping views of the valley.

I have always wanted to visit Descanso Gardens but never had the opportunity until this past week. Although the weather has been sweltering, I waited until the late afternoon to go and enjoy a nice walk through the gardens. And since they have extended summer hours until 8 p.m., it was a perfect time to beat the heat. Living in the heart of the city, I sometimes crave the calm and beautiful setting of nature. The serene setting of Descanso Gardens truly satisfied that craving.

The flowers are blooming. The butterflies are flitting. Spring is definitely here. What better way to celebrate than with a picnic under the trees at Descanso Gardens? The best part is that you can leave the cooking to the skillful chefs of Patina Catering. Every weekend until May 8, Descanso has added another option in al fresco dining, this one just outside the main entrance. Patina’s chefs are serving up a brief menu of barbecue favorites and a few special extras. I have to say their pulled pork sandwich ($8.95)

Descanso Gardens paid homage to its 20 acres of Camellias on Saturday with the annual Camellia Festival. The event included tours of Descanso’s Camellia Collection given by forest “faeries,” a class on the culinary and wellness uses for camellias and a guided walk of the collection. When Descanso’s original owner, newspaper publisher E. Manchester Boddy, created Rancho del Descanso in the 1930s, he planted camellias as a business venture to supply the cut-flower industry.

A morning stroll through La Cañada Flintridge's Descanso Gardens doesn't have to end at the trail but in child's pose, stretched on a yoga mat. The next 10-week yoga program at Descanso begins on Jan. 4. The morning and evening classes are Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Longtime yoga instructors Cara Davis and Cam Hall work with participants on increasing strength, flexibility and decreasing stress. Class begins with a 25-minute fitness walk to warm up muscles and to identify any pains or aches.

Stephanie Anne Blair and Nathan Scott Deal, both of Chicago, exchanged marriage vows in the Rose Garden of Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge. Alan Katz officiated. The maid of honor was the bride's sister, Kathryn Blair. Alyssa Kuban served as the bridesmaid, and Shana Blair was the flower girl. The best man was Aasim Saeed. The usher was Pete Hannon, and ring bearer was Benjamin Blair. A reception followed in Van De Kamp Hall at Descanso Gardens. The couple honeymooned on Catalina Island, and will make their home in Chicago.

J im and Joanne Jackson lead a series of night walks once a month during the summer in Descanso Gardens. It's a better opportunity to see the creatures that call the gardens home. The couple, married 53 years, give their evenings as volunteers at Descanso. The next night walk is Friday. They became curious about the gardens in the after hours, and asked to begin a night walk for the community, Jim Jackson said. "Descanso is such a diverse place that it opens up many opportunities for people to ask questions on the night walk about what's the difference between this and that," he said.

Descanso Gardens visitors can anticipate more than just beautiful foliage this summer. Starting June 24, the gardens will host an eight-week jazz music series on its main lawn, while simultaneously launching the Camellia Lounge, a low-key cocktail bar to be housed in the Japanese Full Moon Tea House. The concert series will serve as a replacement for the Pasadena Pops program, which last year announced plans to relocate to the Rose Bowl after 15 years at Descanso Gardens. “The idea behind the music program is simple, and that is during the summer months when the days are long and warm, the most beautiful times in the garden are in the evening,” Executive Director David Brown said.