Descanso Gardens…pumpkins, costumes and shenanigans!

What perfect weather for October as the I.T. girls enjoy a day at Descanso Gardens Pumpkin Festival. The morning started out like any other, but you see, today was a little bit different. We celebrated Halloween a little bit earlier with many other families at DG’s Annual Pumpkin Festival.

We got there just in time to walk in the Costume Parade along with the parents and kids who were sporting their favorite costumes this year. It was a sight to see! From kids in one piece monkey suits, and Woody & Buzz Lightyear characters to families who dressed up as their favorite superheroes (Dad as Batman, Mom as Catwoman, and their little boy as Robin). Oh, lets not forget…Izzy was a not-so-typical soccer player and Teagan was an adorable little chicken. Ahh, these are the moments we’ll truly remember as parents.

I have to admit, this was my first visit to DG with Izzy and I fell in love. This place feels so remote that you think you’re hundreds of miles away from the city. The air, the smell and the feeling of tranquility is what got me hooked. We can’t wait to make our way back there to explore the gardens that we missed that day. Here is what we did see: the Japanese Gardens, a garden not to miss while you’re exploring the grounds because everything here is, of course, Japanese inspired. One almost feels at peace with the sound of the koi pond running in the background as you’re making your way through the Tea House and taking in the aromatic smells of their Authentic Japanese teas. Wow! We slowly made our way to the Boddy House where E. Manchester Boddy, founder of DG, lived with his wife and two sons for many years before selling his estate to the L.A. County. The home itself is breath taking; the views and the gardens surrounding it make it a spot worth visiting. As you walk inside, you feel a little overwhelmed with the beauty of the home. At this point, you realize that many rooms are closed off with cords, but it’s too late when you see Izzy running right past them and Teagan following behind. As we end our journey, we decided that we couldn’t leave without checking out the International Rosarium. Although we did miss the season of full bloom, we were able to enjoy the natural beauty that surrounded us.

We bring our journey to an end, but we plan on returning some time soon to check out the gardens during the different seasons throughout the year. Share your experience with us about DG here and let us know what we should look for on our next visit.