April Fool's Day at Descanso Gardens

Springtime is always such a magical time of year.  There is an explosion of blooming flowers, the trees are heavy with blossoms and everywhere you look it’s a kaleidoscope of color.  Mother earth has awakened!  We’re now moving into a time when the sun begins to dominate the long, dark days of winter, and there is a promise of light.  The warm summer days are soon to come.

Even if you are not a believer in magic, it’s almost impossible not to feel the enchantment of this extraordinary time.  Walking through nature, your senses are overwhelmed by everything from birdsong, to soft wind through the oaks, to the fast flutter of hummingbird wings and the smell of fresh flowers and morning dew.  One cannot help but be bewitched by this marvelous time of  year.

Spring Equinox 2017, Descanso Gardens

Another beautiful day at Descanso Gardens.

Descanso is now bursting into bloom!  This is the time of year when a photographer can spend hours walking the gardens and taking beautiful photographs.  Here are some images from my visit on March 8th, 2017.

This weekend was the cherry blossom festival at Descanso Gardens.  I went to the garden early, before the festival began to walk in the quiet of the morning and take some pictures along the way.  The tulips are now starting to bloom.  They will be putting on a great show as they do every year in the upcoming weeks.

My husband and I attended the members' preview for Bloom! Friday evening at the Sturt Haaga Gallery at Descanso Gardens.  It was exciting to see my work displayed on the walls of the gallery along with so many other talented artists.  

I will be showing some of my photographs in the Sturt Haaga Gallery at Descanso Gardens:

"Portraits of the Garden 2: BLOOM! celebrates the flower – probably the best known and most enjoyed feature of Descanso Gardens. See the halls and walls of the Sturt Haaga Gallery turned into a most extraordinary bouquet of flowers for BLOOM!. This exhibit is open until Sunday, May 28, 2017."

The exhibit opens to the public this weekend.

Click on the link below for more details.

One thing I've learned about the birds (and other wildlife for that matter) is that sometimes, if they're not too busy and you ask them nicely, they'll pose for you.  I took this photo of this sweet little bird who was fluttering around catching insects for breakfast.  When I first saw him, I stopped and asked him kindly if he’d mind posing for a few photos.  He obliged and was kind enough to sit for me as I did my best to get a good shot.  I don't have a proper lens for bird photography, so thankfully he was patient.  When he decided to move on, I continued on my walk.  As I hiked through the California natives at the top of the hill, I heard some deer passing by on the opposite side of the wire fence.  I stopped, stood still and watched them walk.  One of them, a doe, spotted me.  She looked straight at me, tilted her head and sniffed the air.  We watched each other for quite a while, both of us curious about the other.  I sent her a message in my mind to tell her how pretty she was and her ears perked up.   It was a lovely moment.  Making these types of intimate connections with nature is an honor and a privilege. 

Walking through a garden in the rain and inhaling the clean air is the perfect way to rejuvenate.  There’s a certain trail I like to take that leads up a steep hill, through the tall grass and eventually to a special spot where I’m enveloped within the low hanging branches of the oaks.  A vibrant yet peaceful energy resides here, and it’s my favorite place to stop, get grounded, take a few cleansing breaths and tune into the environment.  Doing this heightens my senses.  I quickly become even more receptive to sounds, smells, textures and a whole other world.  It's amazing what nature can do for the mind, body and spirit.  Add to this the element of water with the falling rain and it’s even better then a day at the spa!

A soft rain was falling early this morning, but that never keeps me away.  In fact, being at the garden in the rain is one of my favorite times to visit.  It's peaceful, quiet, the air is fresh and the colors appear more saturated.  Today my husband joined me to walk and enjoy each other's company before breakfast at Maple, Descanso's weekend-exclusive restaurant.  If you have the opportunity to go, you must try the beignets.  Dipped in Vermont Maple Syrup, they are absolutely heavenly!  Today I saw the first blossoms on the cherry trees.  Soon they will will be covered in dainty pink flowers.  Nature is gearing up for her springtime spectacular and she never disappoints.

The garden is never the same on any given day.  Each visit brings a new experience and today the warm Santa Ana winds swept through the oak forest enabling them to "talk" in an audible language.  I was enveloped in a symphony of rustling leaves and birdsong.  Every time I visit Descanso, I always experience something magical.  Today, just on the edge of the camellia forest, I spotted a beautiful swallowtail butterfly flitting about from flower to flower.  She was a bit far away, but I stood quietly and gently asked her if she would mind coming just a little bit closer.  Within a moment, she flew onto some green leaves right in front of me, spread her delicate wings and held still long enough for me to take her photo.  When she was ready to go, she flew away to continue about her business of nectaring on the sweet camellia flowers, and I thanked her for her graciousness.  Besides my encounter with the magical butterfly, I came across a colorful heart made out of camellia flowers.  When the camellia trees drop their flowers, you can usually find messages hidden throughout the gardens made out of the fallen flowers.  I am sure they were created by the fairies who inhabit this enchanted garden!

The rains bring a unique kind of beauty to the gardens.  The flowers bow their heads heavy with water droplets, and the oak trees create a sprinkle of showers below as the wind blows through their rain soaked leaves.  Underneath the oaks, graceful calla lilies have started to emerge unfolding in an ethereal vision of pure white against the earth toned backdrop of the forest.  This is an enchanted time to walk through the camellia trees which are canopied by magnificent oaks.  The camellia forest is in full bloom and displays pure white flowers along with vibrant shades of pink and red just in time for Valentine's Day.  It's like walking through a fairy tale!  Throughout the rose garden bright yellow daffodils are popping up everywhere spreading their message of new beginnings, rebirth and an introduction to mother earth who is now beginning to burst forth with new life.  

Signs of spring are everywhere in the garden and I can already see the change in the morning light.  We are now at the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.  The hellebores are blooming and the daffodils are popping up out of the ground.  Mother earth is awakening with new life.  It's a time to celebrate the passing of winter as we prepare to make way for the magic of spring and the return of the sun.  

It's almost February and the time of year when the days are starting to become longer and the earth begins to awaken from its winter slumber.  The gardens are already starting to show signs life and we anticipate the beauty of what is to come.  These are some images from Descanso Gardens and the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, January 28 & 29, 2017.

Images from Descanso Gardens, January 21, 2017

Listening to the rain falling down through the oaks at Descanso Gardens today.