Descanso Gardens

I've been trying to find and visit every arboretum and botanical garden in the surrounding areas. The last one I visited was Descanso Gardens. Of the ones I've visited so far, I like this one the best probably because most of it is really set up like someones massive garden. What I also like is that it just seems to continuously flow. There aren't any long treks between garden areas and there is always something to stop to look at. Many of the other gardens have long treks past massive lawns or walks down long roads before you get to the next garden. This place always gave you something to look at or a place to stop and admire a fountain or stream or the Koi in it.

Everything is beautifully set from the moment you walk in and there is water everywhere whether it is in a fountain, a waterfall or a stream that runs along the entire south side of the park (I think it's south), with bridges that cross over it.

I've never seen so many Koi in my life and they are everywhere even in parts of the stream and in the pond in the Japanese garden.

Outside the core of the Descanso Gardens is a 20-acre Camellia Forest where you can walk the paved paths or venture on the dirt paths under the shade of the trees. Even inside the forest you'll find an occasional rest spot with a pond, quiet bench, large boulders to sit on, or a fountain.


With all of the trees, running streams, fountains and waterfalls, you don't even feel the hot weather outside. I didn't even mind the big spider web I didn't see and walked right into when I ventured off the paved path. I don't know if it was as big as the one below but it sure felt like it. Eeeeewww!


And the flowers! Oh, my goodness the flowers. There were so many. I can't wait until Spring when everything that is not in bloom now will be in bloom then. I'll be posting may of the different photos I took of the flowers and bees. There were plenty of every kind of bee you can imagine both big and small (smile).

I'll be back. I've captured the fish, the dragon flies, the bees, flowers and one bird. I'm still hoping to see some of the over 200 birds they've cataloged as visiting. Oh, and did I mention the miniature train ride you can take through the gardens? How cute is that?

Angeles National Forest - Azusa Canyon

I finally got a good shot of the dam. Parking near it isn't that great and the couple of spots that are there I always seem to pass before I realize it. Not today. LOL! The picture of the bird below is the only bird I saw all day, at least while I was out of the car with the camera. There was also still some water running down the stream here but a lot of areas full of water are now dried up. It's fire season and it looks it (didn't take any pictures to prove it).





And look! I was finally able to get a picture of a squirrel too!

Angeles National Forest - Mt. Baldy

Angeles National Forest is no joke. It stretches over 655,000 acres. There are two places I like to go located in the forest - Azusa Canyon and the Mt. Baldy area, mostly because they're not far from me and I know them. The last time went up to Mt. Baldy there was still some snow on the ground. Everything is drying up with all of this heat and starting to look deserty except in the areas were there was a lot of snow. There was still water running down the stream and plenty of greenery in my favorite spot.

MT. BALDY - Running Stream

I decided to go back up to Mt. Baldy today, see if all that snow melting had caused a good stream to run downhill and that's exactly what I found. It was such a beautiful day and the running stream was just the perfect addition to it.