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Explore these 7 Southern California botanical gardens offering a bit of tranquility

Mark Rightmire. Photographer. // MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken September 10, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
By | mrightmire@scng.com | Orange County Register
UPDATED:

For many Southern California residents there is a natural oasis just a short drive away — the region’s many botanical gardens offer an escape from the daily grind of the urban jungle with a stroll through their grounds.

And in most cases, it’ll cost less than a meal to treat yourself to an afternoon taking in Mother Nature’s beauty — and the stress release of being out in the open, stretching your legs, is certainly cheaper than a spa day.

These large gardens bring some of the most interesting and beautiful plant life from around the world to Southern California, but they also showcase the natural vegetation that makes our region special. Most also hold classes and events helping residents with their own gardens, teaching about conservation and connecting people with nature.

Here are seven of the botanical gardens offering a bit of tranquility in busy SoCal:

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Walking through the oak grove at the Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge, CA, on Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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Descanso Gardens

Descanso Gardens is located in La Cañada Flintridge and sits on 150 acres of both cultivated and natural landscape surrounded by local mountains. Many paths and trails wander through the woodlands and gardens of colorful native flowers. There is a forest of ancient trees, a collection of rare and unique breeds of camellias and the gardens’ own hybrid breed of drought-tolerant lilacs.

Blooming this month are many varieties in its 5-acre rose garden and pansies, daisies and others in its promenade collection.

Address: 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

Admission: General admission is $15; there are a variety of discounts for seniors and students and children ages 5 to 12 are $5. Advance tickets are required and must be reserved online.

Information: descansogardens.org

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Cherry blossoms in the Chinese garden at the Huntington Library on Wednesday, March 278, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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The Huntington

The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens encompasses about 130 acres in San Marino, with 16 themed gardens and more than 83,000 living plants. It is a laboratory for botanical conservation and research that includes rare and endangered species. The art museum features British, European, American and Asian art and the library features 12 million items from the 11th to the 21st century.

Many plants in the gardens bloom this time of year, including among its extensive collection of cactus. And several will still be offering color into next month as well. There are gardens themed around the plants of Australia, Japan and China, as well as herbs, deserts, jungles, Shakespeare and many more.

Address: 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays-Mondays, closed Tuesdays; reservations are required Fridays-Sundays, holidays and peak seasons. There are daily capacity limits. Reservations are strongly recommended for weekdays as well, there are daily capacity limits.

Admission: General admission is $25, $29 on Fridays and weekends; there are various discounts for youth, seniors, military and more

Information: huntington.org

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A bee goes to work on flowers at the LA Arboretum on Wednesday, March 278, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden

The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, in the city of Arcadia, features 127 acres that were once the heart of the historic Rancho Santa Anita. Paths wander through the natural landscape that includes wildlife, historic buildings and plants and trees from around the world.

Take a break on the shore of Baldwin Lake and watch the wildlife, wander collections of herbs, magnolia, roses, plumeria and more. Themed gardens explore the vegetation of Africa, Australia and the Mediterranean and look at aquatic gardening, water conservation gardens and seasonal gardening.

Address: 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia

Open: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

Admission: General admission is $15; there are discounts for students and seniors and children ages 5 to 12 are $5. On the third Tuesday of the month, admission is free but advance reservations is required.

Information: arboretum.org

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One of the many Southern California botanical gardens to visit is The South Coast Botanic Garden an 87 acres treat for garden lovers in Palos Verdes Estates on Thursday, April 4, 2024. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

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South Coast Botanic Garden

The South Coast Botanic Garden fills 87 acres on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. It has more than 2,500 different species of plants from around the world including Australia, the Mediterranean and southern Africa.

Now open is SOAR, an exhibit featuring tropical butterflies. There is also Hide and Seek: Art Meets Nature with pieces placed throughout the garden.

Address: 26300 Crenshaw Boulevard, Palos Verdes Peninsula

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily

Admission: General admission is $15; there are discounts for students and seniors and children ages 5 to 12 are $5. Advance purchase is required for weekends.

Information: southcoastbotanicgarden.org

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A group walk a trail at the UC Riverside Botanic Gardens on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.(UCR/Stan Lim)

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UC Riverside Botanic Gardens

The UC Riverside Botanic Gardens feature 40 acres to explore. The living plant museum contains more than 3,500 plant species and thousands of specimens from around the world. The gardens are utilized for teaching, research, demonstration purposes, and for the enjoyment and appreciation of nature.

Many varieties in its desert and rose gardens bloom this time of year and a native garden features the plants important to the region.

Address: 1 Botanic Gardens Drive, Riverside

Hours: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first and third Sundays of each month

Admission: Suggested donation of $5 per adult.

Information: gardens.ucr.edu

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A bumblebee looks to extract nectar from flowers on Friday, March 29, 2024, at the California Botanic Garden in Claremont. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)

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California Botanic Garden

The California Botanic Garden is located on 86 acres in Claremont. The large botanic garden has curated collections of more than 22,000 California native plants, some of which are rare or endangered and promotes botany, conservation and horticulture of California’s native flora.

The garden, which also has an active research department, has a herbarium, seed bank and several special collections.

Address:‍ 1500 N. College Avenue, Claremont

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily except Mondays from June through August; check online for seasonal hours the rest of the year

Admission: General admission is $10; seniors and students $6; and children 4 and older $4

Information: calbg.org

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Visitors make their way through a field of blooms as they walk along a path at the Arboretum and Botanical Garden at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Arboretum and Botanical Garden at Cal State Fullerton

The Arboretum and Botanical Garden at Cal State Fullerton consists of 26 acres on the university campus in Fullerton. Situated on what was once an orange grove, it now is home to a collection of many important plants, including rare, threatened, and endangered species and plants from around the world. Paths wander through the grounds past ponds and a nationally recognized citrus collection.

The botanical gardens feature Mediterranean, desert, woodland and cultivated plant collections. There is a rose garden, children’s garden, seasonal garden and more.

Address:1900 Associated Road, Fullerton

Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily

Admission:$5 suggested donation per person; parking is $4 an hour or $10 a day

Information: fullertonarboretum.org

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