From the El Dorado Express in Long Beach, Robin Bowers and I drove northwest to Flintridge and the Descanso Gardens. We parked in the lot and I had called them so when we arrived at the ticket windows, our tickets were waiting for us.
Descanco Garden HistoryDescanso Gardens, located in La Canada Flintridge, Los Angeles County, is a 150 acres botanical garden. At one time, this property belonged to newspaper magnate E. Manchester Boddy, who owned the Los Angeles Daily News. He ran a commercial camellia garden at the location, supplying prom boutonnieres, for example, until he ceded the site to Los Angeles County in 1953. The county has developed the property to include a rosarium, as well as a Japanese tea house, lilac garden, bird sanctuary, xeriscape and a gift shop. They also regularly host professional camellia shows, chamber music and weddings. They are busiest however on the Easter weekend, when the tulips are in bloom.
The park also features the Descanso Gardens Enchanted Railroad, an eighth scale replica of a diesel train, that takes visitors around a section of the park.
In 1942, while the Japanese and Japanese-Americans living on the West Coast of the United States were being sent to internment camps, Boddy bought out two local successful Japanese nurseries. According to different sources, he acquired somewhere between 60,000 and 100,000 camellias.
Enchanted RailroadTake a light-hearted look at Descanso Gardens from a 1/8th-scale replica of a diesel train. The Enchanted Railroad is a Descanso icon, delighting young and old who climb aboard. The railroad travels a section of the Gardens near the Promenade. The Descanso Gardens Enchanted Railway is 7 1/2" gauge.
Hours and SchedulePrice: Tickets are sold at the Visitor Center and are $3 per rider or $25 for a book of 10 tickets. Requirements: Riders must be at least 30 inches tall and able to sit on their own.
Schedule: All schedules are subject to weather and availability. Please call ahead to see if the train is running at (818) 949-4200.
Our visitArmed with a map, we made our way towards the railroad.
The pumpkins were sure out on the grounds of Descanso Gardens as we walked to the boarding area.
The train arrived at the station area. Once everyone detrained, we boarded and after the safety rules were given, the conductor blew her whistle, the engineeer tooted the horn and we were both off on another unique train adventure.
Crossing one of the paths at the gardens.
Twisting and turning on its route.
I thought this sunny spot would be ideal for a photograph afterwards.
Rounding one of the curves.
The pond on the north curve.
Oak trees are very plentiful at the Descanso Gardens.
The large sweeping curve continued.
Rolling through the forest.
Crossing a bridge.
Starting around the south curve.
Crossing the road at the south end of the route.
Those pumpkins again.
The entrance to the rose garden.
The train finished the trek around the south curve.
One last curve and we would be back to where we started.
We returned to the station area where the next group of riders would board after everyone detrained. Robin and I walked to the only sunny spot.
The train on its next journey.
A tranquil setting. We then heard the whistle blown by the conductor and a toot of the horn by the engineer, so knew the train was on the approach.
Passing our photo location.
We walked around Descanso Gardens.
The Japanese Garden.
A pond of Koi Fish. A special thank you to the Descanso Gardens for having Robin and I here today. We fought freeway traffic all the way home.
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