Descanso Gardens celebrates America’s favorite flower with the Rose Festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15. “The Rose Festival was started in 2014 to celebrate the beauty and history of roses at Descanso Gardens,” said Rachel Young, director of horticulture and garden operations. She noted that Descanso founder E. Manchester Boddy and legendary rose hybridizer Walter Lammerts were involved in cultivating and hybridizing roses before Descanso became a public garden. “Visitors should look for look for ‘Queen Elizabeth’ and ‘Chrysler Imperial,’ two lovely prizewinning roses that were created at Descanso Gardens in that era,” she said.
Enjoy child-friendly crafting, learn more about rare roses, and take a guided tour of Descanso’s 5.5-acre Rose Garden. And once again, floral designer Alison Franchi and makeup artist Jennifer Aspinall will turn a model into a “human vase” with makeup and flowers. Activities are free with Descanso admission except where noted.
Here is the event schedule; times are for both days.
– Rare rose discovery station, 9 a.m. to noon: get an up-close look at rare and unusual roses from Descanso’s collection.
– Floral art activities, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: make your very own floral creations using roses and other flowers.
– Patina food service, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: purchase grilled favorites at food stations in the Rose Pavilion and promenade.
– “Human vase” living art, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: using the body of a model as a canvas, floral artist Alison Franchi and make-up artist Jennifer Aspinall create a living work of floral art.
– Rose Garden walk and talk, 1 p.m.: Join Rose Garden Horticulturist Molly Anne Malinick (Saturday) and Director of Horticulture Rachel Young (Sunday) on a guided walk through the Rose Garden.
Descanso Gardens is located at 1418 Descanso Drive in La Cañada Flintridge. Admission is $9 for adults; $6 for seniors and students with a school I.D.; $4 for children ages 5 to 12, and free for members and children ages 4 and younger. For information, call (818) 949-4200 or visit descansogardens.org. Descanso Gardens is a member-supported garden accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
