Descanso Gardens (Sabrina Loesh)
Reviewed by: Sabrina Loesh - Life Science, Physical Science and AVID teacher at Olive Vista Middle School
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Drive
La Cañada Flintridge 91011
GPS Coordinates: 34o12'00.61"N 118o12'34.79"W
Description- The Descanso Gardens field trip is an urban retreat of year-round natural beauty, internationally renowned botanical collections and spectacular seasonal horticultural displays.
Founder: In 1953, Descanso founder E. Manchester Boddy preserved these 160 acres of gardens, woodlands and chaparral for future generations to experience the natural heritage and beauty of Southern California.
Mission: "Descanso Gardens is a unique Southern California landscape distinguished by its specialized botanic collections, historical significance, and rare natural beauty. Our mission is to practice exemplary stewardship of Descanso's distinctive character and assets; offer people an experience close to nature; and cultivate understanding of the natural world and people's place in it through inspiration, education and example."
History: Find the full history of the gardens here.
Cost: General Adult $8, Student $6, and Children $3.
Audience- The Descanso Gardens field trip would be suitable and beneficial for the following audiences:
A Biology or Life Science Teacher who could study many different species of flowers, plants and trees including woodlands and chaparral. There are several different gardens to visit including the rose garden, Japanese garden, oak forest, Camelia garden, California garden, iris garden, and lilac garden.
A science student interested in identifying plants, leaves, flowers, and trees and studying the botany of varying species.
Science Concepts Addressed- A field trip to Descanso Gardens will address the following science concepts:
Leaf Shapes: Descanso Gardens maintains a large variety of flowering plants and trees which allows visitors to see examples of several leaf shapes including ovate, obovate, oblanceolate, oblong, elliptical, lanceolate, deltoid, rhomboidal, orbicular, and reniform.
Flower Parts: One can view many different types of flowers and can identify flower parts such as petal, stigma, anther, filament, sepal and stem.
Tree Types: Angiosperms and Gymnosperms can be found at the gardens.
Water Recycling: Several of the gardens use underground irrigation with water recovered and purified by an advanced septic system and water recycling plant.
California Native Species: Many plant and tree species indigenous to California can be found in this garden.
Wildlife and Other Animals: A visit may easily include seeing squirrels, rabbits, deer, insects, fish, birds, and reptiles.
Photographs
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