Los Angeles, California: A beautiful sunny day in Los Angeles! We spent a great part of the day at the Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge.
The park was once privately owned by LA Daily News publisher, E. Manchester Boddy. Boddy built a 22-room mansion on the site in 1937 for his family and ran a huge camellia nursery on the 150-acre property.
In 1953 the Boddy family granted the land to Los Angeles County and now the park is open to the public for an $8 fee. Miles of walking paths meander through rose gardens, a Japanese garden, streams and ponds and several venues appropriate for weddings. The Descanso Garden also features a 1/8-scale train!
Descanso Gardens is just the place for a toddler with boundless energy. (Bring an extra set of clothes, as there are numerous water-hazards, trees, critters and ponds to maneuver.)
Big Day coming up tomorrow for Lenny (and DT).
With such a large green space surrounded by a huge metro area, the garden is an attractive address for wildlife. We saw a family of geese and many birds, tons of bees (!), ducks, fish and a very friendly lizard.
Lisa and Lenny rode on the "Enchanted Railroad" with Leo, while the grandparents waited (cameras ready).
DT waving to Leo before the train left the "station"
There are several great places in Los Angeles for kids to ride trains. I think Leo has tried them all. On every one, Leo crashes back, sucks his thumb and Lisa and Lenny have five minutes of mellow quiet peace.How blessed am I? Two tall handsome men posed with me this afternoon under a pretty arch in the Descanso Garden.
The youngest man in my life was moving too fast to pose with his Old Bubbe.
I will leave you with six little photos of Leo eating an ice cream sandwich. First, he tried to eat it with a fork (so civilized!), but in the end he was cramming the melting messy confection into his mouth with reckless abandon.
As the Mother of a girl, I am learning parenting a boy is a wholenuther world. Goodness this baby brings so much joy, confusion, delight, love, amazement and enlightenment to our life.And - HELLO - those curls!
Until my next update, I remain, your botanical correspondent.