Local Botanical Gardens Remain Open During Cherry Blossom Season
South Coastal Botanical Gardens provides a home to a plethora of wildlife including butterflies, bees, caterpillars, squirrels, and the gardens' own cats that meander about. On March Monday, March 1, 2021, bees were hard at work, pausing on the blossoming flora. (Paige Strickland | The Corsair)
From March through April, hues of pink, flutter down from treetops like snowfall as cherry blossom season is upon us. Spring brings the promise of sprouting new life and fresh beginnings.
As COVID-19 trudges on, the remnants of its effects are universal. This year beloved cherry blossom festivals, including America's national celebration held in Washington, DC, are going virtual to prevent mass gatherings and the spread of the virus.
Santa Monica College student, Rashi Sedani, is spending her Spring back home in Tokyo, Japan. "Usually during cherry blossom season, parks are filled with people enjoying themselves, having picnics, and taking photos, and everything becomes super crowded," said Sedani. "This year the government is discouraging gatherings and there's an 8 p.m. curfew."
Despite the online shift and ban on gatherings, several botanical gardens in the surrounding Los Angeles area have opened their gates for tours and casual walkthroughs. Each garden follows proper COVID-19 protocol, enforcing masks be worn and visitors social distance themselves.
The South Coastal Botanical Garden in Palos Verdes sprawls out over 87 acres, offering a variety of plants, wildlife, and sculpture pieces from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to explore. The peaceful atmosphere allows visitors to roam free amongst its 40 themed gardens, including a lively meadow surrounded by loaded cherry blossom trees and benches to rest on.
As you follow the numerous winding paths of the gardens, cherry blossom trees are also found sprinkled throughout like hidden gems. For the past 60 years, the non-profit garden has brought educational programs and guided tours to the sounding community. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., reservations are required, which can be made on their website. The student discount offers admission at $11 per person.
On Monday, March 1, 2021 A meadow at the South Coastal Botanical Gardens provided a quiet and peaceful place for visitors to sit and admire the blooming Cherry Blossom trees. (Paige Strickland | The Corsair)
Descanso Gardens, located 20 minutes outside of Downtown Los Angeles in La Cañada, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. During the month of March, cherry blossoms flurry all around in the Japanese-themed garden that features cultural architecture and flora.
As said on their website, "Descanso Gardens remains an oasis of beauty, both rugged and refined. In its eloquent landscapes, vignettes, and vistas we can experience firsthand moments in the epic story of humans’ relationships with the natural world and enjoy a refuge of stunning beauty." Reservations are required and can be made on their website. The student discount offers admission at $11 per person with proof of student ID.
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Arboretum's gardens are also still open and available for viewing from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with the exception of closure on Tuesdays (including the indoor galleries that will also be closed at this time). Covering 120 acres of land in the San Gabriel Valley, there are 16 themed gardens that provide an array of experiences when you step from one to the next.
Cherry blossoms are to be found in the Chinese Garden, "Liu Fang Yuan" (or Garden of Flowing Fragrance), alongside peach blossoms. According to their website, the garden is "one of the finest classical-style Chinese gardens outside of China. Filled with Chinese plants and framed by exquisite architecture, the landscape is enriched with references to literature and art." Reservations are to be made ahead of time for your visit on their website. The student discount offers admission for $21 on weekdays and $24 on weekends.
