Holiday Events Scheduled This Weekend at Various Gardens
Several public gardens are having special holiday events this weekend.
At Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge, Christmas decorations begin at the entrance with trees and garlands, flow into the hall where there are floral arrangements and a boutique, and wind their way up the hill--past a 1/8-inch scale diesel switch engine that takes children on rides around 850 feet of track--to Hospitality House.
Hospitality House is traditionally decorated to the nines for the holidays by interior designers, and this year it has a Southwest theme, though one tree in the living room is adorned with a collection of antique ornaments. There is also a display of miniature Old West buildings in another room. On weekends, there are demonstrations, including one on how to make decorative roses out of ginkgo leaves.
“Christmas at Rancho del Descanso” runs from today through Dec. 13, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults, $1.50 for seniors 62 and older and students with ID, 75 cents for children 5-12.
Palos Verdes ‘Holidays’
At the South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula, “Holidays in the Gardens” runs today and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There are displays and holiday decorations, fresh and dried wreaths and other crafts for sale, and a number of demonstrations: Packaging with natural materials (today at 11 a.m.), origami (today at 2 p.m.), how to keep Christmas greens green (Sunday at 2 p.m.), quilling and napkin folding (Sun. at 3 p.m.). Admission is $3 for adults, $1.50 for seniors 62 and older and students with ID, 75 cents for children 5-12.
At Quail Botanical Gardens in San Diego County, 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, the annual Christmas in Flowerland Bazaar is Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For sale will be many rare and unusual plants including many bamboos that the garden specializes in, and poinsettias from nearby grower Paul Ecke. Admission is free.
There will also be horticultural books, gems and minerals, wreaths (including some made from succulents) and dried arrangements and gourmet foods.
