Descanso Gardens Roses to Be Uprooted, Replanted

The rose beds at Descanso Gardens, one of the county’s premier floral attractions, will be uprooted and replanted over the next 18 months as part of a major renovation plan.

The five acres of rose beds at the county-owned gardens in La Canada Flintridge were planted in 1948 and are largely dying and diseased. The soil has been depleted of nutrients and the foliage ravaged by the harsh exposure to the sun, said Gail Boatwright, president of the Descanso Gardens Guild, which is raising funds for the project. Beginning in November, the aging flower beds will be replaced by a series of floral designs showcasing thousands of rose species.