Descanso Gardens focuses on flowers, families and mothers

Surrounding families’ favorite women with fine food and millions of flowers on Mother’s Day weekend has become a happy tradition during Descanso Gardens’ Spring Festival of Flowers.

Roses, geraniums, music and elegant brunches will be part of the celebration at the Gardens both Saturday and Sunday, May 8 and 9. Sumptuous brunches by Patina will be served amid acres of roses, with seatings at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon both days. On Sunday, Carol Tatum will entertain with harp music from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Under the Oaks Theater.

Descanso’s own bouquet of spring flowers will be augmented Mother’s Day weekend by a geranium show and sale, sponsored by the International Geranium Society, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Seatings for the Mother’s Day Brunches will be at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon. The price is $30 for adults and $18 for children ages 4 to 12. Reservations are required and should be made by May 3 by calling 790-3663. The menu includes fresh seasonal fruit and juice, assorted pastries and breads, French toast with maple syrup and walnut butter, scrambled eggs with chives, potato gratin with parmesan cheese, spinach and onion quiche, country ham, bacon and vine-ripened tomato salad. Gardens admission is not included in the price of the brunch.

Throughout the weekend families can enjoy historical exhibits at the Boddy House, a Discovery Station, where children and adults are invited to learn about a world of flowers from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Children armed with Adventure Maps will guide their families to special places in the forest and to the children’s maze and the bird observation station. Tram tours and rides on the Enchanted Railroad will be available.

Descanso’s Spring Festival of Flowers will come to a close May 15-16, with international dancing and a show and sale by the Montrose African Violet Society from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

On May 15, the music and dancing of Irish step dancers will take to the Under the Oaks Theater stage at 1 p.m.

On May 16, Scottish dancers will perform at 1 p.m. and will demonstrate the art of kilt wrapping.

Descanso Gardens is at 1418 Descanso Drive in La Cañada Flintridge,

The Gardens are open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily except Christmas Day. Parking is free.

Admission fees are $6 for adults; $4 for seniors and students; $1.50 for children 5 to 12, and free for members and children 5 and younger.

For more information call 949-4200 or visit the Web site at www.descansogardens.org.