February 05, 2008

Ranch of Rest

Shaded pathways, Descanso Gardens LaCanada Flintridge California


This is a place in Los Angeles that I dream about...From the time I could drive this patch of heaven on earth has been a part of my home just slightly detached from the rest. I would come and enter a different world, one filled with peace and life. The smell of the city would fade away and be replaced with the green smells of cedars and green plants. Often I would go early in the day and the little valley would be filled with mist that would burn off by noon into glorious sunshine.

water garden in the summer this smells of lotus flowers that grow in abundance


El Rancho del Descanso, the Ranch of Rest has a very interesting history, read here Manchester Boddy came to California with hardly any money, and a young growing family to support. He began to write for a local paper eventually founding his own highly sucessful daily paper. A survivor of the gassings of WWI he was a pacifist and outspoken supporter of the isolationist ideal during the 20's and 30's. His Newspaper the heavely read Los Angeles Daily News was the liberal journal of its day, and Boddy was its outspoken editor for nearly 30 years.

His home in the San Gabriel Foothills, on 150 acres of virgin California Black oaks was a haven against the social and political swirl of the day. He built a 22 room Mansion above the oak forest with sweeping views of the wooded vally below. It became a place of renown as Boddy and his gracious wife entertained the elite of the LA Political Scene, during the city's golden age. Movie Stars and Business Tycoons flocked to the Ranch of Rest, for the hospitality and serene atmosphere.

An Amature botinist and plant breeder, Boddy's championship rose gardens were exceptional. He hired noted plant breeders to work for him, and a number of famous roses (Chrysler Imperial, Mr. Lincoln and Tropicana among others) were bred there.


Spanish Oaks Descanso Gardenso


But Descanso is most famous for its camellia forest. Boddy himself was a camellia fancier and breeder and worked with a number of Japanese nurserymen in the 1930's. The enviroment under the shade of the oak trees combined with the soils nurished by the oaks decaying leaves provides the perfect enviroment to grow exceptional camellias. Boddy planted thousands of varieties. Later as the Japanese Internment was inforced, Boddy bought his friends nursery stock and had more acerage planted, so that currently Descanso Gardens has the largest Camellia specimine gardens outside of Asia. Today, the late winter forest comes alive with color as the camellia's bloom again. It is a fantastic sight.

Camellia Blossom


Years later the property was sold to the county and many improvements made. Many Thousands come every year to relax learn and just be free of the hassles of life. It is one of the gems of Los Angeles County and place I will visit everytime I come back to California

The sundial garden, where Woody proposed for the umpteenth time and I accepted under the pair of gingko trees in the foreground. This place is filled with my young life's memories


This week Woody and I needed this rest. We were only able to spend a few hours there, as we had other commitments. But we had lunch in the cafe at the garden gate, and took a walk among the beautiful trees and plants. The air is sweet filled with the scents of plants and the sharp smell of decaying oak leaves


Formal garden at the Main House Descanso Gardens La Canada Flintridge California

Labels: California, Family History, flowers, Traveling, Woody