My golden moss-covered fountain tinkles away providing a cool respite for the bright yellow and black finches and orange and green hummingbirds that visit for the garden goodies. This time of year, I’ve got stephanotis and pink and white bouganvilla overflowing my balcony as well as gardenias, tuberroses, night blooming jasmine, picate and plumeria providing a riot of fragrance from dawn to dusk.

But on a recent half day off I ventured beyond my own small parcel of paradise out to Descanso Gardens in La Canada/Flintridge with my prince charming to stroll along the shady paths, listen to the gurgle of streams and every so often spy a chestnut colored squirrel digging up his stash of nuts.

Even in 86 degree heat and 70 percent humidity I could see that this is a great place for a wedding and/or wedding reception.  Check out their web site here for details on the particulars.

Glowing in the receding sun, the Garden’s personnel were setting up for a sunset wedding reception in the International Rosarium and did it look idyllic. 

Enormous arbors of roses spanned the grounds, a filigreed black gazebo stood atop the knoll and a giant Italian fountain spewed water into the air.  Koi ponds with white, yellow and purple water lilies the size of dinner plates basked in the sun and birds and butterflies flitted everywhere.

I’d heard of the Descanso Gardens’ show-stopping displays of camelias and lilacs during the cooler months but did not know you can rent out the Boddy House (pronounced “BOH-dee”), a gorgeous Regency style home completed in 1938, where from the terrace you can see the San Gabriel Mountains rising majestically through the clouds. 

I must admit to a small dance in the Japanese Garden where they filmed part of Memoirs Of A Geisha and also checked out their Cafe where they have delightful delicacies to tantalize any palate.

Truly an afternoon delight…