Southern California is home to some of the best botanical gardens around. TimeOut just released its list of the top Japanese and botanical gardens, mansion and institution gardens, and urban and hidden gardens.

The American Public Gardens Association defines a public garden as “an institution that maintains collections of plants for the purposes of public education and enjoyment, in addition to research, conservation, and higher learning. It must be open to the public and the garden’s resources and accommodations must be made to all visitors.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, public gardens became very popular destinations, serving as places of hope and healing for a weary public. Even with the pandemic over, public gardens continue to be attractions for those seeking places for relaxation and respite.
The Los Angeles area is home to numerous high quality gardens. In this article, Michael Juliano of TimeOut highlights the following facilities that are worth visiting:
Japanese and botanical gardens
- The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
- Descanso Gardens
- Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
- Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden
- South Coast Botanic Garden
- The Japanese Garden
- Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
- James Irvine Japanese Garden
Mansion and institution gardens
- Getty Center
- Exposition Park Rose Garden
- Getty Villa
- Virginia Robinson Gardens
- Greystone Mansion
Urban and hidden gardens
- Amir's Garden
- Arlington Garden
- Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine
- Blue Ribbon Garden at the Walt Disney Concert Hall
- Los Angeles River Center and Gardens
- Garden of Oz
For more information about any of the above gardens, please read the source article.
FULL STORY: The best botanical gardens and hidden oases in Los Angeles

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

How Trump's HUD Budget Proposal Would Harm Homelessness Response
Experts say the change to the HUD budget would make it more difficult to identify people who are homeless and connect them with services, and to prevent homelessness.

The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way
One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk
High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont