Cultivating Color and Community: Seasonal Planting at Descanso Gardens

Descanso Gardens’ annual planting of 35,000 tulip bulbs showcases the power of seasonal design to enhance public spaces and engage visitors.

2 minute read

February 3, 2025, 11:00 AM PST

By Clement Lau


Close-up of pink tulips in bloom at Descanso Gardens, Los Angeles County.

Kit Leong / Adobe Stock

Seasonal planting strategies play a crucial role in public gardens, parks, and designed landscapes, offering opportunities to enhance visitor engagement and ecological diversity. At Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, an annual tulip planting tradition exemplifies how thoughtful horticultural planning can create a dynamic, ever-changing landscape. Each January, staff and volunteers plant tens of thousands of tulip bulbs in the Promenade area, just inside the garden’s entrance, ensuring a spectacular floral display in spring. This year, a record 35,000 bulbs were placed into the soil, reinforcing the significance of seasonal design in shaping public experiences and elevating the role of gardens as cultural and ecological assets.

The tulip bloom, expected to begin in late February and peak in mid-March, demonstrates the importance of timing and climate considerations in landscape planning. As tulips are weather-dependent, their growth is influenced by rainfall, temperature shifts, and seasonal variability—factors that must be taken into account when incorporating such displays into urban and park environments. By sharing a Tulip Timeline with visitors, Descanso Gardens fosters public engagement and appreciation for the natural cycles that define a garden’s life. This approach also highlights how interactive, time-sensitive programming can be integrated into park and public garden spaces to draw visitors and create memorable, immersive experiences.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the tulip display serves as a case study in horticultural planning and visitor experience design. The vibrant array of colors—ranging from soft pastels to bold hues—transforms the Promenade into a dynamic, immersive landscape that attracts visitors year after year. Projects like Descanso Gardens’ tulip planting offer valuable insights into seasonally adaptive design, community involvement, and the power of nature-driven placemaking. By aligning horticultural efforts with seasonal rhythms, public landscapes can serve as evolving, interactive spaces that inspire, educate, and connect people with the changing beauty of nature.

Tuesday, January 28, 2025 in NBC Los Angeles

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of Donald Shoup during interview.

Legendary Parking Guru Donald Shoup Dies at 86

Urbanists are mourning the loss of a dynamic voice for parking reform and walkable cities.

February 10, 2025 - StreetsBlog NYC

Red 1972 Ford Pinto with black racing stripes on display with man sitting in driver's seat.

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto

The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

February 11, 2025 - Mother Jones

Row of vehicles parked and plugged in at EV charging station.

Federal EV Charging Program Suspended

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program planned to fund the construction of hundreds of EV charging stations across the country.

February 9, 2025 - Wired

‘Umeke Lā‘au: Culture Medicine art installation - giant wooden sculpture of calabash with people standing inside.

A Monument to Resilience: Native Hawaiian Art Installation Honors History and Healing

The towering ʻUmeke Lāʻau installation by Native Hawaiian artist Meleanna Aluli Meyer, unveiled at Honolulu's city hall, is a powerful symbol of cultural resilience and healing.

February 18 - University of Hawai'i News

Close-up of narge eucalyptus tree.

Rethinking Fire-Resistant Landscaping: Which Trees Should We Plant?

Fire experts emphasize the need to replace highly flammable trees like Mexican fan palms and eucalyptus with fire-resistant species such as oak, sycamore, and toyon, while also strengthening home fire defenses to reduce wildfire risks in California.

February 18 - Los Angeles Times

Aerial view of Fremont, California.

Fremont, California Criminalizes Homelessness, “Abetting” Encampments

Non-profits worry the ordinance, which does not explicitly exempt service providers, will have a chilling effect on unhoused residents and those who offer resources.

February 18 - The Guardian

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.