Better Homes and Gardens

It was the perfect long weekend day -- sunny and 70 degrees -- so we grabbed Evan and headed a tad north to La Canada Flintridge, where we finally decided to check out the Descanso Gardens.

The 160-acre setting was originally the ranch of E. Manchester Boddy, publisher of the original Los Angeles Daily News (not the paper now found in the Valley). Boddy opened his gardens to the public in 1950, and eventually sold the land -- including his two-story, 22-room mansion -- to the County.

An Easter Egg hunt was taking place when we arrived -- but let's face it, it would have been lost on Evan (we'll be back next year for that), so we headed toward the lilac garden, the Japanese garden, the Rosearium, the Camellia forest and other areas. A few images: