LA County Arboretum Near Peak
Native and exotic trees are near peak at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, dressing its grounds with red, orange, yellow and chartreuse.
Los Angeles County has a long peak, from mid November to mid December, though it is specific to a few national forest drainages and to urban forests with concentrated areas of deciduous non-native foliage.
Arboretums and gardens are the best locations in LA County to see peak fall color right now, including the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia, Descanso Gardens in La Canada-Flintridge, the Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino and the South Coast Botanic Gardens in Palos Verdos Peninsula.
Two of these gardens add illuminated displays during the holidays. The LA County Arboretum in Arcadia hosts Moonlight Forest, a nighttime display of colorful lanterns (seen in some of these images). And, Descanso Gardens in La Canada-Flintridge hosts the Enchanted Forest of Lights in which trees are flooded with dramatic, colorful lighting.
Click to enlarge photos.
Tallac Knoll, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
Chinese N American Collection (l), Kallam Garden (r), LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
Kallam Garden, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
Fallen leaves, Meadowbrook Section, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
Liquidambar, Meadowbrook Section, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
California grape, Tule Pond, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
Crepe myrtle, Main Entrance, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
Dawn redwood, Historic Section, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
Bald cypress, Historic Section, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
Gingko biloba, Historic Section, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
Crepe myrtle, Historic Section, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
Liquidambar, Tallac Knoll, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
Gingko biloba (l), Horse chestnut (r), Chinese N. American Collection, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
Kallam Garden, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
Gingko biloba, Meadowbrook Section, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
Chinese tallow, Meadowbrook Section, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
Chestnut, Meadowbrook Section, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
American Elm, Crescent Garden, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough 
Freeman’s maple (pink), Celebration Lawn, LA County Arboretum (12/4/19) Frank McDonough
- LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia – Near Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
