Description

Rancho del Descanso — The Ranch of Rest — Descanso Gardens is one of Southern California’s oldest botanical gardens. Previously a Spanish rancho and later the estate of publisher and horticulturist E. Manchester Boddy the 150 acres was granted to the people of Los Angeles County including one of the world’s finest collections of camellias and oaks. Marr’s garden images call to mind the long tradition of photographers who have responded creatively to the garden and its timeless appeal. Descanso Gardens is what Marr refers to as a “natural light box” and the result of his photographic explorations is what Getty curator Anne Lyden calls “lyrical and luminous.”

The lush panoramic images combined with essays on the significance of the garden’s plants and history make an elegant volume for photography and garden lovers alike.