Descanso Gardens celebrates Earth Day April 16

Descanso Gardens gets an early start on celebrating Earth Day with a daylong festival on Saturday, April 16. Enjoy a day filled with educational activities, music and entertainment for all ages: Bugs are our buddies! Activities for youngsters include Ladybug Land, which features ladybugs in all stages of their life cycle, ladybug puzzles, ladybug parachute games and a make-and-take ladybug craft. Children’s activities will be on the Main Lawn from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also for the young-at-heart, the Moo Doo Puppets will perform “Earth Day Safari” at 11 a.m. on the Main Lawn. Fan faves the Mobile Homeboys will return to Descanso to perform their distinctive blend of country, rock, roots and bluegrass music. Showtime is 1 p.m. in the Under the Oaks Theater. David Fross, co-author of “Reimagining the California Lawn: Water-conserving Plants, Practices, and Design,” will lecture on his book and conduct a book signing in Birch at 12:30 p.m. Patina will offer an eco-friendly barbecue menu with locally grown food from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Main Lawn. Want to go solar? Representatives from Martifer Solar will give presentations on the process at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Martifer installed the Descanso Gardens solar arrays. Representatives will discuss that project and offer guidance on using solar panels in commercial and residential buildings. Local artists will sell their creations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, April 17 in Van de Kamp. Activities are free with admission: $8 adults, $6 seniors/students with I.D., $3 children 5-12, children 4 and younger enter free. Descanso Gardens is located 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. Open daily (except Christmas) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Get details at www.descansogardens.org or (818) 949-4200.