Spring flowers with kids around Los Angeles: from Descanso's camellias to the Antelope Valley poppies

Spring in Los Angeles starts in January: the camellias under Descanso's oaks open first, the two thousand cherry trees at Lake Balboa follow in late February, then come Descanso's tulips and the peacocks fanning their tails at the Arcadia arboretum in March, and from mid-March the hillsides of the Antelope Valley turn orange with California poppies.

If you live in the San Gabriel Valley, the three gardens closest to home cover a whole spring: Descanso Gardens runs a little train through the woods on weekends, the LA Arboretum is fully stroller-accessible with peacocks everywhere, and the Huntington's children's garden and Chinese garden are at their best in spring. For the big show, get up early on a clear March weekend for a picnic around Lake Balboa, or drive a bit over an hour before April to the Antelope Valley poppy fields, the photo every Los Angeles kid should take once a year.

• 5 places
• 2 free
• 4 stroller-friendly
• closest is 5 min away