Themed gardens, fountains and a waterfall, a historic cottage with a peaceful lake… The list of things to see in the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is long until you spot peacocks, walking gracefully and showcasing their multilayered tails willingly. And nothing else matters after that.
Last updated: April 27, 2024
Viewing Peacocks at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
“Why do you like peacocks?” this question popped up in my mind while we were driving to the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden to see these resplendent birds from the pheasant family. “What makes them so special?”
Depicted in many children’s stories, the peacocks are viewed as integral parts of paradise-like gardens of rich masters and kings. For ages, these birds with multilayered, brightly-colored tails and slow gaits have been the epitome of grace and elegance. To this day, the peacocks stop almost every passerby in her tracks.
Listening to these thoughts inside my head, I was not sure if I was excited or indifferent about our little adventure. But viewing peacocks in the Los Angeles County Arboretum, one of the most beautiful gardens in Los Angeles, sounded like a really good idea.
Peacocks in LA: How to Get to Los Angeles County Arboretum
Approximately half an hour later, we finally saw our first peacocks in the Los Angeles area. Set near the San Gabriel Mountains, east of Pasadena, across the street from Santa Anita Park, the Los Angeles County Arboretum is mostly popular with locals. Hardly any tourist knows about this place, moreover considers any opportunity to view peacocks in one of LA’s public parks.
Embarrassingly enough, after living in Southern California for more than 10 years, I didn’t hear about this hidden gem until just recently. Since that day, the idea of watching peacocks in Los Angeles (outside of the LA Zoo) has been set firmly in my head.
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden has worn many hats. Its story started as Rancho Santa Anita, an agricultural outpost of Mission San Gabriel. Later it belonged to Yankee capitalist, Elias Jackson Baldwin.
Thanks to its convenient location and outstanding beauty, the arboretum has also been used as a movie set for many Hollywood films.
But above all, it’s one of the favorite places among the locals and random visitors, looking forward to meeting the peacocks in Los Angeles.
The place, however, doesn’t limit itself to showcasing the famous pheasants. Other features include rich botanical collections, such as Africa, Australia, Madagascar, and Canary Islands. Additionally, Queen Anne Cottage nestled near horseshoe-shaped Baldwin Lake, the Rose Garden, and the Meyberg Waterfall belong to the prominent “residents” of the arboretum.
TIP: Serenity, peace, and natural beauty of the place embrace and shower you with a feeling of complete appreciation the moment you pull over at a parking lot. On the other hand, the parking situation might be a bit complicated, especially on weekends. So plan your trip early in the morning to beat the crowds and have not only the arboretum but also all the beautiful peacocks in Los Angeles to yourself.
Peacocks in Los Angeles
While approaching a visitor center that also serves as entrance to the garden, who do you think greet you right outside the gate? A few of the most curious peacocks in this part of Los Angeles!
Gracefully pacing in front of the arboretum, the birds cast indifferent glances at you. These peacocks, some of the most beautiful residents of Los Angeles, neither shy away from the visitors, nor show any discomfort in their presence. They just stands here, soaking up all “Oohs” and “Wows” that come from the ecstatic crowds.
On the other side of the gate, more peacocks show themselves to the exuberant visitors that can’t stop staring at and trying to pat the birds. The peacocks in Los Angeles seem to be aware of their splendid looks and entertain their admirers to the best of their “birdy” abilities. Grandly and leisurely, they turn around, showing all their sides to their ever-growing audiences.
A few moments later, a loud shrill sound notifies the crowd that the peacocks are ready to open their gorgeous fantails. (Apparently, the mighty birds don’t want their grand show go unnoticed.) Delighted by the numerous clicks of the cameras that start working almost instantly, the smart creatures, like professional runway models, start turning around once again, proudly displaying their luxurious tails.
The show doesn’t end on it, at least not yet. If you happened to have some nuts or seeds, place them on your hand and extend it in the directions of the nearby peacock. The next moment you know, the grateful bird approaches your “feasty” hand and reluctantly, without loosing its dignity, picks one piece after another. So, chasing the peacocks in Los Angeles is not that difficult, after all.
More than just Peacocks in the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
War Memorial Fountain
The Los Angeles County Arboretum wouldn’t be the epitome of beauty and peace without its other components. Start with a remarkable fountain, a place of interest of many children who try hard to slip away from their parents and dip their little hands in cold water.
Botanical Gardens
To the left of the fountain, a picturesque world of neatly cut green lawns, summer houses built in Greek style, and plentiful mini gardens opens up to your view. Aligning with the paradise-like environment, the charming flowers and trees accompany all your walks. Before long, you find yourself in a mini palm grove, followed by cactus and other exotic gardens.
Queen Anne Cottage
After leaving the palm garden and heading back toward the fountain, turn to your right and follow a paved pathway that leads to the Queen Anne Cottage. Build in 1885, the white cottage with red touches and gorgeous details looks like a bigger version of a fairytale house where Snow White lived.
Surrounded by the picturesque lake, the cottage served as “place of refugee” for many of its previous owners that searched for a “calm harbor” in the world of constant movements and changes. At one point, the white house lost it popularity. Eventually, it was turned into a museum that welcomes the peacocks-chasing visitors of Los Angeles twice a year.
We were lucky to visit the garden on one of those rare days. Ironically, we still managed to miss a guided tour. By accident or by fate, we approached the cottage at the exact time when the last visitors were leaving it. A few minutes later, museum’s employees locked the doors, letting the cottage resume its lonely existence until Christmas.
Baldwin Lake
A few feet away from the Queen Anne Cottage, Baldwin Lake fully compensates for the lost opportunity to visit the house. Resembling enormous horseshoe, the lake, filled with swimming ducks, instantly charms and attracts.
Succumbing to the peaceful mood at the lake, you find yourself sitting down on a bench, facing the green water. The next thing, imitating the aristocrats of the old days, you take out your book and start reading. Occasionally, you interrupt this activity to jot down your thoughts and feelings.
Rose Garden
Soon kids’ laughter, coming from nearby, arouses your curiosity. It leads you to the small Rose Garden with a big white summer house at the end. Here, while adults smell the flowers, their youngsters can’t get enough of chasing each other around the rose bushes.
Meyberg Waterfall
A short walk farther down the paved pathway takes you a small waterfall, cozily hidden at the far end of the garden. This charming waterfall attracts many young couples, looking for exotic places for their engagement or wedding photoshoots.
Final Thoughts
Everybody, small and big, young and old, finds something interesting at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. The place is big, yet small enough to explore it in one day or a few hours. So take it slowly and explore every corner of this remarkable garden. But above all, don’t forget to chase the beautiful peacocks in this hidden gem of Los Angeles.
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