LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, Calif. — From lush purple wisteria to the floral scent of lilacs, spring has sprung at Descanso Gardens.

The sights are a welcomed sense of calm for Lauren Jeong.

“They're just delicate, I think, and then, just the beauty and how simple they are, it just brings a lot of joy,” Jeong said.

For the first time, Jeong and a friend decided to take a stroll through the 80-acre public garden in La Cañada Flintridge.

“We’ve been working from home for over a year now, and we’re not going back for at least another a couple months still," said Jeong. "So getting out is really important."

The garden was flush with vibrant florals like the bright Camellia flowers and cherry blossoms. The gardens remained closed last spring when tulips and magnolias bloomed with no one there to appreciate them. As COVID-19 restrictions have loosened, visitors are able to visit the gardens again — provided they wear a face mask and reserve a ticket online.

Jennifer Errico, marketing manager at Descanso Gardens, explained that despite the gardens’ limited capacity for visitors, there is still plenty of nature to see.

"People come, they take a walk, they sit under the oaks," she said. "They smell the flowers, and you know there’s nothing like nature to restore and nurture you, so we really welcome our visitors to sit and relax and take in the beautiful flora and fauna here in the garden."

For Jeong, the stroll was a breath of fresh air. The pandemic might have slowed everyone down, but for Jeong it’s helped her find a new sense of peace by getting lost in nature.