Descanso: An Urban Oasis Revealed

Descanso Gardens is one of Los Angeles's oldest botanical gardens. Initially a Spanish rancho and later the estate of publisher and horticulturist E. Manchester Boddy, the 160-acre lot was granted to the people of Los Angeles and includes one of the world's finest collections of camellias and oaks. Warren Marr is part of a long tradition of photographers who have responded creatively to the garden and its timeless appeal. His photographic explorations of what he refers to as a "natural light box" have been called "lyrical and luminous" by Getty Museum curator Anne Lyden. Marr's lush panoramic images combined with essays on the significance of the garden plants and history make Descanso an elegant volume for photography and garden lovers.