Arlington Garden is Pasadena’s only free public garden: three acres of water-wise, climate-appropriate planting on Arlington Drive in southwest Pasadena, near the South Pasadena line. Charles and Betty McKenney founded it in 2005 on the former site of the Durand Mansion, razed in 1962. Today it is a nonprofit habitat garden that gardeners visit to see how drought-tolerant design can thrive in Southern California.
Gravel paths wind past an olive allée, a citrus grove, sculptural succulents, and Mediterranean and California native beds that draw bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The site’s seven legacy trees anchor the plot, and hundreds of plants now fill the ground around them. Benches tucked under shade invite slow, unhurried visits. Leashed dogs are welcome, so expect neighbors walking pets alongside photographers and plant enthusiasts taking notes on species they can grow at home (Yelp; YourSoCal).
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
The garden opens daily from 8am to 6pm, and admission is free (Visit Pasadena). Arrive early on weekday mornings for cooler air, softer light, and the most active pollinators. Spring brings peak bloom. This October, the calendar includes the Horticulture for Healing workshop on October 24 and the Autumn in the Garden fundraiser party on October 25 (Arlington Garden). Street parking is available nearby, and Old Pasadena’s restaurants are a short drive north.
