Nearby places

How to use these places as inspiration for your own garden

The venues on this list fall into two loose groups, and each teaches something different to anyone setting up an outdoor living space at home. The amphitheatres and screening grounds show how people actually behave when they gather outdoors after dark. The botanical gardens show what thrives in Southern California's dry summers and mild winters, and how planting can shape a space.

Lessons from outdoor stages and screenings

Spend an evening at the Hollywood Bowl, the Greek Theatre or The Ford and notice the details. Seating follows the slope so everyone has a clear sightline. Path lighting is low and shielded, bright enough to walk safely without washing out the stage. Sound has to carry through open air with no walls to help it. Cinespia's screenings at Hollywood Forever are a good model for a backyard movie night: picnic blankets, low chairs and a large screen set where the evening light fades behind it. If you are planning your own setup, our notes on backyard cinema and garden lighting cover how to bring those ideas down to the scale of a home garden.

Lessons from the gardens

The Huntington, Descanso Gardens, the LA County Arboretum and the Getty's Central Garden each show a different side of gardening in this region. The Huntington's desert collections show how much structure succulents and cacti can give a dry garden. Descanso is known for its camellias and oak woodland. The Arboretum gathers plants from climates around the world that resemble our own. The Getty's Central Garden shows how paths, water and planting can lead a visitor through a space. Bring a notebook or a camera and record plant names and combinations you like, then compare them with the light and soil in your own yard.

Practical tips before you go

• Check each venue's official website for current hours, ticketing, reservations and event calendars. Some require timed entry or advance booking.
• For evening shows, plan your transport and parking early. Hillside venues can be slow to leave after a performance.
• Bring layers. LA evenings cool quickly, especially in the canyons.
• Photographing plants and settings is a great way to start a garden archive. See our guide to garden photos for ideas.