La Canada Flintridge, CA – November 6, 2025 – Kelly Fernandez has been named the Director of Horticulture and Facilities at Descanso Gardens. After an exhaustive search, CEO Juliann Rooke said of Fernandez, “She possesses the right balance to care for our important historical collections while also looking to the future, as we continue to grow and change.”
Fernandez came to Descanso after extensive experience at The Huntington, where she started working in 2011 as a Specialty Gardener. In 2018, she was promoted to Head Gardener for the Herb and Shakespeare Gardens, and in 2024, she became Horticulture Manager of the Experiential and Teaching Gardens.
Fernandez earned a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Colorado State University Global and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies from California State University, Los Angeles. She also has a certification in Horticultural Therapy from the Chicago Botanic Garden and is a Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) from the National Association for Interpretation.
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About Descanso
Descanso Gardens is both curated and wild, bridging culture and nature with collections that include native oaks and historic camellias. Located just north of downtown Los Angeles, it spans 150 acres and welcomes approximately 1 million visitors annually.
