Descanso Gardens’ beloved resident goose, Snowball, has passed away. Snowball, also affectionately known as Powder and Jean Le Flamme, lived a long life at Descanso bringing smiles to visitors and staff for almost three decades. He was often the first to greet guests at the lake by honking “hello.”
No one is certain how Snowball came to Descanso. Although he was a domesticated goose, he lived among the wildlife, often accompanied by his duck posse including chicks that hatched each spring.
“The goose lived a long and healthy life at Descanso. In recent months we have been concerned about his health and consulted a veterinarian. At the vet’s advice, we decided to allow the goose to live out his life in the Gardens,” said Rachel Young, director of Horticulture and Garden Operations. “It is sad to lose him. At Descanso, we are a haven for wildlife and the goose was one of a cast of charming characters that our visitors enjoy.”
If visitors would like to leave a remembrance of Snowball, they may do so at the Visitor Center through Oct. 9 or on the Descanso Gardens website, descansogardens.org. All memories will be compiled and stored in the Descanso Gardens archives.