We headed here to have some photos taken after our wedding.
The price is a little steep compared to other Botanical Gardens (roughly $17 plus taxes) plus parking (another $10) and not all customer service reps are bilingual, which was a little difficult for tourists like me. No photo permit was needed for the professional photos, you just pay the admission of the photographers.
We only had time to explore the Chinese, Japanese and Native American gardens, but they were completely stunning. You could easily spend the entire day exploring this place, it is truly breath-taking. Bring a water bottle (there are fountains where you can refill it), comfy shoes, sunscreen and your camera!