Author and literary historian Kate Bolick takes a look back at the life of Ganna Walska, the woman who devoted herself to its creation.
Home to several exotic and extraordinary plants, Madame Ganna's Lotusland in Santa Barbara California is one of the Best Gardens of the World.
I've posted previously about my March visit to Lotusland which focused on the Bromiliad gardens and the Dunlap Cactus Collection . To...
Lotusland is one of those places that I definitely didn’t fully understand or appreciate when I was younger. It’s amazing that the public can visit this historic estate and that I was able to tour the grounds as a kid.
Pelargonium 'Lotusland' (Stellar type) - avec photos et info sur la meilleure façon de bouturer, semer, récolter.
When , a new book of garden photography by our contributor Claire Takacs, arrived this month, one of the gardens featured—the entrancing and somewhat mysti
About Madame Ganna Walska The names Madame Ganna Walska and Lotusland are synonymous with the beautiful estate garden known for […]
Lotusland in Montecito is as theatrical and unconventional as the opera singer who directed it
“Don’t touch. And don't eat what you touch unless you want to die” are the first words you’ll hear upon entering Lotusland, the exotic, 37-acre kingdom of plants tucked away in the quiet town of Montecito, California. Its roots run three owners and 135 years deep, but it’s the touch of its final, fa
As the name suggests, this 37-acre Santa Barbara garden is horticultural heaven. For more than 43 years, socialite and opera singer Madame Ganna Walska filled the grounds with more than 3,000 plants; after her death, Lotusland opened to the public in 1993 as a nonprofit botanical garden. The species of plants hail from all over the world, and the collection includes succulents, aloes, ferns, bromeliads, and water lilies. Other gardens are planted by theme, like the Blue Garden, Theatre Garden, and Water Garden. There’s never a bad time to visit, but if you’re especially interested in seeing the lotuses bloom, mark July and August in your calendar. Nonmember visitors must make reservations in advance for two-hour tours that include both horticultural and historical information, but the parties are small, so you’ll have a clear view of the gardens. If you want the luxury of wandering the gardens unattended, consider purchasing a membership. Either way, be sure to stop at the garden shop for plants and tools, and dream about creating your own little Lotusland at home.
Lotusland is a thirty-seven acre botanical wonderland in Santa Barbara, California. Former owner Ganna Walska, a Polish opera singer and socialite, once said “I’m an enemy of the average.” This explains why most of her life…
Discover 10 magical places in Southern California that seem straight out of a fairy
When , a new book of garden photography by our contributor Claire Takacs, arrived this month, one of the gardens featured—the entrancing and somewhat mysti
About Madame Ganna Walska The names Madame Ganna Walska and Lotusland are synonymous with the beautiful estate garden known for […]
Finding just the right tree for a home orchard can be a challenge, with so many available at local nurseries and through the internet. Lotusland has begun to focus on the cultivars of citrus and deciduous fruit trees that thrive in their orchard in Santa Barbara, in turn helping local Southern California gardeners determine what will grow best in those conditions.
When , a new book of garden photography by our contributor Claire Takacs, arrived this month, one of the gardens featured—the entrancing and somewhat mysti
Thank you for your consideration to ensure the Garden continues to thrive, grow, and bloom. Your support is essential to help Lotusland flourish.
Photo by Lisa Romerein. Lemon Arbor The original arbor was created circa 1920s. It was replicated in 1988 with new […]
The Blue Garden started in 1948 as a silver garden with the planting of blue Atlas cedars by Madame Ganna Walska. It evolved into the Blue Garden as she added blue-foliaged plants to complement the cedars. At the time, color-themed gardens were considered quite chic, and at its prime in the mid-1950s Lotusland’s Blue Garden was celebrated as one of the most fascinating gardens in California.
Photography from one of the top 10 botanic gardens in the world
Photography from one of the top 10 botanic gardens in the world
Next stop of our Santa Barbara journey! After researching what to do in Santa Barbara, I came across some whimsical images of a place that looked like a secret, magical garden hidden in the depths of Santa Barbara. Join me as I explore the world renowned Ganna Walska Lotusland!
From historic landscapes in New York City to newer gems in the desert of New Mexico, these sanctuaries beckon with open space and sheer botanical beauty.
One of the loveliest places to explore California’s Arts & Crafts movement is around Santa Barbara.
Photography from one of the top 10 botanic gardens in the world
Named after Ganna Walska, a Polish opera singer and gardening enthusiast whose estate (known as Lotusland) was a model of botanical creativity. The Walska Pendant semi-flushmount features individually hand-bent and hand-shaped leaves, creating an organic and instantly iconic impression.
More from that June visit to Lotusland, Ganna Walska’s 37-acre estate near Santa Barbara, California. In the comments to this post, Emily kindly provided a link to an English series “Ar…
When , a new book of garden photography by our contributor Claire Takacs, arrived this month, one of the gardens featured—the entrancing and somewhat mysti
Lotusland is a thirty-seven acre botanical wonderland in Santa Barbara, California. Former owner Ganna Walska, a Polish opera singer and socialite, once said “I’m an enemy of the average.” This explains why most of her life…