Tucked away in Montecito sits a massive estate that has been named the most beautiful garden in California, according to HGTV. The garden spans 37 acres and is divided into 25 distinct gardens.
The historic estate and gardens are named Lostusland and are the result of decades of work by a fabulous opera singer. The garden is known for its extensive collection of rare plants, with manicured ferns, towering cacti, and numerous aloe plants throughout.
Rows of beautiful olive trees lead guests between gardens, and you can explore an orchard of papayas or wander into the parterre, a formal flower garden arranged in a pattern. One of the most famous gardens in Lotusland is the topiary, which features whimsical figures sculpted from bushes. A total of 26 living sculptures populate the garden, including a giraffe and a peacock.
The making of Lotusland
The historic property is over 140 years old, and was initially purchased in 1882 by Ralph Kinton Stevens, who used it as both a family home and a commercial nursery.
At the time, Stevens named the property Tanglewood before eventually selling it to nearby neighbors. In 1916, the estate was bought by E. Palmer and Marie Gavit, who added the Spanish Revival-style buildings and formal gardens that remain today.
Finally, in 1941, successful opera singer Ganna Walska purchased the property, and the garden really began to come alive.Over the years, Walska worked with designers and gardeners to create more beautiful parts of the gardens, including the topiary garden and Japanese garden, and converted the old swimming pool into a water garden.
After her death in 1984, the gardens were left to the Ganna Walska Lotusland Foundation, and the first scheduled tour was in 1993. Madame Ganna Walska was a well-known opera singer during her life, touring around Europe and singing in major cities such as New York and Paris before settling in Mendocino.
Visiting Lotusland
Today, the garden is maintained and operated by the Ganna Walska Lotusland Foundation. The foundation continues Walksa’s legacy with the garden, offering tours and events in the garden.
The garden is open to the public from March 14 through November 11, and an advance reservation is required. Tickets are released every few months, so if you don’t see your desired date listed, we recommend checking back later. Admission for adults is $70 and $35 for children 3 and older.
We recommend checking Lotusland’s event calendar before going, as they often host special events like Sound Baths, poetry readings, art classes, and more.
You can learn more about Lotusland and reserve tickets here.
