Ganna Walska Lotusland – often simply called Lotusland – is tucked away in beautiful Montecito, California. Once the home of an eccentric opera singer, this extraordinary garden spans over 37 acres and showcases an incredible variety of plants, many of them exceptionally rare. Here, you’ll discover impressive botanical collections of cacti, palms, and of course, lotus flowers – all arranged in fairytale-like, themed gardens.
Over the years, Lotusland has received widespread recognition. Its own website highlights it as ‘one of the 10 best gardens in the world’, while HGTV recently named it ‘the most beautiful garden in California’.
The garden’s story
In 1882, Ralph Kinton Stevens purchased the estate, turning it into his family residence and a working nursery. He called the land Tanglewood before eventually passing it on to neighbors in the area. The property changed hands again in 1916, when Palmer and Marie Gavit acquired it. They introduced the Spanish Revival-style architecture and elegant formal gardens that still define the grounds today. Then, in 1941, renowned opera singer Ganna Walska became the new owner. She brought in a landscape architect to design orchards and additional gardens, further shaping the property into the landmark we see and love today.
It was Ganna’s theatrical vision that truly transformed this space, making it a piece of art. She also named it ‘Lotusland‘.
What to see
Here, you’ll find some of the rarest plants you’ve ever seen – and some you’ve never encountered before. 37 acres can sound overwhelming, but thanks to wonderful Walska, the garden is incredibly organized. The topiary garden and the Japanese garden are some of the most famous, but don’t miss the water garden (an old swimming pool), the aloe garden, the blue garden, or the magical olive alley – which leads to the cactus garden.
At every turn, you’ll notice the artistry. It’s clear that Ganna Walska not only had a remarkable eye for beauty, but also collaborated with exceptional talent to bring her vision to life.
Plan your visit
To visit this unique California-dreamy garden, make a reservation in advance. This is necessary because the garden operates under visitor limitations set by the County of Santa Barbara – for more information and tickets, check out their website.