Lotusland — Attraction in Montecito

Maybe I was Madame Ganna Walska in my past life?

Ganna was a Polish opera singer, socialite, and garden enthusiast who purchased this estate in 1941 and spent 43 years creating Lotusland. She wanted the best, biggest and most unusual plants & trees and was often willing to pay any price to get them. Named one of the 10 best gardens in the world and home to over 3000 plants from around the globe. After her death it became a non-profit botanical garden that all can visit today.

Things you'll get to see - over 20 incredible gardens from Japanese, tropical, desert, rose, succulent, just to name a few. Some areas are even lined with crystal pathways. The details are unreal as Ganna loved dramatic details. Her pink house can also be seen from the outside but tours are not offered inside. There are several pools around the property that feature large seashells. There are also many ponds and some are home to one of the most beautiful flowers in the world, the lotus.

Here are some fun facts: Admission is $50 for adults By reservation only, by phone (old school) Tours are intimate, no more than 10 guests Guided tours only & last approx. 2 hours Open seasonally: Feb - Nov Located in residential neighborhood 37 acres of beauty Lotus bloom typically from July - Aug

Ganna lived a very colorful life and wrote a memoir. It's a really great read! Don't miss the gift shop on the way out & take something special home with you to remember your visit. I brought home her book and a few dry lotus from her pond that live now in my kitchen.

One word that comes to mind to describe this amazing...

This was a 'bucket list' item for my mother and, never having been here myself, I was a bit nervous how we would be able to navigate through the gardens, due to her need for a wheel chair at the time. The staff could not have been more accommodating - from the moment we arrived we were kept informed as to when our tour would be departing and what to expect. (they leave at staggered times, in small groups). We were the only ones with a wheeled device so we got our very own tour guide. As the tour began I completely understood why this was a 'bucket list' item for my mother. The gardens are stunning, and when you learn the history behind the gardens you are truly enchanted (well, I was!). The pools, the cactus, the incredible trees, the roses.....there is so much to see, and every turn on one of the numerous paths lead to another magical place. We were not able to tour the entire place in one tour and are already looking forward to a return visit to explore and learn more!. FYI: The paths are easily walkable and most are very wheel chair accessible. I found it difficult to find the place, as there was construction going on the day we visited ( a few detours in town) so give yourself a few extra minutes drive time, just in case you get lost (but what a beautiful area to...

my spouse and I went to lotusland today. it was our third time, but we had not been in six years. we love plants and are permaculture gardeners. it was fun to see what we remembered from previous times. the blue garden, the special cycad that there's only one left and it's male, the swimming pool with dudleyas in the wall, pretty roses that smells so good, fanciful topiaries, the lemon trellis, little grotesque statues, dramatic lotuses and water lilies, the koi, art tiles, the ferns, the cactus... we loved it all. the docent told good stories and gave good background on the garden's history. it's a sweet place. but the best part is they participate in the Museums for All program. I'm disabled and on govt food assistance, so our tickets cost only $3. we would not have been able to go at full price. so thank you for making beauty and learning accessible even to people who are not rich and comfortable. it's refreshing to be welcomed in a space that never suggested justice, to me. thank you for moving in the right direction toward inclusion...