The Most Beautiful Garden in Southern California

Among the world’s most beautiful gardens is Ganna Walska’s botanical wonderland, Lotusland, located approximately an hour and a half outside Los Angeles.

https://vimeo.com/437994389/3e289db15b

Lotusland Santa Barbara

Madame Ganna Walska was all about drama and excess. As an opera singer and socialite, she had an peculiar taste in plants, fashion, and love. After marrying six times, she purchased the 37-acre Cuesta Linda estate in 1941 and spent 43 years creating an extraordinary landscape filled with a skyline of cacti, mountains of ferns, and fields of exotic palms and cycads. “Madame Walska herself was a designer and loved to mass single species of plants together. She wanted the best, the biggest, and the most unusual plants available and was often willing to pay any price to get them.”

After her death in 1984, Lotusland became a non-profit and opened its doors to the public in 1993. Today, the otherworldly garden has been recognized as one of the ten best gardens in the world.

Know Before You Go

Because Lotusland is a public garden operating in a private, residential neighborhood, advance reservations are required. Regular tours and Family Tours are offered at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday between Mid-February and Mid-November.

I came across Lotusland after searching for wildflowers in Santa Barbara. After drooling over the photos on Google, I immediately bought Ganna Walska’s autobiography, “Always Room at the Top” and booked a reservation.

The first time I visited, I took a solo trip up PCH to Montecito. When I finally approached the pink wall, I knew my eyes were in for a treat!

On every path there’s a deep soothing silence with whispers of rustling leaves, unwarily clusters of fauna, and an energy only a lifelong’s passion could create.

Everything is so lush and meticulously planted. All of the gardens are breathtaking, but my favorites include the Japanese garden, water garden, and the cactus garden. I just want to live there! I enjoyed the grounds so much, I became a member and now I can roam the 37-acre botanical wonderland year round on my own. 10/10 would recommend!

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Brittney Lewis

tRAVELING Artist + Outdoor Enthusiast

ByBrijé is where I share weekend travel guides, trip inspiration and my creative endeavors. I’m currently wandering along the west coast painting colorful landscapes. Come along as I share the magic of the outdoors.

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