Ganna Walska Lotusland, one of the best gardens in the world

Ganna Walska Lotusland, one of the best gardens in the world.

Ganna Walska Lotusland, also popular as Lotusland, is a non-profit botanical garden in Montecito. The place is near Santa Barbara, California, United States.
Madame Ganna Walska, a distinquished Polish opera singer and socialite, purchased the Montecito, California estate in 1941. She spent the next 43 years creating Lotusland, which is now famous as one of the ten best gardens in the world.

The spectacular collections of exotic plants throughout the 37-acre property are a very personal expression of Walska’s penchant for the dramatic, the unexpected and the whimsical. Lotusland is home to several extraordinary plant collections. And around each corner there is a surprise –  unique garden design and plant species. Educational programs serve the Santa Barbara community. Furthermore, botanic gardens and garden-lovers around the world share the innovative horticultural practices.

As a matter of fact, Ganna Walska (1887-1984) married six times, four times to very wealthy husbands. The lavish promotion of her lackluster opera career by her fourth husband, Harold Fowler. McCormick, inspired aspects of the screenplay for Citizen Kane. Consequently, the gardens were created over four decades by Walska. She owned the property as a private residence from 1941 until her death in 1984. She was assisted in landscape planning and garden design by Peter Riedel. As well as Ralph Stevens, Lockwood DeForest, and Joseph Knowles. The garden opened to the public in 1993.

Lotusland is home to several extraordinary collections of rare cycads, cacti, palms and euphorbias. Additional gardens feature ferns, aloes, succulents, lotuses, water lilies, and bromeliads. Themed gardens include the blue garden, theatre garden, butterfly garden and a Japanese garden. Other classic features are water stairs, topiary garden, horticultural clock and a parterre.

So, you are welcome to enjoy Ganna Walska Lotusland, one of the best gardens in the world.

 Read about other famous gardens and parks around the world.