Rare and Refined

Montecito’s plant people came out in force for Lotusland’s Exceptional Plants Auction, where collectors, growers, designers, and garden devotees spent the afternoon bidding on more than 200 rare and remarkable specimens, comparing favorites and talking shop beneath the garden’s famously exotic canopy.

The savvy sale ranged from collector treasures to drought-tolerant and climate-resilient plants suited to Santa Barbara gardens. Among the fragrant standouts, orchid expert Daniel Geiger presented a substantial vanilla planifolia – the orchid that produces vanilla – while the Martha Stewart™ Rose tempted guests with pink-apricot blooms scented with bergamot, honeysuckle, and lemon verbena.

The horticultural roll call was equally impressive. Kathy Musial and Dylan Hannon of The Huntington mingled with landscape architect Scott Shrader, Jeff Moore of Solana Succulents, Tom Cole of Cold Spring Aloes, and Julian Duval, retired president and CEO of San Diego Botanic Garden.

Behind the scenes, a committee of seasoned plant experts helped cultivate the event, including Cristi Walden of Sea Crest Nursery, Robert Bett of PlantHaven, Randy Baldwin, Mike Tully of Terra Sol Garden Center, and Jeff Chemnick of Aloes in Wonderland, working alongside Lotusland’s Paul Mills and Anna Bower.

Familiar Montecito faces included Master Rosarian and former Board President Dan Bifano, Lifetime Honorary Trustee Connie Flowers Pearcy, Lynn Cunningham Brown, former Trustee Rachael Douglas, and Trustee Stephen Schaible.

Adam Graham of Arroyo Seco Construction joined the crowd; the company served as Presenting Sponsor, with Curator Sponsors the Bousa Family and the Wood-Claeyssens Foundation.

Proceeds supported Lotusland’s living collections and its work in conservation, propagation, and sustainable horticulture. And no one left entirely empty-handed: PlantHaven sent every guest home with a plant of their own – proof that at Lotusland, taking home something green and refined is practically part of the dress code.