Tag archives: botanic garden

Lotusland Love
By Richard Mineards   |   February 27, 2024

Romance was definitely in the air when Lotusland, the 37-acre Montecito botanical paradise, hosted a Valentine’s Day event for 25 couples, one of whom was enjoying their 51st big day together. The tony twosomes quaffed flutes of champagne and enjoyed the self-guided tour of the exquisite gardens accompanied by flamenco-Latino music from Santa Barbara guitarist […]

Lotusland: LotusFest’s Return Launches 30th Anniversary Lotusland Forever Campaign
By Steven Libowitz   |   September 12, 2023

Cue the fanfare! LotusFest is coming back to Lotusland, the spectacular public gardens nestled in the Cold Spring neighborhood of Montecito. The Saturday, September 16, afternoon affair represents the post-pandemic return of the event, which provides an opportunity to enjoy a treasured wine-and-beer affair ensconced in the lush green lawns surrounded by a wonderland of […]

Talks and Walks Through Lotusland
By Richard Mineards   |   March 21, 2023

Lotusland, the 37-acre botanical paradise just a tiara’s toss from Westmont College, goes from strength to strength even though visitor numbers to the former estate of Polish opera legend Ganna Walska are limited to 20,000 visitors annually, including 5,000 guests for educational programs. Treasurer Stephen Schaible told the annual meeting held in the charming Theatre […]

A Garden Feast
By Richard Mineards   |   November 15, 2022

There were seedy goings on at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden when the 98-year-old 78-acre gem hosted its first Forage & Feast event for 64 guests, raising $60,000 for its conservation and research programs. The sunset soirée at the Pritzlaff Conservation Center featured creative culinary delights using native plants from the garden from Chef Julian […]

A Lotusland Tome
By Richard Mineards   |   May 31, 2022

Lotusland, the 37-acre botanical paradise founded by opera singer Ganna Walska, was doing everything by the book when it launched a 288-page coffee table tome titled Lotusland: Eccentric Garden Paradise with a lavish lunch bash for 280 guests at the weekend. The Rizzoli publication, beautifully photographed by Lisa Romerein, is intended to share the beauty […]

First-Ever Artist in Residence Joins Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
By Nick Schou   |   May 6, 2021

From April 21 to June 27, 2021, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden will welcome Canada-born artist Libby Holland as its first-ever Artist in Residence. For eight weeks, Holland will immerse herself in the garden’s native plantings for an exploration of “blooming where you’re planted and allowing yourself to be free” with her collection “Grow Wild.” […]

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
By Steven Libowitz   |   February 4, 2021

Just like nearly every place in town, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden closed for two months during the first phase of the stay-at-home orders designed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic last spring. But then the county decided that the Garden was an essential service.  Which, to anyone who has ever visited the 78-acre site that blends […]

Ganna Walska Lotusland CEO Retires
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 26, 2019

Gwen Stauffer’s eleven-year stewardship of Lotusland will be remembered by many achievements, most recently the completion of Lotusland’s Japanese Garden renovation. Lotusland’s Board of Trustees has named Rebecca Anderson, currently the Garden’s Director of Philanthropy, as Lotusland’s Interim Executive Director. “We are all very excited to have Rebecca help lead the organization moving forward,” said […]

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
By Zach Rosen   |   November 7, 2019

Since being established in 1926, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (SBBG), has become a pillar of our community. Whether it was one of the garden’s many school programs, or just a visit with the family, many of us have childhood memories of the space. From the majestic redwood grove to the sprawling meadow, these enchanting […]

Memoirs Of A Garden
By Lynda Millner   |   August 8, 2019

“Lotusland was created by Polish opera singer Madame Ganna Walska, and visitors should prepare themselves for the ultimate theatrical garden experience. Perhaps only in the climate and culture of Southern California could such a creation have been conceived and accepted, a fantasy of remarkable set-pieces of design and planting quite unlike any other garden.” The […]

Japanese Garden Complete
By Richard Mineards   |   June 20, 2019

Lotusland, the late opera singer Ganna Walska’s 37-acre botanical paradise, has just completed the biggest project in its history with the $6 million two and a half year renovation of the one and a half acre Japanese Garden. The massive project, designed in conjunction with Lotusland CEO Gwen Stauffer, Derrik Eichelberger of Arcadia Studio, and […]

Judges or Psychics?
By Montecito Journal   |   January 24, 2019

It is difficult to decide whether to laugh or cry at a recent judge’s ruling denying the U.S. government’s right to use the census to count the number of U.S. citizens. Laughing because it is deceivers’ dream to have every action of this presidential administration – including masking the difference between citizens and illegals – […]

Lotusland Announces Opening of Japanese Garden
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   January 18, 2019

After over two years of extensive renovations, Lotusland has announced the opening of its Japanese Garden, which was originally created in the 1960s and is the only remaining post-World War II Japanese Garden that is open to the public on the central coast between Los Angeles and the Bay Area.  Construction began in February 2017, […]

Trails ‘N’ Tails
By Lynda Millner   |   August 30, 2018

It was the best canine party of the season, according to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (SBBG). Dogs on a leash are always welcome, but this day if you brought your dog, it could treat you by getting you in free. My daughter in the Escondido, San Diego area, wants to commend Santa Barbara for […]

Gems of the Garden
By Lynda Millner   |   August 9, 2018

Lotusland held their always-sold out garden soirée, which seemed a metaphor for Montecito. As they said, “Just as our namesake, the lotuses, awaken annually from their winter dormancy to rise out of the deep mud and bloom in glorious splendor once again, we gather to celebrate our community’s extraordinary resilience and renewal.” This 37 acres […]