The Lotus, at Lotusland

As mentioned yesterday, this was not my first time visiting Lotusland. Back in 2009 we made an epic roadtrip — from Portland to Los Angeles, with many stops along the way — Lotusland being one of the most anticipated. I was but a newbie blogger then (6 months under my belt) and my photos were less than good, I was looking forward to a second chance!

When I called to make our reservations (all visits to Lotusland require them) the lady I spoke with was very encouraging that there should still be Lotus in bloom during our visit. What a concept! I hadn't even considered it. Getting to see the lotus blooming at Lotusland, the garden gods were smiling on me! Since I featured the lotus-leaf covered vase I purchased in yesterday's post, I figured it would be fitting to jump ahead to this section of the garden.

Ganna Walska Lotusland is located in Montecito, an unincorporated "census-designated place" south of Santa Barbara with some of the most "spectacular and expensive real estate in the United States" (quote from the wiki). Madame Ganna Walska purchased the 37-acre property in 1941 for $40,000 (!!!) and using money from several failed marriages/profitable divorces she turned the former commercial nursery into a her own botanical paradise.

Before we explore the Water Garden let's take a look at the Aloe Garden, they are connected via a series of paths. After taking in the view above, we circled by the kidney-shaped pool below and stopped to admire the clam shell fountains.

Only at Lotusland!

The sides of the shallow pool are lined with abalone shells.

These aloes look ready to dive right in...

I appreciated the seemingly out of season bloom.

Back up at the bath house, which is adjacent to the lotus pool/water garden...

From the Lotusland website: "What was the original estate’s swimming pool, built in the early 1920s and flanked by shallow ponds, is Lotusland’s major water garden and home to a magnificent display of its namesake flower..."

"... Several species and cultivars of Asian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera ssp. nucifera and ssp. lutea) are in the main pool. The side ponds have more lotuses and various species and cultivars of water lily (Nymphaea, Euryale, Nuphar, & Victoria). Bog gardens are located on either side of tile benches and feature plants that thrive in damp soil such as taro (Colocasia esculenta) and ornamental sugar cane (Saccharum). A large clump of Papyrus hangs gracefully over a shallow pool of tropical water lilies."

Steps leading down to the pool...(I wonder if anyone has ever tried to swim among the lotus?)

Horribly out of focus but I had to include it, this friendly guy seemed to follow us all around the garden.

So many beautiful images to capture around the pool...

My favorite lotus shot...

That's it for our visit to the Water Garden and Aloe Garden, however there are many more Lotusland posts to come!

All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Lotusland; structure

I'm doing one more non-plant themed post from Lotusland—on structure—before I talk plants. Naturally you'll see buildings, but I'm playing a little loose with the idea of structure and there will be hedges, rocks, and even shelves...

You pass this gate on your way to the public entrance, behind it is the Agave attenuata lined drive I mentioned in Wednesday's post. I've always wanted to stop here and look closer, but never had the chance.

That's the benefit of visiting a garden on your own, you can call the shots.

The skies were threatening the day I visited, but there were also moments like this when the sun broke thru the clouds. Nothing like a muted wall to really set of the blue agaves and dramatic Yucca rostrata.

Speaking of drama...

The bath house (1925) is my second favorite building at Lotusland. 

Admittedly the tile covered containers working with the tile bench and building inset are a major part of the appeal.

Madame Walska's home back in the day. Now it's Lotusland offices...

And a perfect backdrop to all those cactus.

I've been in there, even peaked out the windows on the lower right (bathrooms).

More wall structure under Dracaena draco, the dragon tree. 

The wall behind the clamshell beach provides a backdrop and planting pockets.

Hedge structure...

Fun with hedge structure...

The topiary zoo...

And the horticultural clock (1955) with copper zodiac signs I didn't manage to get in the photo.

Structure provided by the gnarly old oak.

But upon closer inspection there's another kind of structure hanging from the oak.

I've always found these hat-wearing containers to be a Lotusland oddity. Don't get me wrong, I love them, but they're just so odd!

Structural rocks as planters...

Pathway structure from slag glass.

Furcraea macdougallii, definitely structural.

Ah, there's my favorite building at Lotusland!

There's little to no information available online about the history of this unique structure, but I do hope to learn more and maybe get inside someday.

More slag glass and shallow metal planters, perhaps plough discs.

Near the visitor's center and parking lot now.

I do love a good elevated container/plant on a pedestal.

Those shelves I mentioned earlier? We're in the gift shop now, and there's something very interesting there on the bottom shelf...

My book! (it never gets old)

I hope you enjoyed this look at some of the structural elements at Lotusland.

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All material © 2009-2024 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.