The California Garden That Spans 37 Acres And Features Over 3,500 Stunning Plant Varieties

California is home to stunning gardens like the Botanical Garden at Berkeley and the Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles, but one holds a special place in the hearts of one aquatic perennial's admirers. In 1941, Polish opera singer Ganna Walska bought the 37-acre property now known as Lotusland. Over the next 43 years she created the oasis of lush gardens in Montecito, California that HGTV called the most beautiful garden in the state. While it's not America's largest botanical garden, the vast grounds encompass numerous smaller gardens dedicated to particular plants, like the Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae spp.) and Fern (Polystichum spp.) Gardens, or the plants of regions like Japan and the tropics.

A large onsite nursery operation supports Lotusland gardens, where themed areas feature common and uncommon plants. Lotus (Nelumbo lutea) and water lilies (Nymphaea spp.) are the highlights of the Water Garden. The Insectary Garden promotes Lotusland's distinction as one of the first completely organic public gardens in the U.S. by providing habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators. In the mid-20th century, color-themed gardens were all the rage, so Madam Walska created the Blue Garden, where agave (Agave american), blue atlas cedars (Cedrus atlantica), and blue fescue (Festuca glauca) coexist. The Topiary Garden features bushes sculpted into animal shapes, a whimsical method of gardening you can use in your own yard, and the Parterre celebrates the patterned floral garden style. Lotusland's horticulturists are working to save endangered species like the cycads, ancient trees that grow in the Cycad Garden.

Lotusland's operations extend beyond the display and preservation of botanicals. Events like well-being Wednesdays and plein air classes are scheduled monthly. Grade school, college, and adult educational programs provide hands-on learning opportunities. An online video learning library covers a range of horticultural topics. Community programs work to bring the wonders of Lotusland to people who might be unable to experience the gardens without them. Members-only tours feature a look behind the scenes. If your visit to Lotusland inspires you to grow your own specimens, the onsite garden shop sells around 100 different plant species — including lotus flowers — which you can grow and care for if your home has a water feature. 

Lotusland is open from February 15 through November 15. Advance reservations are required; there are no walkup or same day reservations available, and making reservations at least three weeks in advance is recommended. There's an admission charge for everyone but small children for self-guided tours, and there's an additional fee for docent-led tours. Visits are limited to two hours, but it's possible to buy multiple tickets for the same day – you will need to leave the property and reenter in that case. The Lotusland website has a page devoted to which plants are blooming each month, but if you're particularly interested in the flowers the gardens are named for, they typically bloom from late June to mid-August.