Ganna Walska Lotusland

Madame Ganna Walska, a well-known Polish opera singer and socialite, purchased the estate in 1941 and spent the next 43 years creating Lotusland, which is now recognized 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 the unexpected – a surprise of unique garden design and plant species. After her death in 1984, Lotusland became a nonprofit botanic garden and opened to the public in 1993. Our educational programs serve the Santa Barbara community and our innovative horticultural practices are shared with botanic gardens and garden-lovers around the world. A series of gardens, with subtropical and tropical plants from around the world, draws the visitor from surprise to surprise on the two-hour docent-guided walking tour. The tour includes both horticultural and historical information. There will be time to visit the Garden Shop at the end of the tour. Lotusland’s 37-acres are home to more than 3,000 different plants from around the world. There are several prominent plant families represented at Lotusland. Regular tours are appropriate for children ages 10 and over. Separate Family Tours are available for younger guests and their parents and are approximately one and one half hours long.