In the sport of peeking behind the hedges, Montecito, Calif., is right up there with the Hamptons and Palm Beach, Fla. Twice a year its famed public garden Lotusland makes it possible to do so through its “Gardens in Paradise” fundraiser tour. Unlike most garden tours that are ramping up this spring, it takes more strategy than simply buying a ticket to score one of 30 slots — the upcoming April 16 tour themed “Montecito Estates” quickly sold out at $2,000 a person. It helps to become a garden member for first dibs, or even better, an annual sponsor for guaranteed inclusion on back-to-back tours.
“It’s important for us to get creative with outings by providing remarkable experiences that you can’t really buy,” said director of development Patricia Sadeghian, of the mystery about Montecito. “There is so much competition to raise funds.”
Clever resources align with the ethos of Lotusland founder, owner and head gardener Madame Ganna Walska, who bought the historic Cuesta Linda estate in 1941 after a stage career, married six times and penned the autobiography “Always Room at the Top.” Originally envisioning a Tibetan retreat on its 37 acres, she caught the plant collecting bug severely enough to sell her custom Cartier jewelry for garden acquisitions, like endangered cycads that are thought to be extinct in the wild today. Lining Lotusland’s paths, glistening chunks of blue slag glass from recycled water bottles became her preferred gemstones.
A view of Lotusland. Photo by Kim Baile
“Some of the gardens we visit are directly inspired by Lotusland, while others reflect its spirit in more personal, imaginative ways,” said chief executive officer Rebecca Anderson, of scouting two to three stops per tour that aren’t disclosed pre-purchase. “They’re always exceptional and include at least one surprise destination.”
The previous tour in November featured landscape architect and California-based Arcadia Studio founding principal Derrik Eichelberger, who showed off his firm’s restoration of the turn-of-the-century Val Verde estate. Eichelberger also took the guests to an 1895 estate attributed to Gilded Age architect Stanford White and recently renovated by architect Gil Schafer, designer Michelle Holland and Arcadia Studio.
Tours always include an al fresco, multi-course meal, with Duo Hospitality and SAMsARA wines on board for April; attendees will also receive a special presentation by author Douglas Woods with a complimentary signed copy of his new book “Santa Barbara: At Home in Paradise,” published by Rizzoli and featuring Lotusland.
Fall’s event on Nov. 5 travels beyond Montecito this time to Santa Ynez Valley.