Welcome to

Ganna Walska Lotusland

Madame Ganna Walska, a well-known Polish opera singer and socialite, purchased the Montecito, California estate in 1941 and spent the next 43 years creating Lotusland, today recognized as one of the ten best gardens in the world. The spectacular collections of exotic plants on the 37-acre property are a 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 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.

Lotusland Visitor Mask and Social Distance Policy
COVID-19 safety rules are in effect at the Garden.   Visitors must arrive with a cloth mask or face covering.

As of June 16 2021, following CDC and Santa Barbara County Department of Public Health guidelines, fully vaccinated guests may enjoy the Garden mask-free outdoors, provided that all others in their party are fully vaccinated. Masks are still required when approaching other guests and Garden staff, and at the Visitor Center.

Indoors & Visitor Center

Masks or Face Coverings are required for both vaccinated and unvaccinated visitors when indoors or at The Visitor Center. Children under three years of age are exempt.

In The Garden

In accordance with CDC guidelines, visitors who are fully vaccinated may remove their face masks in outdoor spaces while using appropriate social distancing. While not enforcing vaccination checks, we request that any guests who are not yet vaccinated wear their masks for the duration of their visit. We continue to encourage visitors to wear a mask at all times, as many of our garden paths are narrow and social distancing may not always be possible.