Water Conservation and Sustainability

As part of its broader Master Plan focusing on resilience and sustainability in Southern California’s drought-prone climate, Lotusland is advancing a comprehensive water management initiative made possible by the Lotusland Forever Campaign. Visitors may notice work projects underway in the Garden, planned to minimize disruption while laying the groundwork for long-term solutions. A Master Plan Rooted in Innovation, Lotusland’s water management project, began with an extensive water study, exploring diverse approaches to improve resilience and reduce dependence on public water supplies. This included examining Indigenous practices for managing water and fostering water-resilient landscapes, alongside cutting-edge modern technologies. These insights helped shape a multi-phase plan for long-term sustainability. The first phase includes the construction of bioretention basins and a stormwater catchment reservoir. These systems are designed to capture stormwater runoff, improve water quality, enhance aquifer recharge, and replace failing infrastructure dating back more than century. The installation of these state-of-the-art resources mark an historic milestone for Lotusland, allowing the Garden to harvest rainwater and store it on-site for the first time in its history. By reducing reliance on Montecito’s municipal water supply, this infrastructure not only benefits the Garden’s sustainability but also eases the strain on local resources.

Restoring Lotusland’s Tunisian and Puebla Tile Collection

The conservation and restoration of Lotusland’s historic tiles is a vital preservation project made possible by the Lotusland Forever Campaign. Decorative ceramic tile is an important feature of Lotusland, incorporated in fountains, benches, planting boxes, and as decorative trim to structures. Restoration is an act of renewal. It is the process of bringing an artifact back to its original condition without the damage that it may have acquired with time. This involves historically accurate reproductions by master glaze chemists and artists dedicated to the importance of creating tiles by hand that come as close as possible to the originals, using materials that are obtainable today. We are grateful to Nola Stucky of Santa Barbara-based NS Ceramic Incorporated for her generosity, expertise, and artistry in the current restoration of two significant types of ceramic tiles: Puebla and replicas of Tunisian tiles. These tiles decorate the fountains and runnels of the intimate Pavilion Patio designed by George Washington Smith and celebrate the beauty of water. When a thin layer of water flows over the sunlit glazed tiled surfaces, there is an appearance of a greater volume of water, magnifying the tiles’ reflective power. The design of patterns for the basin floors gives the water the appearance of movement.

The George Washington Smith Pavilion and the Ann Jackson Family Foundation

The extended Jackson family made a significant pledge to the Lotusland Forever Campaign and will name the George Washington Smith Pavilion, a building with rich familial history. The Jacksons are direct descendants of the Erastus Palmer Gavit family who relocated to Montecito from Albany, New York in 1915. In 1916 the Gavits purchased the estate they came to name Cuesta Linda. It was the Gavits who hired Pasadena architect, Reginald Johnson to design the main, Mediterranean-style house that still stands at Lotusland. In the 1920s the family retained renowned architect, George Washington Smith to make several additions to the estate, including a stable, the original swimming pool and bath house and the Pavilion and adjoining patio. When Madame Walska purchased the estate from the Gavits in 1941 she chose the charming three-bedroom Pavilion suite as her private residence.

Now, nearly a century later, the 100-year-old structure will be renovated, as part of the Lotusland Forever Campaign. Extensive work has taken place to restore the tilework and façade of the Pavilion and plans are underway to convert the interior of the building to a gallery and visitor’s space.

The Pavilion holds special meaning to the Jackson descendants, as this was the building where their grandmother lived for several years.

“Our family is naturally interested in preserving the history of a house that has a connection to our family, and also to support the mission of Lotusland, which is a horticultural treasure in our community,” Jim Jackson has said of the family donation, “I think our grandmother would be happy that the house was treated with respect.”

Pavilion Patio Restoration

With the generous lead gift from Roger and Julie Davis, this January we began work to restore the iconic Pavilion Patio. The goals of the project were to install waterproofing and French drains, and to make the Pavilion complex wheelchair accessible for the first time. Restoration will also include repairing the Moorish inspired fountains and runnels. We anticipate the project will be completed in June 2023 and we look forward to hosting many future meetings, events, and exhibits in this signature Lotusland space.

Visitors Center Improvements

This winter we installed an eco-friendly refillable water fountain and more shade at the Visitor Center. This work has been generously funded by Connie Flowers Pearcy and The Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation. We have begun fundraising to create a new patio area adjacent to the main tour gathering area for school children and group tours to assemble before their tour.