Just as there are stories within stories about Walska's life and the emergence of Lotusland into the spectacular site it is today, there are gardens within gardens at the Montecito showplace each path and plant offering a different, and many times entirely new, perspective on what can be done with nature's offerings, from the simple to the sublime. Themed gardens include: topiary, bromeliad, succulent, cycad, epiphyllum, cactus, fern, euphorbia, aloe, Japanese, Australian, water and a blue garden.

Water lily leaves, Victoria Regia cv. Longwood

And just as she was careful who toured the gardens and when during her lifetime, so too is the Foundation, which Walska established in her will "to preserve and enhance the spectacular collection of exotic plants to foster appreciation of the importance of plants and the need for their conservation."

Docent-guided tours of this 37-acre botanical wonder are available Wednesday through Saturday at 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM from mid-February to mid-November. Advance reservations are required and may be made by calling 805-969-9990.

Visit on-line at: www.lotusland.org

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