Gardens & Landscapes

Lotusland

A beautifully crafted volume on the world-renowned gardens of Lotusland—the first such book in more than two decades and the first ever magnificent tribute to this international treasure.
 


Variously labeled Eden, one of the 100 gardens you must visit before your die, and among the 10 best botanical gardens in the world, Madame Ganna Walska’s Lotusland is magic mixed with paradise in the hills of Montecito, California. Walska, a well-known Polish opera singer and socialite, purchased the estate in 1941 and spent 43 years creating Lotusland. The collections of exotic plants on the 37-acre property are an expression of her penchant for the dramatic, the unexpected, and the whimsical. Home to more than 3,400 types of plants, including at least 35,000 specimens, it is recognized not just for the diversity of its collections, but for the extraordinary design sensibility informing the many one-of-a-kind individual gardens that comprise the whole. As pleasing as its aesthetic and sensorial qualities are, Lotusland is also an important center for scientific research and conservation. A leader in the field of sustainable practices, it is the first botanical garden in the United States to become entirely organic.
 
 

About The Author

Marc Appleton is a celebrated architect and author of numerous books on architecture and design, including Ranches: Home on the Range in California. Lisa Romerein is a Los Angeles-based photographer and principal photographer for The House That Pinterest Built and The Art of Outdoor Living.
 
 
 

  • Publish Date: March 15, 2022
  • Format: Hardcover
  • Category: Gardening - Garden Design
  • Publisher: Rizzoli
  • Trim Size: 10 x 12
  • Pages: 288
  • US Price: $60.00
  • CDN Price: $80.00
  • ISBN: 978-0-8478-6989-3

Reviews

"Lotusland, a stunning public garden in southern California, is one of the most incredible botanical gardens in the world. Created by Madame Ganna Walska, a Polish opera singer and socialite who purchased the estate in 1941, the garden is home to more than 3,400 types of plants. Take a walk through this astounding garden from the comfort of your armchair, preferably while lounging in your own garden." —VERANDA

"In 200 images, photographer Lisa Romerein captures why the public garden in Montecito, California — comprising 37 acres of dramatic and whimsical spaces filled with an extraordinary collection of exotic flora — is widely considered to be among the best botanical gardens in the world." —HOUZZ

Author Bookshelf: Lisa Romerein

Author Bookshelf: Marc Appleton