The Lotus, at Lotusland

As mentioned yesterday, this was not my first time visiting Lotusland. Back in 2009 we made an epic roadtrip — from Portland to Los Angeles, with many stops along the way — Lotusland being one of the most anticipated. I was but a newbie blogger then (6 months under my belt) and my photos were less than good, I was looking forward to a second chance!

When I called to make our reservations (all visits to Lotusland require them) the lady I spoke with was very encouraging that there should still be Lotus in bloom during our visit. What a concept! I hadn't even considered it. Getting to see the lotus blooming at Lotusland, the garden gods were smiling on me! Since I featured the lotus-leaf covered vase I purchased in yesterday's post, I figured it would be fitting to jump ahead to this section of the garden.

Ganna Walska Lotusland is located in Montecito, an unincorporated "census-designated place" south of Santa Barbara with some of the most "spectacular and expensive real estate in the United States" (quote from the wiki). Madame Ganna Walska purchased the 37-acre property in 1941 for $40,000 (!!!) and using money from several failed marriages/profitable divorces she turned the former commercial nursery into a her own botanical paradise.

Before we explore the Water Garden let's take a look at the Aloe Garden, they are connected via a series of paths. After taking in the view above, we circled by the kidney-shaped pool below and stopped to admire the clam shell fountains.

Only at Lotusland!

The sides of the shallow pool are lined with abalone shells.

These aloes look ready to dive right in...

I appreciated the seemingly out of season bloom.

Back up at the bath house, which is adjacent to the lotus pool/water garden...

From the Lotusland website: "What was the original estate’s swimming pool, built in the early 1920s and flanked by shallow ponds, is Lotusland’s major water garden and home to a magnificent display of its namesake flower..."

"... Several species and cultivars of Asian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera ssp. nucifera and ssp. lutea) are in the main pool. The side ponds have more lotuses and various species and cultivars of water lily (Nymphaea, Euryale, Nuphar, & Victoria). Bog gardens are located on either side of tile benches and feature plants that thrive in damp soil such as taro (Colocasia esculenta) and ornamental sugar cane (Saccharum). A large clump of Papyrus hangs gracefully over a shallow pool of tropical water lilies."