Exploring Lotusland

Since Fall Quarter is always a grueling period, there was no better place to destress and relax than at Montecito's own Lotusland! The estate was originally founded in the 1940s by the eccentric Madame Ganna Walska, who imported exotic plants from around the world to create a garden unlike any other. We were lucky enough to book a guided tour and explore the beautiful grounds with exclusive commentary from the facility's sustainability manager. With areas like the cool and lush Tropical Garden and the imposing and dry Cactus Garden, it almost felt as if we were teleporting into completely different worlds every few minutes. We also got a behind the scenes look at the facility's composting program as well as their on-site artesian well. At the end of the day, we were buzzing with excitement and awe. What a fantastic intersection of artistic landscaping and ecological sustainability!