Lotusland’s Japanese Garden Opens

LotusFest! – Sunday, July 7 – 2:00 to 5:00 PM. A wine and beer tasting festival at Lotusland. Enjoy an afternoon of libations, live music, hors d’oeuvres and the opportunity to explore our spectacular Garden. Tickets and Information. 

Lotusland is pleased to announce that our Japanese Garden is now open after an extensive renovation. Construction began in February 2017 with a design that would honor the original 1960s garden and vision of Madame Walska and Frank Fujii, while enhancing the garden per the creator’s vision and our mission. The $6 million project was designed in conjunction with Lotusland CEO Gwen Stauffer, Derrik Eichelberger of Arcadia Studio and Paul Comstock of Comstock Landscape Architecture. We resolved accessibility issues creating ADA compliant pathways, improved the pond’s aesthetic and created gathering areas with seating for our Members and guests, and as settings for our new wellness program. We replaced or renovated features added after Walska’s death that were not in sync with her vision and included new features that Walska or Fujii had planned but did not complete, such as the lotus viewing deck. Other features include a gathering area and ADA accessible path into the garden from the Torii Gate. Many will recognize the new Karesansui or dry garden with patterns raked into the sand. This addition was based on early garden photographs taken when Ganna Walska was still at Lotusland. A new space among the grove of Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese cedar), pruned in niwaki style, is called the Cryptomeria Gathering. This gathering area is adjacent to the newly restored waterfall and stream. We have created a Spring Blossom Walk that will enable wheelchair access to the soon-to-be built Pavilion from the west side of the garden. The path features flowering cherries, Prunus serrulata cv. Shiifugen. We have added three new bridges constructed with yellow Alaskan cedar for posts and rails, and kala balau for the decks. Traditional giboshi (finials) finish the top of the main posts on the arch bridge by the reflecting pond’s overflow. The Miwatasu (Scenic Overlook) is a new gathering area offering a breathtaking overlook of the garden. This enchanting space has been created within the Araucaria forest and connects to the Japanese Maple Walk. The traditional Miwatasu gate at the entrance is made of yellow Alaskan cedar. As a tribute to the resiliency of our community and the healing power of Japanese gardens, the boulder “benches” are Santa Barbara sandstone collected from the January 2019 Montecito debris flow. The collection of 30 stone lanterns (ishi-doro) and pagodas have been returned to their original positions in the garden. Walska collected these mainly from old gardens around Santa Barbara. For those inclined to statistics, here is the garden plant summary: 33 species of broadleaf trees; 38 species of conifers, 2 varieties of palms, 1 cycad species, 45 shrub species, 5 types of bamboo, 13 varieties of ferns, 30 varieties of herbaceous perennials, and 6 varieties of aquatic and bog plants.

Lotusland’s Japanese Garden is reminiscent of an Edo-era Japanese strolling garden with its large central pond, using the design technique called shakkei, to “borrow” a view or element of the larger landscape and incorporate it into the garden. The view of Montecito Peak framed by the Torii Gate is a perfect example. In addition, look for the many “hide and reveal” opportunities that are a cornerstone of the Japanese garden design aesthetic.

In his book A Secret of Japanese gardens, Takuma Tono writes “Gardens are intended to break the connection with the outside world… and to produce a fresh sensation conducive to full enjoyment of aestheticism of Nature.” We invite you to come see the Japanese Garden and experience a greater connection to nature while you leave the chaotic world behind and enter, through the Torii, into a sacred, peaceful and tranquil place.