Ganna Walska Lotusland

Calling all #PlantLovers! Tickets are now available for Lotusland's 13th Annual Exceptional Plants Auction! 🌿 Join us at Lotusland on October 5th from 1 to 4 pm for the ultimate plant party! Meet and exchange with more than 300 of the region's top plant experts, collectors and aficionados, bid on numerous rare and specimen plants, and vie for the chance to take home exceptional botanical treasures. Featuring impressive contributions propagated in Lotusland’s nursery as well as donations from botanic gardens, universities, private collectors, landscape designers, and Southern California's most esteemed nurseries, this is a must-attend event for anyone passionate about plants, and an opportunity to support the preservation and care of Lotusland’s extraordinary plant collections. Get your tickets now before they're gone! Get your tickets now before they're gone! 🔗 https://loom.ly/MrcSsb8 Tickets: $125 Members / $150 Non-Members Patron Tickets: $300 Sponsorship Packages begin at $1,000 Learn more and purchase tickets via the link above.

This insightful article from The New York Times on soil biology highlights many of the principles we've embraced and promoted through our sustainable horticulture program at Lotusland. For the past 25 years, we have been pioneering practices that prioritize soil health, biodiversity, and ecological balance. Our recently released guide, "Partnering with Nature", delves into these concepts, providing a comprehensive look at the innovative techniques we've developed to nurture our Garden. Check out the article and then read more about sustainability at Lotusland. 🌱Read the full article here: [NYT Article: "The Soul of Soil" by Ferris Jabr](https://loom.ly/OS3QO4E) 🌿Sustainability at Lotusland: https://lnkd.in/gMuVU3B5 #SustainableHorticulture #SoilBiology #PartneringWithNature #Lotusland #EcologicalGardening #BotanicalGardens

Our annual fundraiser, Lotusland Celebrates, continues through 3 p.m. today with our online auction. With your help, we can meet our fundraising goal of $1 million by participating in the online auction today. We rely on the generosity of supporters like you to maintain our beloved gardens, preserve globally significant plant collections, foster environmental stewardship through education and outreach, and promote community engagement through the power of plants. Every dollar raised goes directly towards the care and annual operations of Lotusland. Don’t miss your chance to place bids on over 30 fantastic lots, including incredible experiences, exclusive getaways, fine art, jewelry, and collectibles. Help us reach our goal of $1 million, approximately 20% of our annual expenses, by participating in the Lotusland Celebrates online auction. Take part and make a difference: https://lnkd.in/gKxdAQ6v This video was created in partnership with Santa Barbara's @Luredigitalofficial, a proud sponsor of Lotusland's mission of environmental stewardship and plant conservation. Partner Thank you for your continued support and generosity. Together, we can ensure the preservation and thriving of Lotusland for generations to come! 🌿💚 #LureDigital #SupportLotusland #NonProfit #LotuslandCelebrates #SupportSustainableGardens

Lotusland recently received Cycas revoluta seeds, originating from the now-threatened populations on Japan's Amami Oshima island. These seeds were secured thanks to our collaboration with Montgomery Botanical Center and the Japan Cycad Society, one of the many botanical gardens and institutions worldwide with whom we collaborate to create a network dedicated to protecting biodiversity. Seeds from 10 different female plants will be germinated in our nursery, ensuring their survival and acting as a life raft for plants around the world. 🌱 Although considered the most threatened plant group on the planet, certain cycads are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. However, even these can quickly become of concern. Cycas revoluta, or sago palm, is the most widely cultivated cycad in the world and plentiful in its native habitat in Japan but has recently come under attack by the insidious Aulacaspis scale insect, which has decimated wild populations of other Cycas species on Pacific Islands. Plant conservation is crucial—not just for the plants themselves, but for all of us. Plants produce the oxygen we breathe, the food we eat, and maintain healthy ecosystems. As natural habitats face increasing threats, botanical gardens like Lotusland play an essential role in safeguarding these treasures. From succulent plants to woody trees, threatened plants are found in every corner of our garden. Our cycad garden alone, with over 40% of its species at risk of extinction, highlights the importance of our work. Learn more about our dedication to protecting the world's flora and how you can support this vital mission by taking part in our annual fundraiser which raises essential funds to keep the Garden staffed and operating all-year-long. 🌱 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gKxdAQ6v 📷 1) Emerging female cone of Cycas revoluta. 2) Cycas seed germinating 3) Cycas seed received from Montgomery Botanical Center being grown in the green house at Lotusland 4) New leaves flushing on Cycas revoluta #PlantConservation #Biodiversity #PlantCollections #Horticulture #IUCNRedList

For more than 25 years, Lotusland has been at the forefront of sustainable horticulture, setting the gold standard for eco-friendly gardening practices. This summer, we are thrilled to welcome our new intern, Magdalena, who is already making great strides in sustainable horticulture. Follow her journey and witness the fantastic work happening in our garden! Summer Sustainability Internship Program Highlights: - Immerse yourself in our garden’s balanced insect ecology - Master ecological soil management practices - Learn to monitor plant health indicators - Combat plant diseases with beneficial microorganisms - Access to our world-renowned collections of bromeliads, cacti, succulents, cycads, ferns, palms - Utilize our composting facilities and laboratory At Lotusland, sustainability is more than a practice; it's our passion. As one of the world’s premier botanical gardens we offer exciting opportunities to learn from pioneers in the field and engage in meaningful, hands-on work. Stay tuned for more highlights and info. #SustainableHorticulture #MeetTheIntern #Lotusland #EcoFriendlyGardening #GardeningWithPurpose #PioneersInSustainability 📷 Magdalena Porter, Plant Health Care Sustainability Intern, pictured with Chris Ziliotto, Lotusland Suitability Program Manager Here Magdalena is applying compost tea with organic soil amendments and mycorrhizal inoculant. Regular applications of compost tea are an important component of our plant health care regime, with thousands of gallons being brewed and put out in the gardens per year.

Announcing Lotusland Celebrates, the Garden's annual gala and auction! 🌿 One of Southern California's most anticipated summer benefits the Garden's key fundraising event, Lotusland Celebrates supports the operating costs not covered by admissions, which only account for 13% due to county restrictions. Your generosity helps us foster biodiversity, promote environmental stewardship, and engage our community through the beauty and wonder of plants. Lotusland is not just a garden; it's a sanctuary for rare species, a hub for horticultural education and sustainability, and a cherished community asset. Together we can ensure that Lotusland continues to flourish and inspire all-year-round. Although the gala sold out in pre-sale, you can still participate in the online auction. Bid on one-of-a-kind auction experiences, exclusive get-aways, fine art, jewelry, and collectibles now through until July 21st at 3 p.m. Take a private jet for a tour of the Edible Schoolyard with Alice Water, share an evening with McLaren racing CEO Zak Brown, or win a consultation with Lotusland's Master Rosarian and learn how to create your own personal garden paradise. Log in for your chance to snag the ultimate experience before its gone—and remember, your participation enables the Garden to thrive! Thank you for your support! https://lnkd.in/gKxdAQ6v #BotanicalGarden #Auction #SupportNonProfit #GardenLovers #SustainableHorticulture #LotuslandCelebrates

Dive into the wonders of Lotusland's world-renowned aquatic collections! We visitors aren’t the only ones thrilled about our aquatic gardens—this frog is loving it just as much as we are! The Baja California tree frog juveniles enjoy hanging out in our aquatic plant propagation tanks where they started as tadpoles. They are seen here hiding amongst the prickly waterlily (Euryale ferox) leaves. These plants will soon go into the Water Garden and Japanese Garden ponds at Lotusland. Lotusland's botanical collections are celebrated globally for their incredible diversity and significance. Stay tuned to see us take part in this year's waterlily challenge! Your appreciation for the intricate balance of our ecosystem helps support Lotusland as a place where we can all learn and marvel at its wonders.

It’s time again for the #VictoriaWaterlilyChallenge , where botanical gardens from around the world showcase their horticultural prowess! Lotusland is thrilled to be part of this prestigious competition, displaying our prized Victoria waterlilies, renowned for their massive, dinner-plate-sized leaves that can reach up to 10 feet in diameter. These aquatic wonders, native to river basins in northern South America, bloom with stunning white and pink flowers, adding a touch of tropical splendor to our gardens. Anna Bower, Lotusland Assistant Curator of Living Collections, and our horticulture team have been working tirelessly, nurturing these beauties to perfection. If you didn’t follow last year, Lotusland placed 2nd behind the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London! Kew’s victory was highlighted by the discovery and cultivation of the newly recognized largest giant waterlily species, Victoria boliviana. This species, identified as distinct from the previously known Victoria amazonica and Victoria cruziana, boasted leaves measuring 9.8 feet wide! Follow us @lotusland_gannawalska on Instagram to witness the magic of the Victoria waterlilies, and cheer on Lotusland in this global botanical celebration! 📷 Anna Bower, Lotusland Assistant Curator of Living Collections with a previous year's specimen in our Cycad Garden pond. We will soon be bringing our first plants out from the nursery where they are grown from seed and transplanting them in into our aquatic gardens.

Today at Lotusland, we celebrated our incredible volunteers with a special picnic in their honor! With more than 200 dedicated volunteers serving as garden guides, horticulture helpers, and docents for our various tours, including our Junior Botanists program, we truly couldn't do it without you. A huge congratulations to our new docent graduates and heartfelt recognition to those who have been volunteering for over 25 years! The day was filled with joy, laughter, and a raffle where some lucky volunteers walked away with some stunning plants, thanks to our amazing horticulture team. Thank you for your dedication and passion. We are so grateful for each and every one of you. Here’s to many more beautiful days together in the garden! Learn about volunteering at Lotusland: https://loom.ly/mAEVx4U #LotuslandVolunteers #GardenHeroes #VolunteerAppreciation

Dive into the extraordinary life and philanthropic journey of Madame Ganna Walska with our latest publication, produced in collaboration with the iconic Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. From 1922 to 1970, Madame Ganna Walska not only guided one of Paris's most renowned cultural landmarks but also left an indelible mark on the international arts scene through her visionary leadership and generosity. Discover the captivating history of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and Madame Ganna Walska’s enduring influence. This beautifully produced book is a treasure trove of fascinating stories and stunning visuals, perfect for history buffs and art lovers alike. Get your copy now at our garden shop or online. Don’t miss this chance to explore the legacy of a true cultural icon! 🔗 Garden Shop: https://loom.ly/12yjb0c #CulturalIcon #Philanthropy #NewPublication #History #ArtLovers