World's best public topiary gardens

Lotusland

This eccentric garden was begun in 1941 in Santa Barbara, Calif., by Ganna Walska (1887-1984), a much-married Polish opera singer whose motto was, “I’m an enemy of the average.” Some areas of the gardens have blue slag glass recycled from the Los Angeles-based Arrowhead Spring Water factory lining the pathways, but despite these flights of fancy, the plant collection at Lotusland—numbering more than 3,000 specimens—is quite serious.

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Lotusland

This eccentric garden was begun in 1941 in Santa Barbara, Calif., by Ganna Walska (1887-1984), a much-married Polish opera singer whose motto was, “I’m an enemy of the average.” Some areas of the gardens have blue slag glass recycled from the Los Angeles-based Arrowhead Spring Water factory lining the pathways, but despite these flights of fancy, the plant collection at Lotusland—numbering more than 3,000 specimens—is quite serious.

Walska began her topiary collection in 1958, but 40 years later it was in such decline that the remaining frames were removed. In 2001, the topiaries were replaced and today 26 new animals create a green topiary circus. This is a public garden in a private residential area and visits are arranged by appointment. (Photo: Nic Barlow) less