Montecito -- The Susanne Nourse Blair Three Climate Garden

The property consisted of agave, cacti and weeds comingled with fruit trees when the owners bought the property in 1980. This garden was developed with three separate climates. The front of the house resembles an English garden, except for the edging stones from a creek. The area from the house to the creek was planted with azalea, camelias, ferns, and naturalized bulbs. Pots of cymbidiums were placed under oak trees when not in bloom. Cinerarias of all colors and hanging baskets flowered in the oak shaded part of the garden. Sand, rocks and steep paths continued down to the creek. With added soil, vegetables, roses, fruit trees, avocado tree, and a bougainvillea grew here. In 1991 and 1995, floods changed the lower part of the garden. After this, native flowering plants were planted.