Santa Barbara -- Van Horne Garden

Located on 9/10 of an acre, this year round verdant property has evolved gracefully over the last three decades. When purchased in 1978, little remained of the original landscape aside from paths, walls, established trees and an orchard. The original garden drew from a Southern style to complement the New Orleans-style house, using ferns, ginger, wisteria, magnolias, sweet olive shrubs and honeysuckle throughout the property. Vestiges of that original 80 year old garden inspired the overall design which draws upon the harmonic relationship between house and garden. A mild local climate allows for a fluid transition as interior spaces gracefully merge with exterior. Expanding on this theme particular plants are featured throughout the various garden rooms, creating a sense of harmony throughout the landscape, while paths, hedges, and edging provide definition to each individual part of the garden. The garden rooms feature a wide array of evergreen plants, employing privet, boxwood, camellias, agapanthus, jasmines, viburnum, ivy, and campanula to create a lush verdant environment that remains vibrant throughout the year. Variegated foliage and a wide array of textures allow for variety amongst the greenery, and statues and garden furniture provide focal points within the garden.

Garden features include an outdoor fireplace, covered patio, spa, swimming pool and fountains.

Persons associated with the garden include Lloyd Aspinwall (former owner, 1932-); the Nagel family (former owners); the Daisy Family (former owners); Mr. and Mrs. Earl Favor (former owners, -1978); William Sutherland McCay (architect, 1932); Raymond Sodomka (horticulturist, garden designer, 1984-present); Donald Harris (plantsman, garden designer, 1984-present); and David Harris (plantsman, garden designer, 1984-present).