t___ -- Nl:\X/SLl: TT l: R FOR Ml:M Bl: RS 1( VOLU MI: 9 NO. 3 !;,. FALL 2000 Kidsin the Garden! LOTUSu\ND'SE DUCATIONALOUTR EACH PROGRAM BLJC ONNIE BU>(fON CHILDRENHAVE TRADffiONALLYbeen welcomed to Lotusland, and Madame Walska incorporated design elements into the garden specifically with youngsters in mind . A good example of this was her procurement and placement of "concretions" (naturally sculpted river sandstone) in an area she dubbed "the children's garden ." Originally brightly painted to depict various anima ls, these surreal stones are now devoid of paint but still (!elight children whose imaginations evoke animals or familiar objects from their shapes . Madame Walska enjoyed dis­ playing her collection of beautifully carved, painted wooden carousel animals on the main lawn for children to enjoy. (The only one remaining at Lotusland-a horse-can be seen in the foyer of the house.) Perhaps the major impetus for establishing the original topiary garden was for the amusement of children. This forest of plant animals enchanted younger visitors to Lotusland, as the restored topiary garden will again soon . Children are amazed and intrigued 11 Madame Wafskawelcomes young visitors to citegarden, c. 1950. by the grotesques 1 " the small stone figures who inhabit the theatre gar­ den, and there are infinite aspects of IN THIS ISSUE 11 the garden that have kid appeal." Kids in the Garden!Lotusland's BookReview II Con tinuing the tradition of wel­ EducationalOutreach Program Gardensof SantaBarbara coming children to the garden, Locus­ land's educational outreach program Lotusfest!! 4 Lotustand's AdministrativeStaff 12 for 4th grade students adds a new New to the Collections 5 in Flux .,Jimension . In the 1997/1998 school Frank Fujii Is Goingto Japan 13 year, with funding from the Henry LotuslandCelebrates the Topian-1 6 E. and Lola Monroe Foundation, Gardenin Honor of CarolValentine Japanese-Stl)leGardens 13 Lotusland developed a pilot program Bridget Lamp, 10 of the PacificWest Coast Continuedon page2 LotuslandSummer Intern MemberEv ents 16 to botanical concepts and promoting science and whimsy into their pre­ THE LoTVsl.ANDNEWSlB.11:R FOR MEMBERS is published by environmental and conservation sentations and tours . Ganna Walska Lotusland Foundation awareness was developed, special A popular activity during tours i ) 695 Ashley Road volunteer docents were recruited and having each child find their zodiac Sama Barbara,California 93108 trained , and four elementary schools sign on the horticultural clock. (805) 969-3767 were invited to participate. Naturally, outreach docents keep an Boardo(Tmstees Seven schools currently partici­ astrological "cheat sheet" at the ready. Carol L. Valentine,Presidem MenylBrown pate in the program : Cleveland, Pea­ Hugging a huge Chilean wine palm Elizabeth W Dake body, Franklin, McKinley, Roosevelt, is a popular group activity, and this William W. Drewry and our two neighborhood schools, particular tree needsa hug because it Robert Emmons Cold Spring and Montecito Union. is endangered . The kids experience Arthur R. Gaudi Anne W. Jones The ultimate goal is to expand the just how big the circumference is HanyWKolb outreach program to include all Santa when they join hands to encircle it Sranya Owen Barbara School District 4th grade with a group hug . It has the largest Pamela B. Pesenti classrooms, and we are actively work­ circumference of any palm tree. David Potter Michael Towbes ing toward achieving that goal by Teachers receive curriculum ma­ April N. Walstad applying for grants to fund the pro­ terials and are scheduled for presen­ tations and tours early in the year. Steven Tlmbrook. Ph.D. gram. In the 2000/2001 school year, ExecutiveDirector approximately 800 students will par­ The outreach curriculum connects Anne Dewey, CFRE ticipate in the program. By 2003, we with the framework of Santa Barbara Direaorof Development hope to include 13 schools and serve School District guidelines for Life Vir_giniaHayes almost 1,100 students . Science, which renders it "user Curatorof the LivingCoffeaion Educational outreach docents are friendly" for teachers . Lotusland Mike lven GroundsSuperi111endem recruited from the larger Lotusland provides bus transportation. Due to Connie Buxcon docent pool to work specifically with budget restrictions, bus field trips are E.d11uuionand VolunteerCoordinmor 4th grade students. They give class­ very limited for elementary schools, Marguerite Garno room presentations and specially and some classes would probabl ) ) Administrativeand VisitorServices designed tours of the garden, which not be able to participate if buses Amanda Jones, &litor generally last approximately 1½ hours weren't provided as part of Lotus­ Lindse Davis, Design and are followed by apres tour juice land's program. Printedby Ventura Printing and dinosaur cookies at the visitor An important addition to the Printed on recycled and recyclable paper center. Students all receive a giant curriculum in 1999 was the study of Lotusland poster map before board­ the special relationship between milk­ Continuedfrom page 1 ing the bus back to school. Each out­ weed plants and monarch butterflies. for 4th grade public elementary reach docent contributes something Lotusland's butterfly garden/insec ­ schools that made use of Lotusland's special and unique to kids' tours .· tary, with its population of monarch unique collections of living plants, Docents all possess excellent commu­ butterflies in various stages of devel­ many of which are rare, endangered, nication skills, a genuine enthusiasm opment, has been an outstanding or even extinct in their native habitats . for working with children, and the teaching tool for visiting classes. A curriculum introducing students ability to impart equal doses of Students receive milkweed seeds to s "' -~z ~ - V LauraAnderson's 4th gradeclass from Cleveland School arrives for a tour. Nancy '\¥foodis wellpositioned to discussthe lifecycle of a monarchbutterfly with Roosevelt students. We have receiveddelightfii! artwork (above), class projects and comments(below) from studems start their own butterfly garden to who have visitedLotusla11d-reflecting their enthusiasm for thegarden. help restore monarch habitat, and Jvf.adameWalska was the womanwho thoughtup and imaginedthese beautiful they are very enthusiastic about gardens.But the realamazing thingis the gardenershave managedto keep this being able to contribute in this way. placealive all thistime for us to enjoy. a The bottleglass ts verypretty because The lessons learned at this formative theyalmost look like a chunkof hardocean . •"" l likedthe theatergarden because ( Jtage of these children's lives will we got to act on the stage.I lovedthe dragontree because it made you feellike yo~ serve them well as they become were walkingdeep intoa huge forest. ~ I liked the old man cactusbecause 1t stewards of our environment. makesme thinkof my dad whenhe willget older.~ My (avon·regarden was th~ We think Madame Walska Japanesegarden. I like the waterfalland the Buddha holdmga lotusfiower . This would be very pleased with the way gardenmade me feelpeaceful. Why, I don'tknow. I just gota feeling. I had no the Foundation has made great ,deathat there was sucha thingas a magneticrock. It was probablyone of the coolest strides in carrying out her wishes to 11 thingsI've everseen. .J!t,, Cycads,bromeliads 1 cacti,epiphytic plants and aquatic ... develop Lotus/and ro its maximum plantsare so interesting!The docents make everything sounds~ clear. Special th~nks capacityinto the most outstandingcenter to the docentsand gardenersfor makingthe gardens so beauttful!-,i~ SomethmgI of horticulturalsignificance and of edu­ learnedand everybodyknows is not to destroythe beautifulnature that's in our cationaluse," and especially pleased world. ~'kr.Every little thing was interesting,from the historyof Madame Wa/ska1 11 that so many young children are to the plantsand thegardens that they wereplanted in . ~ Wow!I didn'tknow delighting in and learning from this that!"That's what I kept thinkingon that magnificenttour of Lotus/and.a magical garden. ~ u5 FrankFuFi greets students and outreachdocent Leslie /Vloed. Lotusfest!! ~) A DAYDEDICATED to the essential flower of the east, Lotusfest provided a variety of activities and entertainments for its participants . Lotusland wishes to thank all who took part, including: Kashima Restaurant, Rhonda Richey, Punahele O'Polynesia, Santa Barbara Kendo Dojo, Melanie Abe, Doreen Sasaki, Roberta Cook, Togen Daiko Drummers, Ikenobo Ikebana, Bonsai Club of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Water Garden Care, and the ever­ popular Bob DeBris. Photosby StevenTimbrook, Virginia Hayes, and NahidKhaki. The BanzaiClub of Sama Barbarademon­ stratedthe artfulrestraint of miniaturization throughom the day. ) Japanesefolk danceswere taught by sisters iv!.elanieAbe, DoreenSasaki and Robena Cook,who are alsodaughters of Frank Fujii,Lotusla11d 1s emeritusgardener. ArtistNancy Rupp demonstratesoriental brushpainting while seated inside a T Housegarden pavilion. lkenobolkebana , in the personsof HeartieAnne Lookand ValeryHalverson, made the esotericart ofjapanesefiower arranging look simple. ) In the afternoon, spectatorsgathered on the lvf.enin armorand helmetswith woodenswords A groupof PunaheleO'Polynesia dancers main lawn to enjoythe grace and elegance clashedin stylizedwarfare when the Santa transformsthe giantbird of paradisegrove of PunaheleO'Polynesia. BarbaraKenda Dojo tookover the lawn. intoa Tahitianglade. r Newto