Peachy the Magazine August September 2014 | Page 60

Voluptuous Vignettes
Surrounding benches provide a place
to sit and enjoy the sound of water and
the nearby ocean breezes.
Botanical specimens catch your eye,
such as the white Bird of Paradise
(Strelitzia nicolai), even more exotic
than the more commonly seen plant
with orange blooms. But the true
treasure is the Moreton Bay Fig Tree
(Ficus macrophylla), an Australian
Native estimated to be 120 years old.
Magnificent with its smooth white
bark, it provides a leafy canopy for the
Spanish cottages nearby. Throughout
the gardens of the Biltmore, vibrant
blue agapanthus lilies visually connect
the blue Pacific water to the cloudless
azure sky above as hummingbirds dart
from blossom to blossom.
With its coastline and mountainous
grandeur, there is no question why
Santa Barbara is commonly called the
American Riviera. It is truly one of
the most perfect micro climates in the
world for gardening. n

Photography for the second
garden by Sally Fairbanks.
The photos of The San Ysidro
Ranch are courtesy of
Ty Warner Hotels and Resorts.

58

PEACHYTHEMAGAZINE.COM