Replanting
Aeonium ‘Sunburst’ succulents bloom in the garden at Eric Nagelmann’s longtime residence in Carpinteria.
A master gardener seeks a new landscape
Written by Joan Tapper | Photography by Nell Campbell
“I love variegated plants— they really pop in a garden, especially in the shade”
A year ago, noted landscape designer Eric Nagelmann decided he needed a change. “I didn’t want to become complacent,” says the Santa Barbara native. “It was time to focus on what else was out there.” He packed up his house in Carpinteria, sold the place within two weeks, and relocated permanently to Taos, New Mexico. The move meant leaving behind his incredibly extensive—and eclectic—garden.
But Nagelmann hasn’t disappeared from Santa Barbara completely. He is still very involved with Lotusland, for which he designed the cactus garden that was added in 2003. This year is the 30th anniversary of the Ganna Walska Lotusland Foundation, and he’s working with them to raise $30 million for upkeep and some additions. He plans to remove some eucalyptus “and create a raised boardwalk with seating and incorporate a lot of tropical flowering plants”—heliconia, vireya, and hibiscus, among others.
He’s also working with Lotusland on a sustainability symposium series to be held in a renovated lemon packing warehouse in Santa Paula, on April 15 and September 9 this year, and two more dates in 2024. “I’d been in Mexico looking at a lab that was doing research in organics, and I was exhilarated and inspired,” says Nagelmann, who especially hopes to reach high school and college students.
Given all his work in the area, Nagelmann’s legacy will be visible in the Santa Barbara landscape for years. One recently completed project was the newly constructed, futuristic home of Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin. On the horizon are plans for a documentary about Nagelmann, his work, and his philosophy. For now, though, he’s concentrating on enjoying his new home. “In Taos I have an incredible property, 8 acres right on the gorge. I love the summer hiking. And there’s a different palette—different and wonderful.”
