Behind the Scenes with Lake Bell

Earthly Delights

"Lotusland is a must-see in Southern California," says O creative director Adam Glassman, here with prop stylist Susan Anderson in one of its gardens. "The lush setting has such unusual color combinations—it's a landscaper's dream." The public 37-acre estate and botanic garden got its start in 1882 when Ralph Kinton Stevens built his house and started a commercial nursery on the property (nearly all of the grounds' palms and other large trees date back to those early years). It had several owners before an eccentric opera singer, Ganna Walska, purchased the estate in 1941.