La Favorita: Residence of Wm. P. Gould, El Montecito, California (1905)

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Occasional Papers No. 11

1968

FOREWORD Montecito gardens have been world renowned for nearly seventy-five years. At no time have they been more beautiful and well tended than in the early part of this century.

An example of one of the most charming of these gardens, was that of Wm. P. Gould, depicted in a book published in 1905 by The Norman Pierce Co.

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EL AvONTEaiO O^^LI FOR.,N[I,‘>^ XX,7!i\"V.

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THE SANTA YNEZ On yonder lovely mountain Saint Agnes sits enthroned.

The Palm, her martyr emblem, to The valley she hath thrown.

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The Soil of Montecito glad Welcome to it gave Where in honor of their patron Its loyal Palm trees wave.

The Lamb, her other emblem, when Saint Agnes set it free, -M

She bade to scatter. North and South, Peace, wealth and purity: Knew the shepherds of large flocks The secret of their- wealth.

They’d often toast fair Santa Ynez, And gaily drink her health.

Serene, bereft of emblems, Saint Agnes keeps her Stale While, in the hollow of her hand, Holding the Valley’s fate.

Smiling, she greets her Sister Saint, And bids her joyous be.

As more than "Saint of Armourer’s," Saint Barbara, by the Sea.

El Montecito Valley, the fairest On the Earth, Owes to this guardianship of Saints, its rare and varied growth.

Thanks to the Spanish Fathers, who Gave these names their place, And made Saints Barbara and Agnes, beloved of English race.

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INDEX TO PLATES Title Page, Blossoms of Stephanotis Floribunda.

Plate

I. II. III.

Gateway and Avenue.

House from Avenue.

Avenue of Cocos Plumosa.

I^* Porch. Stephanotis, Heliotrope and Roses.

V. Garden View.

VI. Piazza.

VII.

Garden. Tree Fern, Jubea Spectabalis, Chaurerops and Rubber Trees.

VIII.

Garden. Ptychosperma, Erythea Edulis, Cork Oak and Fern House.

IX.

Garden. Kentia Forsteriana, Lotus Pond, Egyptlan Papyrus (paper reed), Pandanus. Utilis.

X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV.

Fern Garden, under Oak. Garden. Cocos Plumosa (40 feet high), Washinglonia Filifera.

Dracaena Avenue, looking south.

Walk in Garden Annex.

Seaforthea Elegans, with leaf sheath falling, disclos ing a new blossom.

Pergola and Hot Houses. and Olive Trees.

XVI.

Giant Bamboo, Lemon

Phoenix Canariensis (40 feet high, spread 36 feel, trunk 6 feet diameter.)

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XVII. XVIII.

Garden.

Erythea Armata.

Pandanus Utilis (screw pine.)

XIX. Dracaena Avenue (looking north.)

XX. Palm Walk on Terrace.

XXI. “

XXll.

Wistaria on Stable Trellis.

Rear Entrance.

XXIII.

Lemon Orchard Road.

XXIV.

Lemon House, lower orchard and mountains.

Plant life at La Favorita is intereSing because of the uniform development of a very large variety of tropical and semi-tropical plants, which in their native homes live in very dissimilar climatic conditions, growing here side by side and developing to handsome proportions.

Unremitting professional care for many years has contributed to this result, but more is due to the wonderful evenness of this froilless locality—situated

mid-way

between the Santa Ynez

Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, on a plateau about 150 feet above sea level, away from the influence of hot or canon winds and sheltered by belts of ornamental trees, opening to the south, securing quiet, even conditions.

The natural expedation would be to find in this latitude,

delightful

warm

winters,

but

to find

also

cool

summers,

would be beyond the belief of those who have not by adual experience proved the fad.

The summer, with its wealth of

flowers, may truly be said to be the mod delightful season of the year; hot days are hardly known.

There is a gentle breeze from

the ocean, and the high fogs as they are called, give soft gray days; the nights are invariably cool and refreshing; these conditions are mod favorable to man and to plant life.

Some of the plants

growing here are pidured in the accompanying plates.

SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY OFFICERS President

.... Paul G. Sweetser

First Vice President ..

.. Mrs. Wilson Forbes

Second Vice President

Hugh J. Weldon

Secretary

. Mrs. Charles Cannon

Treasurer

John Gill

Past President

Thomas J. McDermott DIRECTORS

Rev. Virgil Cordano

Dr. Edward Lamb

Hobart Skofield

Mrs.Edwin Deuter

Mrs. Leo T. McMahon

Garrett Van Horne

Mrs. W.Edwin Gledhill

Mrs. Godwin Pelissero

John Galvin*

John JordanOy Jr.

Francis Price

Thomas M.Storke*

Mrs. Henry Griffiths

Acting Museum Director

HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS Classes of membership: Benefactor, §5000.00 or more; Life, $1000.00; Patron, $500.00; Fellow, $100.00; Associate, $50.00; Contributing, $25.00; Sustaining, $10.00; Active, $7.50; Student, $5.00. Dues are tax deductible.

Mailing Address: 136 East De la Guerra Street, Santa Barbara, California 93101

*Honorary Directors

Santa Barbara Historical Society

Non-Profit Org. U. S. POSTAGE

136 East De La Guerra Street

PAID

Santa Barbara, California 93101

Santa Barbara, California Permit No. 534