Garden Dialogues 2026: Santa Ynez, CA
The exact address is only shared with ticket purchasers for reasons of privacy. Please reach out to lily@tclf.org if you have any questions.
Register now for an exclusive Garden Dialogue of Valley Oak Ranch, a sustainable, 20-acre landscape rooted in mitigating harsh climates and food production. Nestled within the 500-foot golden hills of the Santa Ynez Valley, the site was designed over the course of a decade by Carson Douglas Landscape Architecture to withstand the Valley’s dramatically varied climates, including heavy winter frosts and 110°F heat. Stroll through bountiful fruit orchards, olive groves, and a vast a kitchen garden with savory herbs and organic vegetables. Get a behind-the-scenes look from firm Co-Founder and Principal, Michael Brennan, into this plant-lover’s paradise that features a mix of vibrant grasses (the striking, purple Muhlenbergia, for example), flowering shrubs, and bold accent cacti and hear how the site received an Honor Award from the San Diego Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) in 2020.
To mitigate the harsh Central California summers, Carson Douglas Landscape Architecture replaced 7,000 square feet of thirsty lawn with a drought-resilient plant palette to improve water retention and reduce fire hazards, including bold accent cacti and esparto grass, a type of Mediterranean grass that thrives in arid temperatures.
The design seamlessly integrates solar power and water-storage systems, including a system that captures rainwater and releases it into the property’s soil to be used during the Valley’s dry spells, allowing the residence to remain self-sufficient and thriving.
Guests will roam through rows of fig, pomegranate, and apple trees, an impressive kitchen garden complete with fragrant herbs from thyme, to oregano, to mint, and fresh leafy greens, ripe tomatoes, and hearty root vegetables. A grove of 68 Leccino, Pendolino, Frantoio and Maurino olive trees are harvested to produce robust, Tuscan tradition olive oil with notes of grass and nuts (that attendees will get to sample).
Utilizing “permaculture philosophy,” a practice that observes natural ecosystems and mimics them in the design process, Carson Douglas added a pollinator corridor, on-site composting, and a space for beekeeping that all support the surrounding Valley’s natural environment. The result is a landscape that not only survives the Valley’s environmental pressures—it mitigates them.
From cultivating produce, to sustainable design practices that protect the landscape from harsh Central California climates, to a firsthand look at the assortment of colorful grasses, cacti, and flowering shrubs, this Garden Dialogue has something for everyone in a tour you won’t want to miss.
1.5 LA CES™ professional development hours will be available to attendees, pending approval.
Refund Policy - No refunds will be made for Garden Dialogues
