Hartley Botanica 4465 Balcom Canyon Road • Somis • California 93066

Just beyond the hills of Camarillo in the peaceful Las Posas Valley you’ll find the small hamlet of Somis, home to generations of family farmers. Somis has so far managed to escape the pressure of development, and boasts one post office, one store, and the oldest wooden gas station in California. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to slow down for a while, stop and smile at a stranger, and breathe in the fresh country air that seems to make all that grows here flourish.

At Hartley Botanica, not only do the plants and flowers thrive, they also end up in beautiful shapes and clever arrangements. That’s because this Somis nursery doubles as a landscaping company, and throughout the property you’ll discover artistic examples of garden design. Nowhere is this more impressive than in the wedding area, a spectacular garden oasis that owes its creation to a proud father’s love.

It all started when owner Barbara Goodrich took over the place in 1995. Her interest in landscaping came from her parents, creative types whose 30 years of experience include such notable clients as Janet Jackson and Michael Landon. When Barbara got engaged, Mom offered to make her a fabulous wedding gown. Not to be outdone, Dad took advantage of the nursery’s natural beauty to create a dream ceremony and reception site for his daughter’s wedding. Now Barbara wants to share her fantasy garden with you for your own wedding or special event.

Party guests are free to explore the nursery’s novelties, like its rock waterfall with grotto, peacocks, and sculptured rose garden. Yet the celebration grounds themselves are shielded from the public by custom-designed metal gates. There's a private room to prepare for the walk down the aisle—and you’ve never seen an aisle quite like this one!

A dramatic, sweeping promenade winds around an expanse of verdant lawn. Along the way you pass under no fewer than 18 vine-covered archways set in bases of flowering stone urns. The rose-colored walkway is embellished with real leaves pressed into the concrete, and caged songbirds add to the magical effect. To the left, a pond featuring an aquatic garden and a cascading waterfall accompany you until you reach the final stretch of the aisle. Then a delicate canopy of tree branches laden with honeysuckle leads to an enormous daisy permanently etched right into the aisle. (A smaller daisy just beyond can hold an accompanist.) Your guests enjoy the spectacle from the lawn, with the rolling hills as a picturesque backdrop.

A row of shrubs marks the rear of the Ceremony Garden, and on the other side lies the reception area, an even larger swath of lawn dotted with trees, decorative statuary, and pots overflowing with colorful flowers. A stand of Chinese pistache trees shelters a long bar fashioned of smooth stones; its countertop, embedded with leaves, is the ideal spot to serve drinks and a buffet. Each botanical treatment features built-in seating areas, and some offer intriguing surprises: In the center of the lawn, for example, a lush forest environment of eucalyptus trees serves as a natural aviary for cockatiels and doves.

After a short time at the Gardens, your cares seem to float away on a gentle rose-scented breeze. Everything here is fresh, green, and blossoming—an enchanting environment for a celebration of new beginnings.