Welcome to a living work of art where history, architecture, and floral design beautifully intertwine. Curated by renowned floral artist, slow-flower pioneer, and author Teresa Sabankaya, Castle House & Gardens is a breathtaking 12-acre private estate nestled in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Located just minutes from the Pacific Coast Highway, this historic California estate serves as both a serene residence and an active floral studio. The grounds offer a brilliant design fusion, marrying Old-World Mediterranean hardscaping with a romantic English Cottage cutting garden. The estate features a historic 1938 mission-style tower, winding gravel pathways, a spacious brick courtyard, a custom-tiled pool, and multiple massive outdoor fireplaces. Guests can wander among heirloom roses, climbing clematis, fragrant lilacs, meticulous ivy topiaries, shade-loving hydrangeas, and numerous perennials. Rose lovers will especially appreciate the estate's 200 rose bushes - an exceptional collection featuring Bourbons, David Austins, and rare antiques that has previously drawn official tours from the American Rose Society. All of this flourishes under the towering silhouettes of ancient, native redwoods and oaks, creating a picturesque sanctuary that has been widely celebrated in premier publications. Your host, Teresa Sabankaya, is one of the most innovative floral designers in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas. She has exhibited her floral art at the De Young Museum, the Monterey Museum of Art, and the historic Filoli Mansion and Gardens. As the author of THE POSY BOOK and MODERN FLORIOGRAPHY, Teresa’s gardens are specifically designed to evoke nostalgia, clarity, and emotion through the ancient language of flowers. The estate and Teresa’s design work have been showcased across a variety of prestigious media, including Victoria and Elle magazines, Florists' Review, The San Francisco Chronicle, and major bridal design publications. Beyond print, the sanctuary has been featured nationally on CBS News Sunday Morning and in Michael Pollan’s acclaimed PBS documentary, The Botany of Desire.

Property Access and Rules

To ensure every guest can experience the living art of Castle House & Gardens, we kindly ask that you treat the estate with care. Please do not touch or pick any flowers, plants, or botanical studio elements so that their beauty remains preserved for others to enjoy. This is a strictly non-smoking property. Parking: On-site parking is available for up to 20 vehicles, with dedicated space to accommodate larger trucks or motorhomes. Access: The property offers flexible entry points including street-level access and wheelchair​/​handicap accessible pathways, though some areas of the historic grounds may require navigating stairs.

Activity Details

Castle House & Gardens offers a versatile, deeply inspiring backdrop for a variety of creative, professional, and botanical pursuits. The outdoor space can be reserved for the following experiences: Photo Sessions With its striking architectural features, cascading rose archways, and dramatic contrast of native redwoods and soaring palms, the estate is a premier location for professional photography and editorial shoots. Every corner offers a unique, picturesque vignette flooded with natural mountain light. Garden Tours (Self-Guided or Guided) Guests can opt for a peaceful, self-guided mindful walk through our landscape, or book an exclusive guided tour with Teresa Sabankaya. A guided tour offers an insider's look into cutting-garden cultivation, floriography, and the sustainable principles of the Slow Flowers movement. One-on-One Consulting (On-Property or Virtual) Book a private, individual consultation with Teresa Sabankaya, available either on-property or virtually. Perfect for aspiring floral designers, cutting-garden enthusiasts, or fellow entrepreneurs, these personalized sessions offer direct access to Teresa’s decades of expertise in botanical art, business scaling, and the historic language of flowers.