More than the Local Green Thumb
Landscape Manager of Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara may be Ezequiel Gil’s official title, but in reality he is so much more. Ezequiel (or "Zeke," as he is affectionately called) has been a fixture at the Resort for more than 30 years.
Although he leads a team of 13 full-time gardeners, he’s not content to just delegate. On any given day you can find Zeke tending to every inch of the Resort's 22 acres of lush gardens. Perhaps Zeke’s crowning achievement (to date) is being one of the main people who introduced the Resort’s seasonal guided botanical tour. On Tuesdays at 11:00 am, Zeke introduces guests to 48 of the Resort's rarest specimens, including Santa Barbara's second largest tree, a Moreton Bay Fig dating back to the 1800s, and 75 different species of palm trees.
“Our gardens may be splendid,” says General Manager Karen Earp, “But it’s really Zeke that makes these tours so memorable. He has so much knowledge about each species that grows here, and he loves sharing with our guests the details that make each plant so fascinating. We hear from so many guests that he’s incredible at bringing the gardens to life,” says Earp.
It’s no surprise, then, that’s his botanical tours are extremely popular. Be sure to book yours early. This is one experience you don’t want to miss.
