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.
“Zeke is one of our truly outstanding staff members,” says Director of Marketing Janice Snowden. He manages a team of 13 full-time gardeners, but on any given day he can be found tending to every inch of the Resort's 22 acres of lush gardens.
But 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.
“It’s not just seeing the plants that makes the tour so special,” says Snowden, “it’s Zeke. He probably knows more than anyone on the ground’s about the Resort’s vegetation, and loves sharing that knowledge with guests."
Plus, she adds, Zeke is an extremely positive and enthusiastic person. “The guests just love him,” she says. 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.
