The Lloyd-Butler Botanical Garden
In 2022, Tom Lloyd-Butler began managing the ranch. He revived the grounds surrounding the main house, expanding on his mother's interest in cultivars, rare and endangered plants, and social gatherings on the property.
In 2023, he added a stumpery with exotic ferns, cyads and palms. He established many collections of plant species and began farming regeneratively to help support the rich ecosystem of the Santa Clara River delta and South Mountain.
"This innovative project is truly a treasure in the contemporary art world, freeing both artists and viewers from the expectations and confines of conventional gallery walls." - Adrienne Kinsella, Professor of Art, California State University Northridge
"Working with the kids at Land+Sky alongside Robin was a reminder that young people already understand more than we give them credit for. The way she holds the space allows the ranch itself to become a classroom that teaches through experience rather than lectures, and you can see it click in real time." - Keith Garcia, Soils Science Instructor
"Participating in the Land + Sky programing was a signature experience of my 25 years in the arts. Robin Wallace extended generous and inspirational grace that elicited reverence for the ranch, the artists, and the land. Clearly, Land + Sky brings together community with gratitude for the arts, culture, and our regional ecology." - Andrea Vargas, Master Plein Aire Artist
“Land & Sky is a wonderfully unique opportunity to immerse oneself into sensory art experiences which are inspired and enhanced by the beauty of California Rancho land that holds rich indigenous, cultural and agricultural history that continues to inspire community gatherings to appreciate how art can create, express and communicate the depth of nourishment of the Land & Sky.”
- Robin Briceño, E-RYT
"Thank you Land + Sky for delivering a well thought-out program in a beautiful and historic setting, brimming with sights, smells, textures, and sounds, that energize and provoke new ideas and create life-long memories in those fortunate enough to have experienced them." - Jennifer Susan Jones, MS, LMFT, RSP
"My curriculum was inspired by the immense diversity of plants, insects and animals at the Lloyd-Butler Ranch, and I feel that the students were equally inspired by the land as I was. Students immersed themselves in the trees, florals, and fruits that surrounded our tables. They painted what they saw through direct observation. Working with Robin taught me what endless hard work and passion can achieve. I am excited about what is to come for the Land+Sky program."
- Jamie Morris Atwater, Master Plein Aire Artist and Art Instructor
On our field trip to the LAND + SKY exhibit at the Lloyd-Butler Ranch, I learned a lot about the old house and the land around it. Touring the house was really cool because it’s super old, and I could imagine how people lived there a long time ago. We also learned about soil from a guide who explained how different layers form and why healthy soil is so important for plants and farming. One thing I thought was really interesting is that they put clay on the leaves of some plants, kind of like sunscreen, to protect them from the sun. Overall, the trip made me realize how the history of the house and the science of the soil and plants are connected. People have to take care of the land, and the land has taken care of people for a long time.
- Miley Cardeñas, Camarillo High School Humanities Student