In front of a terraced Merlot vineyard, sculptor Sergio Bustamante’s Frog Lady, set the oval pond, reigns over masses of water lilies, reeds and other water plants.

Mary’s Garden with the Deer Lady fountain at its center honors Marilyn’s mother, Mary Ferranti Orlando. Low, trimmed boxwood shrubs outline its parts, which enclose topiary roses. The view through the garden is to a hillside vineyard.

In the foreground below the Los Gatos wall replica, the Four Seasons Fountain surrounded by a vineyard. In the background, the Santa Cruz Mountains.

What initially seduced Marilyn and Frank was the view of the 46 acres of coastal hills from the top of the ranch. Once much loved and inhabited, the ranch had been returning to a state of nature for many years. Two men worked full-time for a year cutting wild brush to reveal what nature had hidden. Once the Dorsas realized what they had, the ranch began to evolve organically into five sections:

The lower ranch, where you enter the estate, includes the structures, most of whose foundations were already in place, and the lower vineyards. This area of the estate also encompasses several gardens and a fruit orchard.

The uncultivated slope facing east, across from the lower ranch, will remain natural although it may later have a few hiking trails.

The middle ranch on the cultivated slope facing northwest, features the main road which wanders upward through several more vineyards.

The upper plateau with spectacular views of the valley and vineyards below, contains a kiwi arbor and the reservoir.

And, finally, the beautiful back ranch is defined by tall cypress and a terraced landscape with retaining walls. Here one finds several gardens, the newest vineyards, an olive orchard, and a high, latticed metal gate, the entrance for major events.