Monday, March 26, 2012

The Gardens of Filoli






We finally had a chance to visit Filoli, a country estate built south of San Francisco in 1914.
I first became aware of Filoli when we visited the Empire Mine, the subject of an earlier post.
The house was commisioned by William Bourn who had made his fortune from the Empire mine.
After the death of the Bourns the property was sold to Mr. & Mrs. William Roth who continued to lavish loving care on the gardens.
The house and gardens were given to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1975.
Professional staff, interns and an army of volunteers work to keep the garden a showplace for all to enjoy.




I wished we had been there a few weeks later when the wisteria that drapes the portico will be in bloom.






















But then this beautiful magnolia might not have been in bloom if we had come later.

































The entrance was graced by pots of fragrant blooms.  I'll leave the interior of the house for a later post.






The formal gardens are divided into many garden rooms.  I think this Sunken Garden was my favorite.
Looking across the Sunken Garden, one sees the Garden House, beyond it is the Walled Garden.
























Along the wall of the Walled Garden is a row of  London Plane trees, pruned back to knobs (pollarded).







Inside the Garden House were more fragrant flowers.  I wonder what flowers will be there later, when the bulbs are done
In the Walled Garden.
Another view of the Walled Garden, this spot is called the Wedding Place.  I do not recall if it was the Bourn daughter or the Roth daughter that was married here.
























There is a lot of work to keep up these gardens.  All of the trees and shrubs require care and pruning.







Now I'm wondering, what will it look like next month, the month after.  I guess we will just have to return and see.
This is one view of our wonderful world, to see others visit That's Our World, Tuesday, hosted for us by 
Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia and Sandy.

13 comments:

Sylvia K said...

What a fantastically beautiful place, Martha! And the flowers and colors are so gorgeous! Your pictures truly did take my breath away! A wonderful look at your world for the day! Thank you for sharing!!

Sylvia

Gaelyn said...

Oh yes, this garden deserves revisiting often. What a stately yet serene environment. Look forward to seeing inside the house.

Unknown said...

Stunning gardens!! And house as well. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

mick said...

What a beautiful place! It's so good that something like that is able to be kept beautiful for everyone to enjoy.

Anonymous said...

Feels like another world.

Please have you all a good Tuesday.

Mike Golch said...

what a feeling of serenity.

Linda Reeder said...

I have been to Filoli twice, each time very beautiful! Thanks for reminding me of this wonderful place.

Indrani said...

How beautiful everything looks!

LindyLouMac said...

You may not have seen the wisteria but what you did see was still so very pretty. I love the magnolia.

genie said...

I think it would be wonderful if you could return each month and record how it changes. That would be so interesting. The home is gorgeous and the gardens out of this world Oh, so many beautiful trees and flowers. If reminds me of European estates I have visited in years past. genie

Janie said...

Wow, the gardens are so impressive!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

What a magical place Martha! It would be wonderful to go again during the summer season (I hope you do and that you share!). I'd never heard of this estate before -- it is a wonderful one. That's the loveliest sunken garden I've ever seen.

Linnea said...

I'm glad I found this post. I was supposed to go here a couple of weeks ago, but it was pouring rain on that day, so we all wimped out. I'm hoping to go in a few weeks. Your shots are beautiful. I guess no matter the time of year, we'll always miss out on something that either isn't blooming yet or already has! Thanks for stopping by my blog.