Most Beautiful Gardens of California
By Perri Cebedo
Photos by Perri Cebedo
San Francisco, California
 

FILOLI GARDENS in Springtime –
Woodside, California

April 2011
 
Filoli Gardens is a 654-acre estate in Woodside, California. Its grandeur, once shown in the opening scene  of a popular TV series, Dynasty, and in movies such as Heaven Can Wait and The Joy Luck Club, represents the beauty of Woodside, a small city surrounded by forests and parks, yet amazingly close to Silicon Valley, Stanford University and San Francisco Airport in San Mateo County.
 
 
 
Even though it's slightly tucked away, Filoli Gardens and Estate is known throughout the world for its magnificent gardens that are recognized for their historic significance and beauty. Based on European design, the grounds include soothing water gardens and terraced gardens. Filoli estate is nestled in the foothills of the Coastal Range on the San Francisco Peninsula. 
 
Open to the public, the San Mateo County mansion features 43 rooms and exquisite gardens set to a backdrop of looming mountains that turn a burnished gold in the autumn. Nowhere are the seasons more noticed than at the Filoli gardens.
 
Spring: Dormant during the winter months, the land bursts into life with 58,000 tulips and 25,000 daffodils most springs. 
 
From late April to June, the 500 roses at Filoli stand in splendor, offering a delicate, delightful fragrance.
 
Summer: The summer season blossoms with cherry, pear, and apple trees in a wonderland of pink and white. Summer visitors delight in the kitchen garden with colorful vegetables such as  red 'Cayenne Slim' chili and the 'Purple Ruffles' basil, which are both used in making Filoli's estate-crafted vinegars. Late summer is peak season for the intricate knot garden, which then gives way to the fragrant lavender. Summer bouquets of cut flowers at Filoli Gardens grace tables and mansion decor with stunning displays of blue, purple, and dusty white highlights.
 
Fall: Autumn is when Filoli's Fall Festival is held. Guests taste 50 varieties of pears and apples and an amazing collection of sweet, juicy and fragrant American hybrid table grapes.
 
Winter: Filoli is closed from November to February.   
Back in 1915, nothing but woods filled Woodside community. The design for the classic garden was a collaboration between the Bourn family and Bruce Porter, who was known for his garden designs incorporating parterres, terraces, lawns and pools. It was envisioned and built beginning around 1917. The director of horticulture, known for her stunning combinations of plants, holds a master's degree in horticulture from UC Davis. 
--------------------
Filoli Gardens: 
Address: 86 Cańada Road, Woodside, California 94062. 

---

 

 

 

Munting Nayon News Magazine