In late February I visited my family in California's San Francisco Bay Area. During my stay we visited an early 20th Century mansion called Filoli. The estate is about 30 miles south of San Franciso in a rural community called Woodside. The Mansion itself is open and gives a glimpse of a life of wealth in the first half of the 20th Century. While I'm not so much into looking at furniture, carpets and wallpaper, the grounds of Filoli captivated me. Most of the gardens are formal with long, axial views to a focal point. The eastern slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains forms a rustic backdrop to the place that makes the formality of the grounds even more appealing.

Any of you who know me or have ever been to The Herb Cottage or even looked at pictures on my web site, must realize I am anything but a formal gardener. I can, however, fully appreciate the grounds and gardens that we wandered through at Filoli. The upkeep is constant, including seasonal pots of flowering bulbs for color. I hope you enjoy this tour.

Here I am with pots of daffodils outside one of the French Doors of the brick house.

"Designed between 1915 - 1917 and set against the dramatic backdrop of the northern Santa Cruz mountains, Filoli is an excellent example of the Golden Age of American garden design and country house architecture."

Filoli House across hay field. (Photo from the Filoli Web Site.)

"Opened to the public in 1976 as a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Filoli features a 36,000 sq. ft. home and a 16-acre English Renaissance garden. In addition, Filoli's property includes a 6.8 acre Gentlemen's Heritage Orchard and a trail system that transverses five different ecosystems for docent-guided nature hikes and visits to the Sally MacBride Nature Center. Filoli is recognized as one of the finest remaining country estates of the early 20th century and is a cherished resource for the community valuing education, volunteerism and diversity."

If the house in the above picture looks familiar and you ever watched the television show "Dynasty", your eyes are not deceiving you. The house was seen from the air during the opening credits of the popular television series that ran from 1981 - 1989. Interior of the house was used during the first episodes, but were replaced by sets built on a sound stage in Hollywood.

We started our self-guided tour outside in the gardens. The day was perfect, sunny and cool with some wispy clouds above.

Above and below is outside the gift shop and near the entrance to the gardens.

Inside a small building near the gift shop we came across a lovely rattan chair.

The sign reads:

Yikes!! I'd better get outdoors so I won't damage anything!

The formal water garden and fountain with the Santa Cruz Mountains in the background.

This variegated boxwood was in bloom and positively humming with honey bees. I wish I'd remembered to bring my video camera with sound so I could have recorded it.

Another of the long views that captured me so. Tulips in pots.

Olive Trees showing olives ready to pick!

I love the sundial.

Dividing the sunny part of the grounds with a shade garden, this door set in the wall intruiged me.

The famous Filoli Clock Tower.

I'd never seen a tree like this. Cupressus cashmeriana, Kashmir Cypress. Such delicate leaves.

Outside the front entrance, this Tulip Tree was a show-stopper!

The front entrance. Quite impressive!

Here is an example of the detail in the ballroom.

My sister-in-law is about 5 feet tall and could easily walk into the fireplace in the ballroom.

Filoli holds various classes from botany to botanical drawing. These pictures are examples of drawings from graduating students with the program.

As the plaque says, Ms. Roth donated these gardens to all of us.

Thank you, Ms. Roth!!

I hope you've enjoyed your little tour of Filoli. There is much more at the website: filoli.org.

Next month, back to herbs and gardening. April is a month full of new growth, planting and, hopefully, some rain for us.

QUOTE FOR THE MONTH

When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?
-Eleanor Roosevelt, diplomat and writer (1884-1962)