Sunday, October 07, 2012

Filoli in the Fall


I've been to Filoli in the heat, the rain, the fog. Today was a beautiful, clear, crisp fall day. Every visit has been fun and an occasion to discover something new.


Filoli was built as the country escape for Mr. and Mrs. William Bowers Bourn II. Bourn was a rich gold mine owner and owner of the company that supplied San Francisco's water. The grounds are elegant in some areas, utilitarian in others, and rustic in still others. 


Today Filoli belongs to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is open to the public February through October. The first floor of the house is also open for viewing, something we skipped this time.


I am not a big rose fan but the roses here are enjoying a fall flush of blooms and were quite pretty. 


I wish I had asked someone how long the apple espalier row is...suffice it to say it is many trees and many yards long. It was beautiful today since it was loaded with apples!


The knot garden requires much maintenance and doesn't always look good, especially if it has been recently pruned as it has been several times when I have seen it. This time it was glorious!


We spotted a path we had never been on before which was exciting. A docent told us this area is being developed to allow access to the new daffodil meadow that has been planted. 15,000 daffodils were planted in 2008, 50,000 more in 2010 and even more since then. She encouraged us to return next spring to see the result. At that time all the other daffodils will also be blooming...some of them descendants of bulbs that have multiplied for years and years. 
We also spotted this tree along the path and didn't recognize it. Friends of mine have identified it from this picture as a type of hawthorn...something I hadn't seen before. That is one reason I like to return to Filoli again and again...there is always something new to see!


7 comments:

Fairegarden said...

Seeing Filoli is a dream of mine, Leslie, and I would really like to see it with you! Maybe at Fling next year...

Layanee said...

I would love to visit Fioli and walk those paths with you.

Gail said...

Yes to touring Filoli with you, Layanee and Frances!

Dee/reddirtramblings said...

Gorgeous. I wish I were there with you. We would have so much fun.~~Dee

Kathy said...

Those hills in the distance in the first photo don't look like fall to me--they haven't changed color. Do you really have fall there?

Carol Michel said...

I love a good garden that invites us back time and time again, always offering a new discovery. Thanks for sharing Filoli with us!

growingagardenindavis said...

I would love to go to Filoli with any garden lovers! Yes Kathy, we have fall. It just doesn't look like a northeast one!!