Table Of Content
- Bay Area Outdoors: Exploring the formal gardens of Woodside’s Filoli historic estate
- Eugene O’Neill’s Tao House in California
- National Trust for Historic Preservation: Return to home page
- California Academy of Sciences
- A Guide to Filoli Historic House and Garden in California
- Shopper’s Diary: Peonies in Paris, for Flowers and Coffee
- Stroll through the Rose Garden

But it is the botanical wonders of the garden — and frankly, the vibes — that bring me back again and again. Filoli was built in 1917 in the style of a Georgian mansion. Owners William and Agnes Bourn had intended it to be their country retreat, but grandeur won out as the home rose from its foundations to include 56 rooms covering more than 54,000 square feet. After the death of her husband in 1963, Roth lived on alone at Filoli.
Bay Area Outdoors: Exploring the formal gardens of Woodside’s Filoli historic estate
Then we stopped at the Daffodil Meadow which was absolutely beautiful, and sat on a bench by the blooming hydrangeas. This place was tranquil, it would have been a perfect spot for reading a book or taking a little nap. We started our garden tour from the Sunken Garden, which in my opinion, was one of the most beautiful parts of the whole place. Flowers were blooming everywhere, even in the pond, and little dragon flies were flying around it.
Eugene O’Neill’s Tao House in California

The self-guided tour starts with a 15 minute video which talks about the history of Filoli and the two families who lived there. Spring was the perfect time to visit, but the changing seasons mean Filoli is always filled with colorful experiences. Although Filoli is just a short half hour drive from San Francisco, you’ll soon feel at home in the surrounding countryside, where one feels light years away from city life. 'Tis the season to make special memories, bask in the vibrant landscape, and spend time together. Step into the magic of the House decked in Holiday cheer and explore the winter Garden, where inspiration glows. In the spring, tulips, daffodils, cherry blossoms, and, of course, wisteria take center stage.

National Trust for Historic Preservation: Return to home page
The house itself is incredibly well maintained on both the inside and outside. You can walk right through the front door and tour the whole first story. If you plan to visit often, you can purchase an individual membership, which includes you plus one guest each visit.
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Filoli is a vibrant landscape of the Bay Area, situated on the unceded ancestral lands of the Ramaytush Ohlone, in Woodside, California. The estate boasts 654 acres of beauty nestled along the slopes of California’s coastal range. Originally built as a private residence in 1917, Filoli was opened to the public in 1975 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Filoli is dedicated to connecting our rich history with a vibrant future through beauty, nature and shared stories, so that one day all people will honor nature, value unique experiences, and appreciate beauty in everyday life. Following our Oregon/Northern California trip, Tracy and I decided to make one last stop at a gorgeous spot she had been yearning to visit when the flowers bloomed in spring. Soon, a number of “grand estates” were constructed in Hillsborough and Woodside.
The Garden House is an all-glass l’orangerie, or greenhouse, that unsurprisingly gets beautiful light flooding through it. You can walk through it or hang out at one of the small tables on either side of it next to the brick walls. You can also see many other areas of the house, including a library/study with commissioned portrait sketches by John Singer Sargent!
Shopper’s Diary: Peonies in Paris, for Flowers and Coffee
The city’s SurveyLA program had identified the property as potentially historic, but no protections were afforded, the conservancy wrote on Instagram. The single-story home and its grounds have since been cleared and in its place will be a massive home in the modern farmhouse style that has come to dominate US suburbs. Learn more about special alumni events and USF’s initiatives. Seeing redwoods in Muir Woods is one of the most popular things to do for visitors in San Francisco Bay area.Here are our tips to Muir Woods. The dining room is usually set up to show what the dinner parties would have looked like back in the day.
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For Roth, a self-taught horticulturist, preservation of the gardens and the introduction of new plants, particularly camellias, became a passion. She liked the pink of petunias, for example, and she just hated orange! ” Although Roth employed 16 gardeners, she could often be seen deadheading the camellias or pruning roses. The Sunken Garden is a large, rectangle pond situated in front of the clock tower. There are potted flowers lined up along either side and in summer there were clusters of lily pads growing in it.
Our soundscapes provide an entrancing experience into the beauty of our estate. Take some time to unwind in the presence of our environment. The nonprofit Filoli Center purchases an additional 528 acres from the Roth family, and opens to the public. The Visitor Guide does not ship to you or include admission.
After it was acquired by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1975, Filoli has been open for public tours. Attractions include self-guided tours, guided tours, and nature hikes. The Filoli mansion was designed by architect Willis Polk and it has a total of 56 rooms. There is actually quite a lot to see in the house, so I recommend taking your time when you go in. We started our tour from the visitor center where we got out tickets and a brochure of the place.
That has led to some interesting, how-can-that-possibly-work-but-it-does landscaping decisions that include a formal English garden planted with Mediterranean stalwarts and a traditional cottage garden filled with California natives. You will be able to see both the mansion and the garden in the holiday setting. It is truly amazing with all the holiday lights and decorations. They also have many events such as Santa Days and Holiday wreath making parties. For the past 40 years, a cooperative vegetable garden for the staff has been closed to the public. The new plan transforms the space into a central resource for information and inspiration for those people seeking comfort, food security, and safe outdoor experiences via gardening.
The largest gardens are working gardens for the production of cut flowers for the mansion and for the growing of some vegetables. The move to demolish came shortly after Pratt purchased the mid-century home in an off-market sale for $12.5 million in January 2023. The house is located in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, across the street from Pratt’s mother-in-law, former first lady of California Maria Shriver. The historic house will be replaced by a modern farmhouse designed by architect Ken Ungar, Architectural Digest reported, and is now in the early stages of construction.