Newsletter | Mar/Apr 2004

Filoli Garden Tour by Sarka Volejnikova Date: Time: Place: Cost: RSVP: Carpool: Meet: Friday, 2 April 2004 12:30 check-in; 1 pm tour starts Filoli Gardens 86 Cañada Road, Woodside, California $8.00. Pay at the door Before March 26, 2004 Email: OWA Information Phone: 925-926-0237 Email Sarka for arrangements Quail's Nest Café (on the grounds) at 12 pm, for snacks Filoli is a beautiful historic estate with extensive pleasure gardens and 654 acres of agricultural grounds and woodlands located on the eastern slope of the Coastal Ranges in Woodside, some thirty miles south of San Francisco. The estate was built between the years of 1915 and 1917 for Mrs. and Mr. William Bowers Bourn II according to the design of their friend, architect Willis Polk. The garden design was entrusted to another friend of the Bowers, Bruce Potter, a poet, interior designer, muralist, and stained glass artist; Isabella Worn was responsible for planting selections and installations. The name of the estate comes from Mr. Bourn's credo: " to fight for a just cause; to love your fellow man; to live a good life," a testament of humanitarian philosophy of this gold mine owner and president of the Spring Valley Water Company. In mid 1930s the estate was purchased by Mrs. and Mr. Roth and underwent further horticultural enrichment, which contributed to its worldwide recognition. Today, Filoli is a registered state landmark, and since 1975 it is under the patronage of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The gardens were inspired by traditional English design to form a succession of individual formal garden rooms, and to follow the north-south axes of the brick mansion. The estate was sited in the landscape in such a way as to make the most of the natural beauty of the oak woodlands surrounding it. For more information, go to the Filoli web-site.

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