Filoli Estate and Gardens is a historic gem just south of San Francisco. The grand estate is known for its beautiful gardens, drawing crowds year-round. In the fall, you can take tours of the 100-year-old orchard, and during the winter, stroll through the garden’s beautiful light displays. Now’s the time for an equally charming season at the estate, exploring the beautifully manicured gardens in full bloom this spring.
Summer at Filoli
Filoli’s gardens are unique because they bloom all year thanks to their dedicated horticulture team. Each spring an impressive 75,000 bulbs are planted in the sprawling gardens and continue to bloom all year. The formal garden area stretches 16 acres, with a large walled garden that looks like it could belong in a fairytale.
The beautiful blooms continue well into the summer, and the estate has a full calendar of wonderful summer activities. The estate’s Summer Nights are a must-try for the season. Every Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 8 pm, visitors can experience the beautiful estate in the evening with food trucks, a bar, and plenty of beautiful scenery. You can also venture on a sunset hike on a newly opened trail through the large estate every Wednesday and Thursday. Flower-arranging parties are another wonderful event, along with eclectic live music shows.
Another first this summer is the estate’s Pool Parties, held in the beautiful pool inside the garden. Swim, lounge in the gardens, and sip some great drinks in the most stunning garden. The parties are only on select dates, so we recommend booking tickets early.
About the Filoli Estate
The Filoli property covers 654 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The Gentleman’s Orchard is over 100 years old and currently boasts over 600 apple, pear, plum, apricot, walnut, fig, and quince trees. Filoli continues to produce fruit butters, hard cider, honey, dried lavender, and culinary herbs. The house itself is an enormous mansion with 56 rooms across 54,256 square feet. Visitors can tour both the mansion and the estate’s surrounding land, which has a beautiful trail to view Filoli’s forests, redwood groves, and chaparral.
A long history in the Bay Area
The land Filoli sits on originally belonged to the indigenous Ohlone people in the Bay Area. After the Spanish occupation and mission system seized their land and decimated their populations, much of California was parceled out as a Mexican land grant in 1856, which was later divided up following the United States annexation of the state.
After the 1906 earthquake, many wealthy San Francisco residents headed south to escape the city. The stunning Filoli estate was built in 1917 by socialite and entrepreneur William Bowers Bourn II and his wife, Agnes Moody. The couple wanted to create a self-sustaining estate, and they lived at Filoli until their deaths in 1936.
The property was purchased by heiress and philanthropist Lurline Matson Roth with her husband, William “Bill” Roth. Lurline Matson worked closely with Bourn’s original gardener to continue beautifying the gardens.
Upon Bill’s death, Lurline Matson donated the Filoli estate to the National Trust for Preservation, which it still remains under today. Lurline famously said, “Filoli is too beautiful to be private,” and in that spirit, the property was opened to the public in 1977.
Filoli is wonderful all year, and you can look forward to several summer events including a delightful Art Walk in July
You can visit Filoli at 86 Cañada Road in Woodside, CA, with prior reservation from 10 am-5 pm daily. General admission costs $25, and there are reduced prices available for children, seniors, and students.
Written by Jamie Ferrell and Dana Flynn