Woodside’s historic Filoli House & Garden makes for a memorable day trip from the city any time of year. But springtime may be the most highly anticipated, as the 16-acre landscape turns into an ocean of colorful blooms, including a jubilant daffodil field, tens of thousands of tulips, and delicate cherry blossoms.
Filoli also welcomes guests to enjoy extensive spring programming and events, from afternoon teas to floral parties and wellness activities.
Here’s how to make the most of spring at Filoli in 2026.
Peak spring bloom season at Filoli
Filoli’s extensive flower blooms will all peak at different moments throughout the spring, so no matter when you get a chance to visit, there will be plenty to enjoy.
However, April is usually the ideal month to catch spring flowers, because the rose garden and cutting garden will begin blooming while earlier flowers like magnolias, daffodils, tulips, and wisteria are still looking their best. Here’s a quick breakdown of peak bloom for the next few months:
- March-May: Wildflowers, tulips, irises, wisteria, and peonies add even more color to the grounds
- April-October: Roses and flowers from the cutting garden bloom all the way into fall
- May-July: Lavender adds a pop of purple to late-spring blooms
This year, Filoli has planted over 130,000 flower bulbs, including tens of thousands of tulips in dozens of varieties. This doesn’t even include the abundant daffodil meadow, which presents a brilliant golden display of over 1 million narcissus, and the over 250 flowering fruit trees.
Visiting Filoli
Each spring, Filoli hosts a range of engaging events in the gardens. Look for a Chinese Hanfu fashion event to kick off the season, spring teas on weekdays, yoga and watercolor sketching, floral arranging, wine tasting, tours, and so much more. Visit their website for the full calendar.
The entirety of the Filoli property stretches across 654 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It dates back to 1917, when socialites William Bowers Bourn and Agnes Moody first built it as a self-sustaining retreat. Now, visitors have the pleasure of visiting the grand 56-room mansion and extensive gardens all year round.
