Visitors Guide to Filoli Gardens in California

One of California's most exquisite floral jewels, the historic Filoli Gardens estate features a 16-acre English Renaissance garden open for public tours from February through October. In addition to the breathtaking gardens, the Filoli property includes a beautiful 36,000 square foot Georgian country home, a 6.8 acre Gentleman's Heritage Orchard, and a Nature Preserve with more than seven miles of hiking trails over diverse terrain.

The world renowned Filoli Gardens are in bloom year round, but springtime offers an especially stunning floral display in an artful mix of color, fragrance and texture. The paths of the Daffodil Meadow overflow with blooms, and thousands of colorful tulips put on a glorious display throughout Filoli. Lilacs, Azaleas, Foxglove, Forget-Me-Not, Clematis, Columbine, Lavender and Sweet Peas are just some of the many bountiful blooms found at Filoli Gardens in the spring.

A variety of guided tours led by knowledgeable docents enrich the Filoli experience. Tours of the gardens and house are free with the price of admission, but some may require reservations.

Camellia Tours are offered Thursdays and Saturdays in March. Visitors can learn about this plant's interesting history, its different varieties, and why camellias are so well-suited to Northern California.

Cutting Garden Tours are another popular docent-led experience offered at Filoli Gardens. Flower arrangers create dozens of fresh floral arrangements for the house each week. All of the spectacular flowers used in these arrangements come from Filoli's classic and contemporary floral cutting gardens.

Guided hiking tours of Filoli Gardens Nature Preserve traverse six different types of native California habitats. On Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m., experienced nature education docents lead visitors on 2 1/2 hour nature hikes along well-maintained trails, and includes a visit to the Sally MacBride Nature Center.

Filoli Gardens special Mother's Day Flower Show and Brunch is held annually in May, with tickets to this popular event available beginning at the end of March.

Filoli Gardens is located 30 miles south of San Francisco in Woodside, California. Filoli is open to the public on Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $5 for students, and children 5 and under are free. Admission to Filoli allows visitors to explore the floral gardens and house at their leisure. Maps, brochures and docents are available. The Visitor and Education Center features a 15-minute video on the history of Filoli Gardens, which runs continuously.

Filoli Gardens opened to the public in 1976 as a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and is revered as one of the finest remaining country estates of the early 20^th century. A visit to this remarkable 654-acre property in picturesque Northern California is sure delight gardeners and non-gardeners of all ages.

filoli.org