Name of Garden:
Filoli Center
History and Description:
Filoli was built for Mr. and Mrs. Bourn, prominent San Franciscans whose chief source of wealth was the Empire Mine, a hard-rock gold mine in Grass Valley, California. Mr. Bourn was also owner and president of the Spring Valley Water Company comprising Crystal Springs Lake and surrounding lands, which are now part of the San Francisco Water Department.
Construction of Filoli began in 1915 and the Bourns moved into the house in 1917. Bruce Porter was enlisted to help the Bourns plan the layout of the extensive formal garden, which was built between 1917 and 1921. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bourn died in 1936. The estate was then purchased in 1937 by Mr. and Mrs. William P. Roth, who owned the Matson Navigation Company. Under the Roths' supervision, the property was maintained and the formal garden gained worldwide recognition. Mrs. Roth made this her home until 1975 when she donated 125 acres, which included the house and formal garden, to the National Trust for Historic Preservation for the enjoyment and inspiration of future generations. The remaining acreage was given to Filoli Center.
Garden History
The extensive sixteen-acre formal garden was planned and planted as construction of the house neared completion. The lawns and shrubs around the house were planted by the fall of 1917. The woodlands and the undeveloped Crystal Springs Watershed lands surrounding the estate provide a magnificent backdrop for the formal garden. The garden survives today as one of America's finest historic gardens.
Isabella Worn supervised the planting of the Filoli garden. When Filoli was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. William P. Roth in 1937, they retained Worn to continue her work. Under Mrs. Roth's patronage, Worn enriched the garden with a variety of plants, including hundreds of Camellias, Rhododendrons, Roses, and many Magnolias. Her ingenious designs and great sense of color were hallmarks of the garden that Mrs. Roth continued to follow even after Worn's death.
As the garden gained worldwide renown, Mrs. Roth was awarded several honors, including the Distinguished Service Medal of the Garden Club of America for her achievements as a collector and propagator of plants. The formal garden at Filoli is named the Lurline B. Roth Garden in her honor.
Address:
86 Cañada Road,
Woodside, California 94062
Directions:
Filoli is located about 30 miles south of San Francisco in Woodside, California, just south of the Highways 92 and 280 junction.
Hours:
Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 am-3:30 pm (last admission 2:30)
Sunday 11:00 am-3:30 pm (last admission 2:30 pm)
Admission Fees:
Adults $12
Students $5 (ages 5-17 or with valid student ID)
Children 5 and under are free.
Website:
http://www.filoli.org
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