Situated just between San Francisco and Silicon Valley in Woodside, California, Filoli, the Country Estate of William B. Bourn was constructed from 1915 to 1917 during the Gilded Age in the United States. The main house, which consists of 54,000 square feet of living space is nestled within 16 acres of formal gardens surrounded by an estate of over 500 acres.
The architectural elements of the property are characterized of a tasteful mix of a stately English manor with a tile roof paying homage to California’s Spanish heritage. Stepping inside the residence is like taking a step back in time with antique Chippendale furniture as well as Ming vases, and even a sketch of Mrs. Bourn by none other than John Singer Sargent himself. A particular highlight of the residence is the Ballroom, which features a superbly elegant fireplace and murals of the Bourn’s Irish Estate, Muckross. The residence’s grand design is stunning yet understated, which allows for Filoli’s gardens to take center stage.
The elegant formal gardens at Filoli are often characterized by their distinct blend of European, English, and American design, where a series of garden rooms divided by walls and hedges allow visitors to experience the ultimate in splendor. As guests move from parterres to terraces and lawns they benefit from not only changes in scenery, but also changes in temperature and views that allow for uncompromisingly beautiful angles to view the home and its gardens. A variety of exotic plants, which include camellias, rhododendrons, and roses surround the gardens that also include an elegant sunroom/folly as well as an elegantly placed swimming pool. The garden is complimented by several orchards and olive groves.
William Bourn, who earned his fortune through gold mining and the founding of what would later become Pacific Gas & Electric, resided with his wife Agnes Moody Bourn at the 654 acre estate from 1917 to 1936. It was at Filoli that the Bourns desired to grow young together. Although it did not become common knowledge until after Bourn’s death, it was uncovered that Filoli is an abbreviation of his motto, “Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life.” Following the death of Mr. Bourn, Filoli was sold to William and Lurline Roth. In an effort to ensure Filoli could be enjoyed by as many as possible, Mrs. Roth donated the estate and an endowment to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1975.
Currently, Filoli is featuring a fall program which celebrates the harvest season with “bluegrass music, nature hikes, kids’ crafts and entertainment, afternoon tea, art exhibits and lectures, along with samples of more than 30 varieties of apples and pears grown in the estate’s 100-year-old orchards.”
“The variety and abundance of the harvest here is always incredible, and we continue the Filoli legacy of production and sustainability by putting everything to good use,” said Jim Salyards, Head of Horticulture at Filoli. “We’ll get four or five tons of fruit in a typical season. One to two tons goes into our Filoli jams and cider production, two to three tons is distributed to local food banks, and the choicest fruit is offered as samples at our annual Harvest Festival and Orchard Day events, not to be missed.”
For more information on Filoli please visit: Filoli.org
Featured Image courtesy of: Filoli; Featured Image Credit: Photographer Patrick Wilson
