Morning in the Garden

A new trail through Filoli's forest is almost ready! In this special video episode, Ian Walsh and Amelia Maurer from the Natural Lands team give Willa a sneak peek of the route, which crosses a creekbed rock hop, winds past boulders and meadows, and spans a whimsical truss bridge in the redwoods. Listen as usual, or watch the video on Apple Podcasts or on YouTube to take in the forest views.

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Watch it on Youtube: https://youtu.be/TnG-nlUQd3I

Video by Ashley Barry and JT Bard: https://www.ashleybarry.net/

Filoli's hiking trail network is generously supported by grants from the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, the Sand Hill Foundation, and the County of San Mateo.

Go behind the scenes of a flower show like no other! During a bustling morning of preparations, Fleurs de Villes co-founders Karen Marshall and Tina Barkley share the stories behind the exhibition’s elaborate floral mannequins. Florists Maryam Issa and Chrissy Condie reveal the ingenious techniques they use to bring characters from the screen to life using entirely botanical materials.

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Heads up! The next episode, “Across the Creek (Season 4, Episode 15 - our first video episode!) is not available on Spotify due to their video upload restrictions. You can listen or view it on Apple Podcasts or YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnG-nlUQd3I

Step inside the greenhouses with guest host Katie Kenna, and realize the delicate choreography hidden in how life in the Garden begins. Production Garden Manager Jackie Salas traces the step-by-step journey of formal blooms to the rich soil of our compost windrows. Out in the open terrain, Natural Lands Apprentice Amelia Mauer embraces a wilder wisdom, letting experimental wildflower plots adapt to untamed elements, native grazers, and historic land management. 

Slow down, and the Garden reveals a world of beauty hidden in the details. Plein air artist and watercolor instructor Ali Walker finds simple shapes in complex blooms, from the geometry of a dahlia to the ombré petals of a rose. Rowan Smith and Bobby Gamba uncover the Bourn family’s historic artworks in the Garden, including one inscribed with Festina Lente – “make haste slowly” – a century-old invitation to pause and look more closely.

Follow the wave of color spilling through the garden this week. Haley O'Connor greets Willa with a handful of cherry plums and a theory of punctuation for every garden room – the Perennial Border reads like a run-on sentence, the Walled Garden like a form letter. Aimee Saunders leads the way into a secret garden of giant blue hydrangeas.

Filoli is looking good enough to eat! Jammaker Pablo Lugones transforms the morning's harvest of rose, marigold, and dahlia petals into a jelly the color of a glowing sunset. Horticulturists Ellen Harsha and Joseph Sulpizio walk the Vegetable Garden, savoring the sunwarmed berries and the thrill of a kiwi vine fruiting for the very first time.

The summer fog peeks over the ridge right on cue as a thousand public garden professionals arrive at Filoli for a golden hour party. Guests from across the country share the winding paths that led them into horticulture – like a DIY wedding bouquet that turned into a full-time job – and make the case for why we all should visit the gardens they call home.

From the Garden Archives: We are bringing back this perennial favorite episode, originally published on August 7, 2024. Whether you missed it the first time or want a refresher, enjoy these timeless tips on summer color!

Late summer delivers a rainbow burst of blooms. Jia Nocon invites her non-Horticulture coworkers to make their own bouquets from the Cutting Garden. Jackie Salas showcases the vibrant hues of Filoli's new Dahlia Garden, and Gillian Johnson talks color-changing hydrangeas.

Summer kicks off with a new exhibit about the people, plants, and animals that call Filoli home. Artist Jayson Fann shares how his childhood gathering wood on the riverbanks shapes the sculptural nests he has installed along the trails. Curator Rowan Smith highlights the immigration stories of Filoli’s historic staff through the years.

Stroll through the garden on a misty morning to uncover a piece of Filoli’s history. Writer Eric Hsu shares the story of the Domoto family – pioneering Japanese American nurserymen who revolutionized the West Coast cut flower industry. Discover how their lasting horticultural legacy still blooms across the estate today, from historic tree peonies to rare maples.