Morning in the Garden

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.

A restless wind moves through the oaks as we explore the art of haiku and its kinship with the garden. Aileen Cassinetto, the former Poet Laureate of San Mateo County, notes that both crafts demand the same thing: patience, precision, and a willingness to notice what others walk past. This year’s Haiku Contest winner Cindy Lutz shares how writing one poem a day for 25 years has taught her to find the miraculous in the overlooked.

A breezy morning brings the moving colors and textures of the Perennial Border to life. Jim Salyards shares the history of the Arts & Crafts garden style and recommends his favorite plants to add vertical drama. A new woven trellis sculpture by artist Jungil Hong rises and falls through the perennials, soon to be covered in intertwining vines.

Meet Rose Wonders, the monumental troll who has taken up residence in Filoli’s forest. Sonia Capitant recounts the arrival of the 30-foot giant, while artist Thomas Dambo explains how his recycled wood sculptures are designed to change our perspective on nature. Katie Kenna reflects on how that same spirit of wonder helps local students connect with the land, one "burrito tree" at a time.