Filoli

Last weekend Rachel and I visited Filoli.  Filoli is a historic country house with 16 acres of formal gardens and is surrounded by a 654 acres estate.  It is located in Woodside, CA 30 miles south of San Francisco.  Filoli was completed in 1917 by Williams Bower Bourn II; owner of one of the state's richest gold mines and president of Spring Valley Water Company.  There are undoubtedly many more Filoli facts that I will not take the time to recount here because they are honestly not that interesting and the Wiki link is provided above.

Fioli is an unique attraction and I highly recommend visiting if in the area.  The entrance fee is a little steep at $15, but still well worth spending a few hours at such a picturesque location.  We showed ourselves around, but there is also the option to join a guided tour.  The first floor of the mansion is open and there is lots to see.  However, by far, the most compelling reason to visit are the well-maintained and vast gardens.  There are a variety of flowers and gardens set against the background of the eastern slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Below are some pictures that I took of the house and grounds and Rachel.  Thank you for checking out Dirty Thirty Photography!