Filoli

The itinerary for any multi-day event attended by dozens of people is bound to include an item or two that isn’t really your personal cup of tea. For me our stop at Filoli during the 2013 Garden Bloggers Fling was the "low spot." Formal, historic, country estate, blah blah blah. Of course how bad could it really be right? I was on vacation, in California…I was wandering a huge garden and looking at plants. Never mind it was just shy of 120 F (I exaggerate, but only slightly)…

Okay so was it really that bad? No. But my lingering memory of the place will be this…

If you so much as placed a handbag upon their precious lawn you were IMMEDIATELY asked to remove it. God forbid you backed up while taking a photo and your foot momentarily landed upon their valued turf. Uniformed staff appeared out of nowhere and asked you to step back on the pathway. It’s lawn for god sakes; get over your bad selves! Here’s what I did enjoy...

The house was gorgeous, not that I went inside, if you’re curious my friend Peter did and has a great blog post with photos and factoids. Instead I wandered on to the on-sight nursery and gift shop…

And then ventured out into the garden.

It was too hot to mind the map, instead I wandered and shade was a priority.

I have a sweet spot for Camperdown Elms…

Oh if we had the space!

I noticed that serious looking slash through the bark and luckily happened upon a tour on which I could eavesdrop. Turns out a disgruntled employee who had been let go did this, hoping to kill the tree. Can you imagine? What evil lurks inside some! (the tree is okay, the cut wasn't deep enough to have damaged it)

I took advantage of a restroom adjacent to the elms and was enamored with the view from the seeded glass doors.

You have no idea (NONE!) what self control it took to not jump into that cool pool of blue (did I mention it was hot?). Of course the swift repercussions of such a wrong would have probably included a trip to jail, no questions asked, no phone call.

Instead I journeyed on and enjoyed a view of the garden beyond the manicured lawn…

And more manicured lawn.

I’m tree stupid remember? But I know a good one when I see it…

This guy! He was dive-bombing me, making me a little concerned for my safety. Finally he wore himself out and had to rest. Can you see him?

Here’s a better shot.

After I recovered from the attack I discovered this! Remember, there is ALWAYS an agave, if you look hard enough.

Sometimes aloes too…

But let’s enjoy the agave a bit more, Agave parry var. huachucensis…

This whole corner of the garden was my favorite…

Turns out someone else enjoyed it too!

That’s David. Formerly the Desert Dweller, now Mr. Dry Heat.

More shots of “my” corner…

So this concludes my visit to Filoli, it's time to pack it up and get back on the air conditioned bus!

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.