Filoli at Christmas

This year we kicked off the Christmas season with a visit to Filoli Historic House and Garden for the famed Holidays at Filoli. My folks from Alaska, aunt who lives here in the Bay Area, my husband and I all bundled up with scarves, jackets, and umbrellas and headed over the San Mateo bridge to Woodside, California under dramatic and threatening skies. Our time slot was 4:00 to 8:00 PM, so we timed it to enjoy the decorations in the light, before dark descended.

Courtyard entrance to the house

Lawn with decorated tree

Our motley crew

View of the house and terrace

We enjoyed our favorite spots, views, and vistas in the garden. Dark falls quickly this time of year, so we were able to witness the lovely lights increase in intensity against the nightfall. An outside kiosk with heating lamps sold hot cider on the terrace, and provided an opportunity to warm up while taking in the grand view of the garden at night. The lights were enchanting.

Sunken garden and garden house

Garden house

View of the clock tower from the pool

Sunken garden

This year the whole walled garden was lit in fun and imaginative ways. We learned that a team of 70 volunteers and staff spend most of November stringing lights and decorating inside and out. During our visit, a wedding party was preparing for an evening wedding. We caught glimpses of the bride and groom being photographed throughout the garden. Their wedding pictures should be wonderful.

Wedding terrace

Lights in the willows

Lovely boxwood hedges with lights

Rose garden

When we had taken in the gardens and the evening chill had set in, we headed inside, which was warm and welcoming with lights, decorations, and a Christmas tree in almost every room. We toured the rooms and paused to enjoy Le Jazz Hot in the Grand Ballroom, with the father-daughter Jazz duo Rebecca DuMaine and Dave Miller.

Outside looking in

Cozy room beckons

Tree decorated with materials from the Filoli grounds

Several highlights included seeing floral arrangements and a tree decorated with material foraged from Filoli grounds, as well as the 570 piece silver set with settings for 18 dinner guests and many serving pieces. I also loved the strands of glittering gold Ginkgo biloba used in the garland that decorated the main staircase, but unfortunately didn't find it in the Clock Tower Shop (nerdy I know, but any plants woman would understand).

Garland up the main stairs (note the Ginkgo in lower left)

Pink tree

Blue tree in the main sitting room

We ended our tour at one of our favorite places—Fentons Creamery and Restaurant—for hamburgers and crab sandwiches, cherry pie ala mode, and Black-and-Tan sundaes. We compared notes on what we had seen and enjoyed. Over the last seven years we've visited Filoli in all four seasons (winter, spring, summer, and fall), and now add the Christmas holiday as a fifth season!