Have you ever gone on vacation and taken way too many pictures?
Well that’s what happened when I cam home and noticed I had taken over 400 pictures of an estate named Filoli which sits just 30 miles outside of San Francisco, California in the lovely town of Woodside.
If I was ever going to live in a 36,000 square foot mansion on 654 acres and had a slew of people to help me with a 16 acre renaissance garden, I think I might want to live at Filoli for the rest of my life.
This is where I would have my afternoon tea and crumpets.
And gaze upon my fresh flowers that Lawrence the Gardener {yes, that is what his name would be} Â would clip for me every third day and artfully arrange for me.
Here is the hallway I’d waltz dance down listing to The Black Eyed Peas.
This is the main kitchen. Mrs. Patmore {from Downton Abby} and her crew would love the well lit kitchen and cupboard space, don’t you think?
I might need to get a few more dishes though.
And darrrrling, here is the gate Lucy the puggle dog and I would walk through on our morning stroll to the garden.
A sign for visiting dignitaries.
I must tell Lawrence the tops of the hedges need to be trimmed.
The cutting garden.
The koi pond.
Lilly pads.
The conservatory.
This is where I would take my afternoon nap.
One of my many orchards
A girl can dream right?
Annette shaw says
I love the pansy display on the front steps. They really took a simple flower and made in lush and elegant.
Pat Giaquinta says
Where is the Royal Chicken Coop, Lady Mavis?
Mavis Butterfield says
Darrrrling, it will have to be an addition. I’ll tell Lawrence.
Donna Jantzer says
I would be happy with a small room at the back, and I would help Lawrence with some of the chores. As long as I could spend my days in your garden!
Kendra says
I imagine Lucy the Puggle Dog could spend many hours making friends with the Koi fish as well. She could alternate her days between play-dates with the chicken and those with the fish 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
Ha! I agree!
The Prudent Homemaker says
I love looking at formal gardens. This is beautiful. I would love to see the other 370+ pictures 🙂 Is there a vegetable garden?
kcb says
If you get to NC, you should try to see the Biltmore Estate in Ashville. Fabulous gardens, fascinating house…esp the downstairs where the staff worked & lived.
Martha says
Reminds me of a childhood favorite place in Akron, OH – Stan Hywet – home of the Sieberling family, founder of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Amazing details are put into every room of these beautiful homes! I would love to explore them on my own w/o tour guides or red ropes strung across doorways and signs on doors that say “Staff Only”.
Rubi says
Oh Mavis,
Wish I had known you were going to be in my neck of the woods!!! I could have gotten you in here for free plus a behind the scenes tour of the rest of the grounds!
It truly is a magical place and I’m so glad you got to see it!
Some other time 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
Oh wow! That would have been a great experience. 🙂 Thank you for the offer.
Lisa Scott says
Mavis, Have you ever been to The Biltmore in Ashville NC? Its an amazing home (I cannot imagine anyone building a single family home this size) and beautiful gardens. If not, the next time you are coming near this side of the country, you should stop by. Its amazing!!
Mavis Butterfield says
I’ve never been to NC but I would love to go. Thanks for the tip.