Cover story: Promises of spring -- Filoli opens its 2005 season by celebrating the annual rebirth of the garden Cover story: Promises of spring -- Filoli opens its 2005 season by celebrating the annual rebirth of the garden (February 16, 2005)

By Jane Knoerle

Almanac Lifestyles Editor

Magnolias and camellias are already in bloom as the historic Filoli estate in Woodside welcomes visitors after a two-month hiatus.

In the next few weeks, the 16 acres of gardens at Filoli will become a continuing panorama of colors. As the camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons reach their peak, the Japanese cherry trees will put on their spectacular show. Hundreds of yellow and white blooms will fill Daffodil Meadow and beds of tulips will present a rainbow of color.

February, however, only hints at the beauty that spring will bring. The season opens with a week-long event, "Gifts of the Winter Garden," February 15-19, which includes camellia pruning and potting demonstrations, walks through the camellia gardens, Japanese tea ceremony demonstrations and a lecture by curator Tom Rogers on Filoli's French porcelain collection.

Garden manager Alex Fernandez will talk about Filoli's winter garden maintenance in his lecture, "Waking the Winter Garden" at 2 p.m. Wednesday, February 16.

During December and January, when Filoli is closed to the public, the garden staff is busy making preparations for the coming year. First, it's a rush to get all the fruit trees pruned, then sprayed, says Lucy Tolmach, director of horticulture. Ms. Tolmach came to Filoli in 1977 with a master's degree in horticulture from UC Davis. She says she loves her work and that she's been fascinated with gardens since she was a child.

Walking through the dormant gardens, she points to new metal header boards that have been installed, then shows us the greenhouse where hundreds of plants are awaiting their day in the sun.

Caring for display gardens, such as Filoli, is an art, but it's also a science, says Ms. Tolmach. Every flower bed at the estate is listed on the computer, along with the succession of blooms to be planted within it.

For instance, pots in the Lane Courtyard will first be planted with "Pink Impression" tulips, succeeded by "Carmine Parrot" tulips, followed by "Flaming Parrot" tulips. After these flowers fade, they are replaced by digitalis, then hydrangeas.

"We ordered 78,000 bulbs last year, including 58,000 tulips," says Ms. Tolmach. After the tulips finish their spring show, "We yank them out in May."

Bulbs are ordered from grower Adrian van Egmond in Holland. "He comes over every year to see the show," says Ms. Tolmach. "We're one of his biggest customers." He also supplies bulbs for the Buschart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia.

All plantings are figured out a year in advance. "With the quantities we order, we have to let the grower know that far ahead," she says. She has records of plantings going back 27 years.

Timing is all-important in a display garden. People expect the spectacular and that's just fine with Ms. Tolmach. She can look at the now somber sunken garden and tell you to the day when it will be at its peak.

"I like the big bang effect, to have the whole nine yards go at once," she says.

Along with the big picture, there is total attention to detail. Ms. Tolmach seems to have a personal acquaintance with every plant on the estate.

Strolling through the garden, she points out a "Captain Rawes" mountain camellia that is sheltered with a shade structure made of screening. The camellia had been growing under a live oak tree that had to be removed because of decay. Without shelter, the camellia's leaves became sunburned. The solution? Planting another live oak tree and keeping the screen over the camellia until the young tree can provide enough shade (about three years).

Cost? Fifteen hundred for the shade structure and $2,000 for a new tree. The young live oak came from Specialty Oaks in Northern California, but the little acorn from whence it grew, was local. It came from Menlo Park.

"We had to make sure it was the right kind of live oak," says Ms. Tolmach. "A Southern California oak would have a different kind of leaf."

Spring Fling in March

While Filoli shows a quiet beauty today, those who want the "big bang," should mark Saturday, March 19, on their calendars. That's when "Spring Fling at Filoli" takes place from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Woodside estate.

The gardens will be filled with hundreds of blooms and there will be floral displays and floral design demonstrations.

Volunteers will spin cotton candy outside the kitchen courtyard and vendors will offer samples of their products, including nuts and jams from Fontana Farms and Filoli's herb dips, vinegars and honey.

Plein-air artists will be painting and sketching on the grounds of the estate. A "children's art extravaganza" will offer crafts for children. Box lunches will be available and must be pre-ordered.

Admission is $15 for members, $20 for non-members, $5 for children 3 and over, and free for children under 3. Box lunches are $15 for adults and $7 for children.

For reservations, call the ticket office at 364-8300, ext. 508. For more information, visit www.filoli.org.

2005 Calendar of events:February 15-19 Gifts of the winter garden March 19 Spring Fling May 5-8 Mothers Day flower show June through October Filoli jazz series June 25 Summer at Filoli July 19-23 Flowers in the home July 30 Summer evening party October 8 Autumn at Filoli November 26-December 3 Holiday Traditions

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