Agnes and William Bourn were world travelers with a love for new discoveries. The gardens they installed at Filoli throughout the 1920s, influenced by famed designers Bruce Porter and Isabella Worn, highlighted their collector’s aesthetic. The original plantings along the House’s Balustrade border showcased a vibrant Mediterranean palette featuring interesting plants from the Panama Pacific International Exposition, Muckross, and the Bourns’ world tours. Over the next century, plants faded and were replaced and the garden beds gradually lost their focus and vibrancy. The renovation of the Wollenberg Terrace and the new entrance sequence in 2023 presented the opportunity to renovate the Balustrade garden beds with a focus on preservation and sustainability.
In early 2024, as the winter rains steadily nourished Filoli’s soil, a year of project planning came to fruition. The new design removed water-loving plants but retained well-established historic specimens and drought- tolerant plants. For further water savings, the spray irrigation system was converted to a more efficient drip system. Finally, the new vision–or should we say, the old vision–began to take shape. Hundreds of new plants, carefully selected for their light and water requirements, historic significance, and beauty were installed along the Balustrade.
“The renovation of the Balustrade brings this border back to what William and Agnes had in mind from the get-go. Surrounding the House with an exotic palette of Mediterranean and other complimentary plants brings excitement to the landscape through textures and varying colors, but in a way that is in keeping with the Georgian design. All this was done choosing drought-tolerant plants more resilient to a changing climate.”
– Jim Salyards, Associate Director of Horticulture Initiatives
Generous donor support allowed Filoli’s Horticulture team to bring the Bourns’ original vision for the Garden back to life. Thanks to our supporters, this reinvigorated garden space showcases new and interesting plants better suited to our local climate. In looking to the past, we have created a beautiful garden that will carry us sustainably into the future.
During the renovation, we installed:
Did You Know?
In the 1920s, African bulbs were making their way around the world. With a similar Mediterranean climate, Agnes would have wanted those interesting plants in her garden. To honor her legacy, the Giant Sea Squill was selected for the Balustrade. The thick green leaves lend a lush tropical vibe to the Balustrade in the summer and give way to towering six-foot curling spikes of white flowers in the fall, adding unmistakable artistry and whimsy to the Garden.