March 2023
California has been getting a lot of rain and snow since it seems like forever (probably only since late December). Filoli, in places, looks saturated or beyond saturated. But, the formal gardens have been well tended by the horticulture staff and look as beautiful as ever. Yet, so many oaks have been lost among the property from the shallow roots and the saturated soil. Nature has a way of doing things we don’t always like. But, thankfully the volume of rain is bringing lots of color to Filoli this month. Click on an image to view a slideshow.
April 2023
April…. March showers bring April flowers–doesn't have the same ring to it, I suppose. But, such the case in April 2-0-2-3 at Filoli. It is this time of year that the color and the intensity and the abundance make it hard to settle down and focus on a shot. Just breath and relax is the mantra for April in the gardens. Alas, with the rains subsiding and the hillsides drying out a bit, I ventured over the hill and through the woods in search of the beautiful canopies of the grand oaks of Filoli. Click on an image to view a slideshow.
May 2023
The Daffodils and Tulips have run their course. Yet, as you might expect, there are new colors and textures everywhere. The exceptionally wet winter seems to have really helped the Wisteria as it is exploding. Interestingly, the Wisteria fully blooms and then lasts for just a short time. I’ve been paying close attention to the Wisteria cycle and it is paying off. Click on an image to view a slideshow.
About this project: 45 Minutes At Filoli
This project originated because my wife and I were looking for a pandemic-friendly afternoon outdoors and we visited Filoli in Woodside, CA. Spring had just begun to coax the blossoms and blooms along and I thought it might be fun to revisit the gardens every week and create a pictorial record of the changes. I decided on two guidelines. First, get in and out in 45 minutes to an hour. Second, go ultra-light by picking a lens from my old lens collection and sticking with that throughout my visit. Mostly, sometimes, I was able to stick with these guidelines. While my visits often stretched longer, trying to keep things simple and work fast gave the project an energy I enjoyed.