Filoli Apples

Many people who live in the San Francisco Bay Area have never heard of Filoli, and those out of state are even less likely to know of this California Historical Landmark estate famous for their well preserved gardens and orchards.

To the uninitiated, and I quote from the California Office of Historic Preservation: “Filoli, built as the home of mining entrepreneur William B. Bourn II, was the last great residential commission of one of California’s most important architects, Willis Polk. Built in Georgian Revival style with its formal gardens, Filoli is an outstanding example of the grand estates of the late 1800s.”

Now we have visited Filoli many, many times over the years. Their website lists what is blooming each month, and we normally go when the roses are in bloom in the summer. They have a small section behind the house devoted to old heritage varieties of roses we like the best, but they are most famous for their massive rose garden to the side of the house.

A very small amount of the land of this estate is accessible to the public. And one of the hidden treasures is the ‘Gentleman’s Orchard’ which requires advance registration to tour. Never being much for advance planning due to our brutal work schedule, we never have visited.

However, this past October we were invited to attend a special fall festival in which to sell our jam among some other selected local companies. We were excited to meet the woman who with her husband cultivates all the honey from the bees they keep on the gardens, and whose wildflower honey we purchased on a recent trip with Phineas’ mom who simply loves roses. There were also live events aimed at children, but the real center of attention was the apple and pear tasting.

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While I was stuck standing behind a small table selling my jam, I convinced one of the employees of Filoli to cover for me so I could run over to the apple tasting. Luckily she agreed for a few jars of jam. Once I entered the room (the building where you pay for tickets) there was a large circle of tables in the center of the room with samples of around 50 apples. I didn’t even make it to the pear tasting tables so I have no idea how many they had. I wanted tart apples. We are on a tart kick. So knowing I had about 5 minutes to do all my tasting, I simply inquired to the wonderful volunteers behind each apple, which is the tartest?

I was directed to two apples which proved to be the most mind-blowingly delicious apples I have ever tasted. The problem is I wrote down the names of all my favorites and lost the piece of paper, so I will have to wait until next year to learn what they were. The bad news is you cannot buy their apples and they secretly guard them. The only way to taste them is to visit the fall festival!