According to Buddhism every person has the potential to become perfect and enlightened, and it is just a matter of time until each human reaches the light. Its characteristics are a perfect analogy for the human condition : even when its roots are in the dirtiest water, the Lotus produces the most beautiful flower. The Lotus grows deep in the mud, far away from the sun, but sooner or later, the Lotus reaches the light becoming the most beautiful flower ever.
The Lotus flower closes and sinks in the water at night and rises and opens again at dawn, just like the sun. Like the sun, some believe that humans are born, they perform their tasks, die, and ultimately they are reborn again.
The seed of the Lotus flower contains perfectly formed leaves as miniatures of what they will become when the Lotus blooms. Every person is already perfect and the model of perfection is already formed inside each being, awaiting the opportunity to emerge when ones reaches the condition of being aware of his perfection.
Essentially, the lotus flower represents creative power and purity amid adverse surroundings. Here is a beautiful old Chinese poem :
"The leaves break the bandage of the green stem, stretch themselves and form a green pool with untidy edges.
Now the flower comes out of the vast surface of water,
just like a very beautiful woman
coming gracefully from her bath".
"When rain drops fill a lotus petal, the petal sways for a while together with each drop, and when the water has pooled to a certain extent, the petal pours the pure crystal - like water without any regret or attachment.
Then when the water falls again on to the lotus leaf below, there again it wells up and rolls right on off again, emptying into the lotus pond.
The lotus petal takes on only as much weight as it
can hold; anything more and it empties everything
out completely!
Here ones sees the wisdom of the lotus. Were the Lotus to instead take the water greedily, the petal would end up tearing or its stem would snap.
The principles of living in the world are exactly the same ....."
So let us be like the Lotus flower, bringing beauty and light from the murky darkness at the bottom of the pond......
The most magical spot at Filoli is probably the Summe House, also known as the tea house or more commonly known as a garden pavilion. Little accessory structures like this area always the jewel of any estate; Just think of the follies of English Country Homes.
Sitting between the walled garden and the formal garden adjoining the house which I showed the other day HERE, the small structure has views from its one room of all areas of the estate: the house, the formal gardens, the pool area, the walled garden and last but not least the gorgeous mountain view.
The room is floored with 3 types of marble in a graphic grid pattern and paneled with ornate boiseries. Designed by Arthur Brown Jr., this is the same formality seen at his well known SF City Hall (which I'll post about next week) but on a MUCH smaller scale. He made elegant grandeur cozy; Just who wouldn't want to have tea here?
These lovely sconces were originally intended for the stair well in the house, but fit in nicely here too adding to the formality of the space.
This column above is a copy of the Satyr plant stand found in Pompeii and was originally in the Bourn's SF house, as was the marble table in the center of the room.
The comfortable wicker chairs and profusion of plants bring life to the space. I can imagine it being a lovely cool spot on a hot day because of all the marble. Had it been seen empty, it might appear to be a very sunny mausoleum!
Some closeups of the very elegant woodwork. Someone worked very hard getting everything to meet JUST SO.
You can't miss the summer house in the gardens and before our guide took us in, I think every person in the group managed to ask if we would see inside! Tomorrow -more of the gardens.
The gardens at Filoli, while they have evolved over the years, have aged so wonderfully primarily because of the thought that went into their planning at the first construction of the house.
The setting is amazing and was why the house was sited here; to take it all in. The gardens adjacent to the house are Georgian in design to fit in with the design of the house and bring the focus to the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The planning of the gardens was actually done as a partnership between the Bourns and the artist, 
The house was sited so that the rear would have views of the mountains to the East while the entry was put on the west side which lacked a strong view. An olive grove was planted across from the house's entry court to hide a visible water tower in the distance, seen above.
You can see why: wow! I especially love the fog which you can see creeping through the valley.
The elegant balastrade hides a 
This dining room door which connects to an enfilade through the hallways of the house lands on a patio where the family could have breakfast. The wall to the right hides the motor court and is the perfect backdrop for a collection of bonsai.
The garage has a clock tower modeled on one by the famous English architect, Christopher Wren. Much of the garden is considered a complete and rare English Renaissance garden.
My favorite spot lies just south of the house. A formal garden is centered upon a reflecting pond and rose garden. A summer house, which I'll share with you later this week, is the perfect place to take tea and enjoy the garden.
The focus of this more elaborate garden still remains the view of the mountains.
