A sanctuary for healing and building connections for all people, Filoli boasts “654 acres of beauty nestled along the slopes of California’s coastal range… which includes a nature preserve with 5 distinct ecosystems.” In acknowledging Filoli’s role in ecology and conservation and as an arts and cultural hub, it is important to also highlight how the staff addresses climate change and sustainability while retaining historic viewsheds. Filoli’s Kara Newport outlines the process and challenges of adapting a timeless garden in this article in the Forum Journal, vol. 32 no. 3, 2018, p. 61-69. Project MUSE.
In 2020, Filoli’s Annual Haiku Contest was launched as a way to share stories and memories across cultures, and help create a sense of place and belonging. Along with First and Second Prize, it includes a special category for poets below 18. On average, Filoli receives over 1,000 haiku submissions each year inspired by its landscapes, and the top 10 poems chosen by San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto are displayed as poetry installations in the Spring Garden in the month of May. In 2022, along with the Annual Haiku Competition, the Filoli Ecopoetry Award was launched to encourage submissions that highlight the connection between humans and the environment.
Ecopoems
Below are Best Under 18 winning poems:
2024 Best Under 18
Vermillion wings,
That bear the name of a queen,
Flutter, point skyward
–Eloisa Lin
2023 Best Under 18
Planting in the ground,
one seed sprouts before another,
slowly turning flowers.
–Sophia Lagana
2022 Best Under 18
I'm born as a seed
The wind carries my future
A new life begins
–Katherine Kelly
2021 Best Under 18 The soft hum of wings darting among the flowers seeking winter blooms –Lydia Becker
2020 Best Under 18 short and dense hedges faded red, perfectly trimmed run around the path –Eli Schlanger
Other poetry activities at Filoli.
Speak Poetry in San Mateo County 