News

Fourth Annual Event Highlights Creative Floral Installations and Promotes Benefits of  Local, Seasonal, and Domestic Floral Agriculture 

WOODSIDE, Calif., January 30, 2020 — Filoli Historic House and Garden, a site  of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and one of the last country estates  reminiscent of the Gilded Age, today announced that it will be one of two venues to host the 2020 Slow Flowers Summit, a two-and-a-half-day conference and lecture series for  creative professionals, thought leaders, and pioneering voices in the American-grown  floral community. Held during American Flowers Week, which is celebrated annually  the week of July 4, the Slow Flowers Summit offers an agenda designed to stimulate  curiosity, examine assumptions, and explore conscious and ethical practices in the floral  industry. Filoli will host the Slow Flowers Summit in Woodside, 25 miles south of San  Francisco, on Sunday, June 28 and Monday, June 29. 

“We are excited to spend two full days immersed in the beauty and legacy of this Bay  Area cultural institution, complete with a ‘floral takeover’ of Filoli’s historic house,” said  Debra Prinzing, producer of the Slow Flowers Summit and founder of the Slow Flowers  movement. “With its legendary cutting garden and reputation for supporting artisans  who use local, seasonal, and sustainably sourced materials, Filoli is a real-world success  story of how the Slow Flowers approach can work to inspire, connect, and nurture a  community.”

The Slow Flowers movement encourages flower consumers and floral professionals to  make conscious choices about their floral purchases and sourcing practices. The U.S.A. is the world’s top importer of cut flowers—80 percent of all cut flowers sold are  imported. Slow Flowers advocates for the growth of domestic floral agriculture and  sustainable practices in floral design. 

“We are proud to host the Slow Flowers Summit this year,” said Kara Newport, Chief  Executive Officer at Filoli. “Slow Flowers promotes a more sustainable approach to  floral design and aligns with the way we operate Filoli as a non-profit organization. Our  visitor-experience design and horticultural practices are all rooted in seasonal,  sustainable gardening and ethical sourcing practices—from the floral arrangements in  the house, to the catering at special events, to the items on sale in our shop. Appropriately, Emily Saeger, the lead horticulturalist in Filoli’s panel garden, which  includes the cutting garden, will be participating in the Monday panel discussion on  sustainable farming and floral design. We can’t wait.” 

On Sunday, Filoli’s general admission visitors will be able to observe while the Slow  Flowers Summit attendees create unique floral arrangements throughout the historic  house. These arrangements will remain on display for the enjoyment of Filoli’s guests  throughout the following week. After Sunday’s floral takeover and Monday’s  presentations at Filoli, the final morning of the Slow Flowers Summit will be hosted on  Tuesday, June 30 in San Francisco at Farmgirl Flowers, a bouquet delivery service that  includes American-grown, seasonal floral options. Christina Stembel, founder and CEO  of Farmgirl Flowers, will give attendees an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour and  presentation at Farmgirl Flowers headquarters.  

Advance registration for the Slow Flowers Summit is now open. The price for general  admission tickets is $599, while tickets for Slow Flowers members, as well as Filoli  members, are priced at $549. Registration includes refreshments, meals, and evening  receptions. To view the complete schedule and to register for the Slow Flowers Summit,  visit: www.slowflowerssummit.com. 

About Filoli 

Located south of San Francisco in Woodside, California, Filoli boasts 654 acres of  beauty nestled along the slopes of California’s coastal range. Originally built as a private  residence in 1917, Filoli was open to the public in 1976 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit  organization and site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The property is  considered one of the finest remaining country estates of the 20th century, featuring a  54,000+ square-foot Georgian revival-style mansion, 16 acres of exquisite English  Renaissance gardens, a 6.8-acre Gentleman’s Orchard, and a nature preserve with over  seven miles of hiking trails. Filoli is dedicated to connecting our rich history with a  vibrant future through beauty, nature, and shared stories, so that one day all people will  honor nature, value unique experiences, and appreciate beauty in everyday life. For  more information about Filoli, visit www.filoli.org. 

Contact: 

Filoli Historic House & Garden 

86 Cañada Road 

Woodside, CA 94062 

(650) 364-8300 

press(at)filoli.org