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 The
Gardens of
Hearst Castle
Spectacular formal
gardens ornament the grounds of Hearst Castle. William
Randolph Hearst collaborated closely with his architect,
Julia
Morgan, to create a garden design which was in harmony
with the Mediterranean Revival style buildings. Together they
found inspiration in the great Italian and Spanish gardens
of Europe. Magnificent panoramic views of mountains, coastline
and ocean enhance the elaborate features and formal landscaping
of the gardens.
Majestic Coastal Live
Oaks and California Bays, native to the hilltop, are carefully
integrated into the garden design. These and other large trees,
such as Italian Cypress and Mexican Fan Palms, help to integrate
the scale of the towering main house, Casa Grande, with the
smaller scale of the surrounding gardens and guesthouses. William
Randolph Hearst wanted a garden that displayed a profusion of
blooms throughout the year. Plant species that bloom during
each of the different seasons were selected for the beds, and
colors abound in the gardens throughout the year. Colorful flowers
such as bougainvillea, tulips, hyacinths, gladiolus, lilies,
dahlias, asters, geraniums, lantana, petunias, pansies, sweet
peas, hollyhocks, marigolds and carnations were some of the
many varieties grown. Greenhouses were used to grow annuals
from seed, to propagate shrubs, and to raise tuberous begonias
and gloxinias. Additional flowers were purchased from nurseries.
Hundreds of thousands of annuals, bulbs and perennials were
planted throughout the year to provide the color displays Hearst
enjoyed in his gardens.
With the support of Friends of Hearst Castle,
we can restore these gardens to their original splendor for the
enjoyment and enrichment of generations to come.
Visit the
Friends of Hearst Castle
web site for more information.
"Hearst Castle", "Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument", "La Cuesta Encantada",
and "The Enchanted Hill" are registered trademarks of Hearst Castle®/California State Parks.
©2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 California State Parks, All rights reserved.
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