This April, we visited Park Winters Estate in Winters, an Inn, Event Center, and Flower farm. The original owner of Park Winters was George Washington Scott. He was one of the first American settlers in the Cottonwood area (now Yolo County). He started a large grain farming and stock-raising operation and built the elegant Park Winters Mansion in 1865. George has descendants who live and farm the area to this day.
Rafael Galliano and his partner bought the 10-acre estate in 2010 and remodeled it into the thriving farm it is today. Galliano was born in Cuba where his family were tobacco farmers. “Farming is in my blood. I’ve been gardening since I was 5 years old…gardening saved my life.” The attention to detail and beauty of the property can be attributed to Rafael’s fine arts background. An artist himself, who has exhibited in Miami, he believes “the arts touch so many people on so many levels.”
Photos by YoloArts.
Last time Art & Ag artists visited Park Winters was in 2013 and a lot has changed since then. Seven years ago they shifted from farming vegetables to flowers and developed the west side of Park Winters into a flower farm. They put care and intention into all that they do by working with the land in harmony with the cycles of nature. Farmer Ryan has been instrumental in carrying out Rafael’s vision of the farm by following their ethos to recycle, repurpose, and reuse.
The Farm Pavilion, a new restaurant and bar, is open on the weekends for a bite to eat while enjoying the flowers. Also in the Pavilion is the Farm Store with their signature fig jam and other products from around the region. Learn more here.
Photos courtesy of Carol Basey.
“April will be glorious!” says Rafael Galliano about his the garden's bloom.
Artists had access to an acre of different varieties of flowers including freesias, sweet peas, straw flowers, statice, daffodils. Three varieties of willow. Extensive 10 acre grounds including a sunken garden, European garden, fig forest, tea garden, pool with Miami flair, and a giant door. Ornate Historic Inn Building with freestanding tower
Floral Event Barn that was converted from a horse and carriage barn. Chicken Tea House - a whimsical sitting room that was converted from a chicken coop built out of fruit drying palettes. ADA compliant concrete pathways to all buildings.
Photos courtesy of Carol Basey.
We had the pleasure of hosting a painting workshop with Philippe Gandiol, an award-winning painter. Philippe was born and raised in France and moved to California in his early 20’s. He has painted with oils for over 30 years. Philippe likes to paint a variety of subjects including landscapes, cityscapes, still life, and figures “en plein air” or in the studio. He works often from life, believing that in that setting he can he find the full range of light and colors that he wants in his paintings. Also and even more important, he can embrace firsthand the spirit and mood of his subject. As an instructor, Philippe is appreciated as a thorough, supportive, and inspiring mentor.