Villa dei Fiori - beautiful private estate on 14 acres in Joshua Tree

Villa dei Fiori is a romantic escape on fourteen acres immediately
on the boundary of the Joshua Tree National Park. Pine log pergolas
cover the surrounding five terraces with arbors of climbing roses
and cascading purple and Alba Longissima white wisteria. The villa,
built amid the surrounding quartz monzonite boulders was created by
Dale Allan Pelton, a Hollywood based film production designer and
writer.

On the west side of the villa, the terraces of 150 rose bushes with
a border of purple French lavender form a dramatic contrast to the
savage landscape of boulders beyond. There is a grove of Italian
Stone pines on the North. To the South, a terrace of raked sand
with a Zen aesthetic, is in the midst of large boulders, perfect for
al fresco dining. In the west one can see the snow capped peak of
San Gorgonio, the highest mountain in Southern California.
Between the kitchen terrace and the southeast terrace stands a giant
Joshua Tree, several hundred years of age. The motorcourt is
surrounded by mesquite trees and crimson oleanders which conceal the
vehicles, allowing a feeling of complete solitude and pastoral
peace. Near the house, is a cave formed of giant boulders with a
bed of soft sand and a fire pit where guests have dinner parties in
the evening by the light of an open fire. Crevices in the boulders
open to the sky so that one can glimpse the stars at night.

A 24 ft. x 36 ft. swimming pool is nestled back in the giant
boulders, near the cave and the park boundary. There is a salt
electrolyte purification system and a beautiful surface of
glistening black and intense blue 'gemstone'pebbles. Mid April to
mid October the pool is warm enough for swimming. Through fall and
winter, the pool is not heated. A terrace in the boulders overlooks
the elliptical pool, where boulders and Mediterranean palms are
reflected in the water.
A top of the line, seven person Jacuzzi is on another terrace
surrounded by boulders behind the master bedroom.

The villa has an European ambiance, with three bedrooms, one painted
deep raspberry and another, magenta, the bath in tangerine and the
living and dining rooms treated with hand rubbed colors of cognac
and amber over an under layer of gold. The master bedroom has a
romantic antique bed, its ornate design formed with the tendrils of
metal leaves. The colors of the Moroccan pottery complement the
vivid paintings of the Parisian artist, Michele Quence.



There are thirteen French doors, each room of the house with two
glass doors opening upon a private terrace, bringing the outdoors
inside. There is a magnificent library spread throughout several
rooms—hundreds of books on subjects as varied as architecture,
painting, sculpture, film, theatre, biography, literature,
photography, fashion, automobiles, gardening, travel, exotic places,
anthropology, history, almost any subject one could think of.

The living room features a silk tapestry and original paintings and
a
rock sculpture from the film, Battlestar Galactica, illuminated by
halogen lights with dimmers. There is an excellent stereo system
with an interesting selection of CDs. There is no television so
that
one can enjoy the quiet natural sounds of the desert without the
intervention of what one has come there to escape in the first
place.

The kitchen is well equipped for gourmet cooking, a spacious
refrigerator, a gas oven, a micro wave oven, complete cookware and
plates, wine glasses and flatware service for ten. The engravings
of
a French chateau and an église are from the 19th century. Double
French doors open upon a dining terrace overlooking a grove of
mesquite trees and a Joshua tree amid the boulders. There is a
barbeque and an exterior stone fireplace on the terrace by the
boulders.

By walking through the boulders behind the villa, you will discover
the hidden valley on the estate. From there you may pass around the
giant outcroppings and hike directly into the multi-hued canyons of
Joshua Tree National Park. Hiking through the boulders you will spy
cactus wrens and ravens, owls and hawks, roadrunners and quail. If
you are fortunate, you may encounter a bobcat who lives in my hidden
valley, or an increasingly rare Chuckawalla iguana, or Mojave Desert
tortoise. This is such an inaccessible region of the park you will
not encounter any other hikers to disturb your splendid solitude.
Horses may be rented near Black Rock campground in the National Park
near Yucca Valley.
Excellent restaurants are to be found in 29 Palms, (29 Palms Inn),
Joshua Tree (Crossroads Café and the Thai restaurant)and Yucca
Valley
(Stefano’s Giardino).
There are no electric lights on the National Park so you’ll find the
stars quite intense. On moonless nights, one marvels at the intense
canopy of stars in the Milky Way and the fiery streaks of meteor
showers.
The seclusion of Villa dei Fiori in the magical air of Joshua Tree,
is an ideal retreat from the madness and routine of our pressured
lives, perfect for sharing with family and friends or for the
discovery of a new romance or the rediscovery of an old love almost
forgotten.

Weekend, Friday thru Sunday, September 15 to June 15: two nights:
$800 for two - four persons for two day weekend. $750 midweek.
Additional guests: $100 per person. (children 13 and under are not
counted as additional guests.) Additional days: $350-$400 per day.
Some weekends and holidays require a three day minimum.
One week (non holiday week): $2400-$2600 .
Summer rates: June 16 to September 14: Weekend, Friday thru Sunday:
$750 to $800 for four persons. Additional days: $325-$350 per day. One
week: $2000 for four persons.
Rates for major holidays vary. Please inquire for Spring break,
Easter, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s eve.
Vacation rates vary from $2600 to $3200 which includes 7 nights.

There are no refunds for cancellation or early departure.