October in San Francisco - Sutro Tower

 Fall in San Francisco is a good time to visit.   Skies are clear and sunset occur.

Public Transport in San Francisco

Muni Heritage Fleet Weekend. 

A rare double ended trolley in Muni Wings livery, starting off its run from Castro headed to Fisherman's Wharf.

It is four in the afternoon and I understand many of the historic fleet will travel up Market to either 17th or Church following the J-Church out to the Barn on Ocean Ave.  I decided to walk up Market Street from Castro to see the Parade.   

Dolores Street Hell-Strip

This sidewalk hell-strip garden has a harsh southern exposure surrounded by concrete and asphalt.   It is irrigated in the summer dry months.   I have been replacing those plants which couldn't take the exposure like a mop head hydrangea, I do not lie, with Mediterranean and California native plants and cultivars.

This is a year in review post and these most recent photos were taken the first week of July, 2024.

Dahlia Show - San Francisco Botanical Gardens

Although the Dahlia is the official flower of San Francisco, I find it difficult to grow well in my gardens. It is hard to look at all these gorgeous flowers and not want to try again. We will see.

Best in Show------->

My Favorites this year include Hollyhill Daydream, Verrone's Morning Star and Pam Howden.

Streets of San Francisco - Thomas Church & Zen Center

Thomas Church designed the courtyard between two big performance spaces in San Francisco's Civic Center area.   I recently visited a garden in Washington State designed in part by Thomas Church and that was the reason for my visit.  See what is here in my own city.   The courtyard is simple, lawn, box and pollarded London Plane trees.  I think the brick path work is the most interesting part of his design.  

Spring and Summer Border - My Home Garden

 Last week, I spontaneously sent out invites for an open garden.   The key was to offer Pimp's Cups and a prize.   It was wonderful to share with my twenty or so friends who stopped by.  It was looking good; Photos just don't capture the colors, wind, smells and mood.  Each year it gets fuller and more mature.   Here's some from the most recent party and then few from last year.

July 27th - My home garden.

Puget Sound - Garden Fling 2024 Overview

A long weekend in Tacoma, Washington, viewing gardens of the region with 100 other garden bloggers and Social Media types. I am impressed with everyone's niche. Here's an overview of the weekend, one picture per garden.   More will follow in the coming weeks and months.  

July 18, 2024 SFO -> SEA

Puget Sound.  Wherever you are in the region, you're not far from water.  Both salt and fresh, all carved out by glaciers.  

Fling Tour - Heronswood Garden

For the overview of this long weekend garden tour, click here ==>>

I have been reading about Dan Hinkley’s nursery and garden in Washington State for many years.  I have seen a few cultivars named after the nursery and have wanted to visit.   It is no longer a working nursery and more of a historical garden set in a sacred place.   The Puget Sound is blessed with natural beauty similar to that of the San Francisco Bay Area but different in almost every way.   Here, plenty of water is the game.   Both climes are dominated by the Pacific Ocean with relatively warm winters.  

Check out my photos of this special garden….

Fling Tour - Pacific Bonsai Museum, Botanical Garden & Weyerhaeuser HQ

 For the overview of this long weekend garden tour, click here ==>>

Bonsia and Rhododendron garden and the Weyerhaeuser paper headquarters.  

Fling Tour - Cocktail Hour

For the overview of this long weekend garden tour, click here ==>>

I didn’t record the name of this garden.  A residential garden with an incredible view and some stylish elements.  a fun place to end the long day and relax with a drink and some nibbles.   Mount Rainier on the horizon.

Fling Tour - Froggsong Gardens

For the overview of this long weekend garden tour, click here ==>>

This is Froggsong Gardens on Vashon Island in the Puget Sound.  I recall vivid colors, yellow, pink and reds.  I really liked this yellow garden. 

Fling Tour - Topiary garden in Dockton, WA

For the overview of this long weekend garden tour, click here ==>>

I love topiary gardens, I not sure why, maybe appreciating the pruning skills required.   I think every garden should have at least one even if it’s just a ball or gumdrop.  I find in my gardens the formal crisp shapes help set off the loose naturesque plantings I tend to create.   

Fling Tour - Carhart Garden

 For the overview of this long weekend garden tour, click here ==>>

This swimming pool fits into the site so well.  The cascades was constructed with great care that looking back at this photo, I think, this could be an alpine pond.  It looks so refreshing and I wanted to go for a dip.

Overview - The Midlands Tour

We arrived in London on May 28th and a train ride to Oxford to pick up our car and we drove to RHS Wisley on June 1, 2024. This is an overview of our trip, one photo for each of the 28 plus gardens we toured. A blog post for each garden will follow in the coming weeks. This is just a teaser.

Our second visit to Wisley in over 10 years and lots to take in.

London Private Garden - South London

 This is Flo and we are in the basement of her home looking out onto the garden behind her London Townhouse?  I don't know what to call the neighborhood, I will show a photo for the street below.

Yes I am gardening or doing gardening tasks in London.  I just deadheaded these Iceburg Roses.  I am in my garden tourist attire.