Flowers of February

 

Book Review - Shrouded in Light

 By Kevin Philip Williams & Michael Guidi

For the last few months I have been systematically reading my library of garden books.   With my morning cup of coffee I read front cover to back the many gardening books I have collected.

Great Highway, San Francisco

 I took the N-Judah street car to Ocean Beach and then walked the five miles back home.  Here’s some characteristic street scenes. 

Neighbors often get inspiration for each other, or think it is horticulturally acceptable. 

Model Train City for the Holidays

 Every year around Thanksgiving we start to unpack and build the model city located this year in the dining room.  So far we only have a basic layout but here are some from past years. 

A good three tiered layout with three nested loops. 

Book Review - Mien Ruys - The Mother of Modernist Gardens

 By Julia Crowford

    A good introduction to this gardener, designer, sometimes landscape architect.   Known for her simple shapes and clean lines, she utilized modern materials to create garden spaces for people to mingle with Nature.  

This make me think back to my visit to her home garden in Dedemsvaart in 2016 ==>>

Streets of San Francisco

 

Book Review - A Field Guide to California Lichens

By Stephen Sharnoff

I found this book at the Huntington Gardens gift shop.  I wanted to learn more about Lichen and which ones I see in my gardens and environs.

This made me start to take photos up close of those in my gardens.  This first I need to ID is on an old rose cane in Eureka Valley.

The Huntington - Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens

The Huntington, near Pasadena in Southern California, San Marino to be exact, is a library, art museum and botanical gardens.  The Botanical Gardens is 130 areas with 16 themed gardens.  

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.