Annuals for Northern California

I used Annuals for Northern California, by Bob Tanem and Don Williamson, as another source for learning about plants for my front planter project. It is published by Lone Pine Publishing (2002). Bob Tanem is a retired nursery plants man who hosts several popular radio gardening shows in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The table of contents for the book is a series of beautiful flower pictures, in alphabetical order by common name. This is a great approach, especially for gardeners who are just learning! The introduction describes annuals, the California climate, principles for gardening with annuals, how to get started, how to pick the right plant for the right location in the garden, how to prepare the garden for planting, and how to plant and grow annuals. The descriptions of annuals for northern California are organized alphabetically. The descriptions provide information about the plant, its habit and requirements, tips, recommendations, and potential problems and pests. Beautiful photographs accompany each description, giving an up close view of both flowers and foliage. For reference, the fundamental information is compiled into a chart indicating flower color, sowing recommendations, height, hardiness, light requirements, and soil conditions.

I love this book’s beautiful pictures, easy-to-use approach, and its compact, portable size. I also appreciate that it includes both California natives, and plants that thrive in a Mediterranean climate. Annuals add a splash of color in the garden. They are ideal plants for containers, so it makes perfect sense to go beyond the purely California native palette. This book gave me a lot of good ideas for my garden planters or containers, including flowering maple, ornamental kale in beautiful colors, and spider flowers.

Summer Movies 2014: The Constant Gardener

For the last summer movie, in which plants play the starring role, we are watching The Constant Gardner (2004), based on the book by John Carré. The garden metaphor in this movie is the garden as sanctuary – where a garden represents a retreat and hideaway from the harshness, pain, and truth of the world.

Justin is sort of an “accidental” diplomat and lecturer who takes assignments almost reluctantly. In England, Justin meets the fiery activist Tessa at a lecture he is giving. Sparks fly as she challenges his views. She observes that Justin seems to dream about a world without weeds, but seems unwilling to pull them. Her view is there is gardening to be done, and weeds to be pulled. Despite differences, they seem to fall for one another. She convinces him to take her to Africa on his next diplomatic assignment, and they decide to marry. In Africa, she works on her research, and he pursues his gardening when not engaged in diplomatic activities. Through flashbacks we see his lush garden in Chelsea, and see the new garden he is creating in Africa, which seems to use all the wrong plants for the harsh African climate.

 

Early in the movie, Tessa and a young, African doctor with which she works die in a jeep accident during a research project. This brings into question the research they were doing, their relationship, the relationships of their circle, and their marriage. Justin is pulled in, reluctantly at first, to investigate his wife’s death. As he follows the evidence, he becomes more and more engaged, to find the truth that Tessa was pursuing, and answer the question as to whether theirs was a marriage of convenience, or love. He leaves the safety of his garden to uncover the truth.

There are actually very few garden scenes or references in this movie, but I did notice a few things as a fellow gardener. When Justin learns of his wife’s death, while in his potting shed, he crushes an aloe plant (known for healing) in his grief. In fiery hot Africa, Justin is tending their new garden, which looks like a withered version of an English cottage garden (he is clinging to what he knows, rather than embracing truth). Tessa is appalled that he is using pesticides in their garden (later we learn it is the particular brand of pesticide). The scenes in the green golf course under the hot sun stand in sharp contrast to the dry African landscapes and densely packed townships. The panoramic views of the hot and hostile African plains are breathtaking in their beauty. See the trailer (select Watch Trailer):

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387131/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

 

Summer Movies 2014: Karate Kid

For the next summer movie, where plants take the starring role, I watched The Karate Kid from 1984. In this movie, the lead character grows and matures while learning karate. His mentor uses the activities of gardening to help transform his pupil.

 

The main character is Daniel, a fifteen year old from a tough neighborhood in New Jersey. His single mother has an opportunity to improve their lives, packs up the station wagon, and they drive across country to California for a fresh start. Daniel is reluctant to leave their home and his friends, and their new rundown apartment in California doesn't improve his outlook. At school, Daniel meets potential new friends, and Ali, a knockout cheerleader. Ali has recently broken up with Johnny, the ringleader of a group of bullies, who are learning karate from a dishonorable dojo master. After a particularly humiliating encounter with them, Daniel meets the apartment's maintenance man, Mr. Miyagi, who is also suffering from loss, and agrees to teach him karate. They prepare for a local tournament, in which Daniel will fight Johnny in an exciting last round.

Mr. Miyagi uses everyday tasks to train Daniel in karate. In the classic "wax on, wax off" scenes, Daniel must wax a whole fleet of Miyagi's classic cars using his left arm to "wax on" and his right to "wax off". Mr. Miyagi uses the same principle to get Daniel to sand, and then paint the decks and fence of his garden. (This is brilliant, and I really should have remembered this when I was parenting)! Mr. Miyagi also uses his Bonsai trees as an object lesson for learning about discipline, beauty, and character. Through Mr. Miyagi's lessons, Daniel learns karate, and, more importantly, is transformed through the friendship and lessons about life, relationships, and character. See the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7JhKCQnEqQ

Summer Movies 2014: The Secret Garden

Every summer I head to the movies in search of entertaining films in which plants have the starring role. (That's not necessarily the director’s purpose!) This summer I went in search of movies with the theme “garden as metaphor.” Gardens are rich with metaphor, with all the planting, tending, nurturing, weeding, pruning, grafting, and harvesting going on. Gardens are a place of birth and rebirth, death and destruction, and transformation of body and soul. A garden can be savage, or a place of healing. It can be bold and showy, or a tranquil retreat. The garden can represent the inner and outer transformation of a character, and so can be a great device for telling a story.

The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden (1993) is based on the classic children’s story written by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was initially published as a serial, starting in the autumn of 1910, and then published in its entirety in 1911.

 

The main character is Mary Lenox, a sour, spoiled, rich, but neglected, ten year old, who becomes orphaned in India, and returns to the family estate in England, as the ward of her uncle, Lord Craven. Her new home is a grand but neglected house on a sweeping cold moor. Lord Craven is still grieving the loss of his wife (Mary’s aunt) after losing her in child birth ten years before. He frequently leaves the estate for business in London, leaving Mary in the care of servants, including the formidable Mrs. Medlock.

Mary soon makes several discoveries, including a sickly and demanding boy named Collin, who is her cousin, Lord Craven’s son, and the cause of his mother’s death. Mary also discovers the key to a secret and neglected garden. Several servants, including a kind maid, her straightforward brother, and the old gardener befriend Mary. She learns to garden, and challenges her cousin Collin to leave his sick bed and join her in the fresh air and garden project. The two are transformed as the garden is replanted, spring emerges, and the garden is brought back to life. Lord Craven’s relationship with his son is restored.

I had great fun rewatching this movie. The story is timeless, the photography is beautiful (I loved the use of slow motion photography to indicate growth in the garden and the passing of time), and the transformation of both people and garden is satisfying. See the trailer (select Watch Trailer): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108071/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
  

Native Plants and Roses at Capitol Park

The Sacramento Capitol Park design includes a series of theme gardens, each with a special focus. Two of my favorites are the native plants garden, and the rose garden. The gardens were fairly dormant during my winter visit, but both were alive with blooms for my spring visit.

Native Plants

The native plants garden is a great collection of plants, trees, shrubs, and grasses that are native to California. Specimens are from all over the state, and many of the plants are endemic to California. In 1914, Governor Hiram created the Capitol Park Native Plants section, and enlisted the help of school children from all 58 counties to donate plants and trees from their geographic locations.

California Native Plants Garden

I loved seeing the resulting mix of plants—an appealing blend of textures and colors that is punctuated with swaying grasses—all flourishing after the recent spring rains. Many of the plants and trees are familiar from my expeditions to the Southern California desert, and to local San Francisco Bay area destinations. It was great to see them as a collection.

World Peace Rose Garden

The rose garden is an amazing collection of roses old and new. The garden was established in 2003 by the International World Peace Rose Gardens organization, whose mission is to advance peace all over the world through the creation of rose gardens. The garden is Victorian style, and includes over 153 species of roses. Sections of the garden are dedicated to heirloom roses (some are no longer available in the trade); celebrity roses (like the César Chávez Rose); and an experimental garden for the All-American Rose Selections. The garden is on the site of the original Capitol Park rose garden, and incorporates its plantings.

World Peace Rose Garden

The flower colors are varied and intense, and the fragrances intoxicating. I have never grown roses, because my gardens have always been too wet or too shady, but I can see how a gardener might become addicted to the colors, fragrances, and history of roses.

Capitol Park is a garden you can visit any time of the year, and see something new!

Capitol Park Tree Tour

In May, the Sacramento Tree Foundation offered their Capitol Park Tree Tour, which showcases interesting native and non-native trees, many of which are legacy or mature specimens. In 2013 I visited Capitol Park in the winter, and was impressed with their tree collection (see Capitol Park in Sacramento). I jumped at the chance for a tour of Capitol Park, and dragged along my friend, colleague, and swimming buddy, Leslie (she is a fellow tree-hugger and nature lover, so didn't put up much of a fight).

Cockspur coral tree (Erythrina Crista-galli) from South America, at the Sacramento state capitol

We met up our tour guide from the Foundation on the steps of the state Capitol building on the second Saturday in May. The tour group included an eclectic group of citizens, landscape designers, gardeners, naturalists, arborists, students, and kids.

Mature Deodar cedar in the background, with a Seville orange tree in the front

We spent the next couple of hours with our guide learning about the Capitol Park’s landscaping history, which started in 1870; its trees, many of which were planted from 4" starters a hundred years ago; and the history of its monuments and theme gardens. I love hearing the stories behind the trees – like the Deodar cedars (Cedrus deodara) that came from the Himalayas as starters, along with their own gardener. Those trees are now a mighty grove towering 70 - 80 feet high!

Towering cork tree (Querces rubra)

We also learned about the Sacramento Tree Foundation, which monitors and cares for the trees, and offers various Tree Tours in the Sacramento area. We learned that Capitol Park has decided to stop watering its beautiful lawn in the summer to conserve water. One of the park naturalists that joined the tour expressed delight – the trees will actually do better without the continual water supply!

Collection of mulch for Mulch Madness in July and August

I recommend the Capitol Park Tree Tour for anyone who loves trees, or just a good walk in the park. Check the website for information about the tour, and other tours offered: http://www.sactree.com/treetours

Civil War Tour

To observe Independence Day this year, I’m reporting on the Civil War section of the Mountain View Cemetery in the Oakland Hills (see Honored Dead, for a past report). I realize there is quite a gap between the Revolution and the Civil War, but I’m short on Revolution-era cemeteries here in the East Bay! The Civil War memorial has been undergoing restoration over the last few years, and I wanted to see the progress. On the Memorial Day weekend, I took the Civil War tour given by Dennis Evanosky, author of Mountain View Cemetery, and a driving force behind the restoration project.



Newly renovated Civil War Memorial

Evanosky took us all over the cemetery, telling fascinating stories as we visited the graves of Confederates and Union sympathizers alike. Most came to Oakland after the Civil War; some came to escape it; others came to promote one view or the other.  Evanosky described the restoration process of the Civil War section. The team used a tiny plot map and cemetery records to identify who is buried where. They cleaned up the site, replaced missing or dilapidated headstones, and relocated some veterans into the main plot. They replaced the necklace of cannon balls with an attractive low stone fence, and had the post-Civil War era howitzer cannons and cannon wheels restored.

Obediah Summers - born a slave; fought in his masters place; joined the Union army when captured. Later became a minister in Oakland.	Cornelius Mahoney - Colored Infantry
Post-Civil War howitzer cannon	Restored wheel
Annie Glud - drummer girl from the South joined the Union army with her father	Good and brave soldier from Ohio who later settled in Oakland

HTML Tables

When I visited, the grass was still green from recent rains, and the trees were flourishing. The Civil War memorial looks fantastic. I love that the Union soldiers (both black and white) are buried under a southern Magnolia tree. Apparently one Confederate, who was the friend of one of the Union soldiers, is also buried in the plot. I do miss the ring of cannon balls. In 1897, 750 cannon balls surrounded the plot; by 2014, only 20 remained. They had disappeared over the years due to vandalism. (According to Evanosky, a 10 pound cannonball launched from a howitzer in Oakland Cemetery could hit Angel Island). I recommend the Civil War Tour at Mountain View for the interesting history, and the beautiful park-like setting. The Civil War memorial is a good reminder that pursuit of freedom and independence is an ongoing endeavor.

American flag at the Mountain View Cemetery