Reflections on 2017

What a fine year in the garden! We learned all about color from Penelope Hobhouse and her book, Color in Your Garden. I enjoyed combing through photos to identify and categorize native and Mediterranean plants by color for our San Francisco Bay Area gardens (and appreciated that color refers to foliage as well as flowers). We also spilled over into the art world to learn more about the art and science of color using movies, books, and art exhibits.

We explored my new digs in San Ramon, and walked part of the nearby Iron Horse Trail in all seasons. We visited several of the East Bay Regional Parks that are part of the local watershed, and provide wonderful opportunities for recreation. I especially enjoyed the views from Sibley Volcanic Park, and the beauty of the second-growth redwood trees in Redwood and Roberts parks.

Color wheel (by Jason Quisenberry)	Beautiful plants
Exploring nature	Seasonal beauty

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We traveled from Southern California to the Pacific Northwest to the wilds of Alaska and Canada, enjoying wild places, gardens, and container gardens all along the way. It's hard to pick a favorite, and honestly, it's the companionship of family and friends that really makes the journey through gardens and life fun (especially when there is a tasty meal and stimulating conversation involved)!

We also enjoyed some of our regular pursuits, like good movies and books, the San Francisco Garden Show, garden history topics, and seasonal change. Now we're relishing the cooler weather, and taking time to review the year and our rambles in the gardens of the world!

Christmas in Seattle

My husband and I are celebrating Christmas with our son and daughter-in-law, and their new family member – Mako, an Alaskan Husky with beautiful fur and ice blue eyes. He is affectionate, protective of his family, and a good sport!

We have great plans for our time together – visiting Candy Cane Lane for the Christmas lights, eating at our favorite restaurants and trying new ones (dinner at the Space Needle is on the list), cooking and baking, watching movies, working on a puzzle, taking long walks with Mako. Best of all is having a little extra time for conversations and shared experiences, and getting to know each other more as we all journey through life.

Charming hand-painted greenhouse ornament ready for the tree

Our family has a lot to be grateful for this year, including a new job, good friends, career preparation, wonderful family, interesting work, time to curate a music collection gathered over a life time, travel, and interesting times. Hope you enjoy your holiday!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Holiday Cooking – Curry

We're back in the kitchen again – exploring the herbs and spices from around the world that flavor our holiday cooking. As in previous years we're turning to Jan-Öjvind Swahn and The Lore of Spices to learn more, and this week we are covering curry powder. Curries come in a range of colors from yellow, to red, to green, and in a range of heat. I like to prepare a mild curry chicken dish for my family, but some folks prefer hot curry dishes that make you sweat!

Curry powder can include up to twenty spices, including (clockwise from upper left):
nutmeg, turmeric, cinnamon, and cardamom.

According to Swahn, religious texts, such as the poem Bhagavad Gita, mention curries around the time of Christ, and the Indian Brahmin, Sheta Karma, records that curries were used to prepare food offered to deities in fifth century A.D. Today, foodies covet curries for sheep, fish, shrimp, and egg dishes, and more. Technically curry is not a spice, but a combination of spices. Up to twenty different spices may be found in a curry blend, frequently cardamom, cinnamon, clove, coriander, cumin, ginger, nutmeg, and turmeric. Additional components may include anise seed, Laurel, saffron, pepper, and more.

There is a spice tree known as "curry leave" (Murraya koenigii), which may be used to flavor Indian cooking, but it is not a common spice in curry powders. According to Swahn, the secret of curry is to heat it in butter or vegetable oil before adding it to the sauce or soup to release its full flavor. As you plan your holiday meals, think about adding something with a little heat to the menu, like a tasty curry dish!

J.O. Swahn (1925 - 2016)  While researching for this year's Lore of Spices posts, I was saddened to learn that J.O. Swahn is no longer with us. I have appreciated his research and writing for many years. See: http://www.librarything.com/author/swahnjanjvind.

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Holiday Cooking – Turmeric

Back to the kitchen for another session of holiday cooking with the herbs and spices of the world. Our guide is The Lore of Spices by J.O. Swahn, and this year we're spicing it up by borrowing seasonings from the cuisines of the world. Today we're looking at turmeric, which originates in Southern Asia, but is cultivated in southern India, China, Taiwan, Philippines, Java, Haiti, Jamaica, and Peru.

Botanical illustration of Curcuma longa

from Koehler's Medicinal Plants

(published before 1923 and public domain in the United States)

Curcuma longa (or C. domestica) is from the ginger family (Zingiberaceae) and is a key ingredient of curry powder. The plant propagates from a rhizome, and at harvest the rhizomes are dug up, cooked, cleaned, sun-dried for a week, and then polished. The deep yellow-orange pieces are ground into a powder that is used in both food and drink, and as a dye. According to Swahn, Asian medicine uses turmeric (and recently Western medicine has been looking at turmeric as well). He also warns that turmeric may be passed off to tourists as a cheap alternative to saffron.

Rhizomes are short, tuberous, with yellow flesh. Leaves to 1.5 feet long and 8 inches wide. A flower spike terminates the leafy stems to 7 inches long, with a terminal tuft of white bracts. Flowers are pale yellow. Widely cultivated in the tropics.

Color in the Garden: Wrap Up

Learn some color theory, the art and science of color in the garden, and categorize flowers and foliage by color.

Color wheel (painted by Jason Quisenberry)

Getting Started

Learn a little about the theory of color, and how it pertains to color in the garden.

Color in the Garden
Color Theory
Designing with Color

Color in the Garden

Observe the colors of flowers and foliage in the garden, especially plants that thrive in the Mediterranean climate of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Color in the Garden: White
Color in the Garden: Clear Yellows
Color in the Garden: The Blues
Color in the Garden: Pinks and Mauves
Color in the Garden: Strong Reds
Color in the Garden: Hot Colors
Color in the Garden: Foliage
Color in the Garden: Beautiful Browns
Container Gardens of the North

Seasonal Color in Nature

Wander in nature to observe changes in nature through the seasons.

Spring on the Iron Horse Trail
Summer on the Iron Horse Trail
Fall on the Iron Horse Trail

Books and Art Movies

Read books to learn the basics of color in art and the landscape, and enjoy films about three significant artists.

Color in Your Garden
The Twentieth Century Art Book
Elements of Color
Summer Movies 2017: Mr. Turner
Summer Movies 2017: Renoir
Summer Movies 2017: Vincent & Theo

Holiday Cooking – Saffron

Thanksgiving is behind us, and a wonderful memory of family gatherings; delicious dinners and pie; and time off to sleep in, enjoy a fall outing, and do a little online shopping. Christmas is comfortably ahead of us, with plenty of time to shop, assemble Christmas boxes, and dream about all the good things to cook and eat. As in past years, we're turning to Jan-Öjvind Swahn and The Lore of Spices to learn about the plants that season our holiday meals.

This year I'm delving into spices from other cuisines that have worked their way into our holiday meals. The first one is saffron, used to flavor Spanish dishes, such as paella, southern French bouillabaisse, risotto, and couscous. Crocus sativus is in the Crocus genus of the Iridaceae family. The stamen and filament are the flavoring agents, and are harvested by hand (explaining its very high price).

Botanical illustration of Crocus sativus

from Koehler's Medicinal Plants

(published before 1923 and public domain in the United States)

According to Swahn, the origin of saffron crocus is unknown, but it was most likely on the steppes between the Aegean Sea and Turkey (it is no longer found in the wild, only in cultivation). A Chinese medical book from 2600 BC contains the oldest reference to saffron for its ability to give strength and stamina in love. An Egyptian medical text from 1500 BC refers to crocus growing in the palace gardens at Luxor. Writings found in Mesopotamia refer to saffron as a cooking ingredient. Saffron has also been used to dye fabric, freshen the air, and combat alcohol poisoning.

Crocus is a corm with a tunic of parallel fibers attached at the crown. Leaves grow as multiple spathes around the base. Flowers are large and fragrant perianth segments in various colors, spreading 1.5 to 2 inches long, and typically blooming in autumn. Anthers are white, and styles are yellow to bright red, drooping over the anthers and perianth segments. The dried stigmas of C. sativus are harvested by hand during a two-week period, and dried for use.

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and a great time to take stock and be grateful. If you are breathing, moving, eating, and have shelter, that's cause for gratitude, and if you have a few friends and family who keep showing up, that's cause for celebration!

A year ago, I enjoyed seeing a rafter of turkeys on my afternoon walks in Dublin (see Thanksgiving Turkey Hunt). A year later, I despaired that I would no longer see turkeys in San Ramon. However, recently I saw a large group of them assembled in a wide green belt area along a busy street. They were a fine-looking lot with dark feathers, but I couldn't stop the car to take a picture. You'll have to take my word, and enjoy this brief clip from last year.

My husband and I are looking forward to a family celebration with my folks and extended family at my aunt's place (we are bringing the pies). I'm looking forward to spending time together and sharing stories and photos from the past year, and remembering Thanksgiving celebrations from years past.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Roberts Regional Recreation Area

This month we are visiting the last park on our itinerary of East Bay Watershed parks that contribute to our emergency water supply, and provide great recreational opportunities right in our back yard! This time we are visiting Roberts Recreational Regional Park, which is surrounded on three sides by Redwood Regional park. But I'd like to highlight it, because it provides a place to host gatherings as well as enjoy nature.

Roberts Regional Recreational Area

Redwood Grove

Blossom Rock Navigation Trees Exhibit

Manzanita Loop Trail

The 82-acre park opened in 1952, and its entrance is in a second-generation grove of redwood trees. The original trees were logged in 1860, and the current trees are descendants of the famous trees used by ship captains to navigate San Francisco Bay. The original trees were reported to be up to 20 feet in diameter.

View of Mount Diablo from the Vista Point

Sports field with a view of the San Francisco Bay

Swimming pool

Sycamore picnic area

Park amenities include a playground (wheel chair accessible area for children), archery range, sports fields, volleyball court, swimming pool, and picnic sites. Check the Park Calendar on the website for groups hikes, swimming and archery lessons, and hours of operation. Some amenities require advanced online registration, others are on a first-come, first-served basis, so plan your group gatherings accordingly.

Ring of Redwood trees	Redwood needles
Redwood duff	Fall colors

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A network of trails connects with trails through the Redwood Regional Park, providing opportunities for hiking, biking, jogging, and horseback riding. Check out the Graham Trail, Manzanita Loop, Roberts Ridge Trail, and Vista trails. This park may not fit everyone's needs, but it is a place to consider when planning a large group event, or special birthday celebration.

Address:  Recreational Area – 10570 Skyline Boulevard; Oakland, CA 94611  Web Site: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/roberts  Map: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/roberts#trailmap Wild flowers (sorted by color): http://www.ebparks.org/Assets/files/EBRPD_files/photoguides/wild-flowers/EBRPD_Roberts_Wildflowers.pdf For other parks and preserves in the East Bay watershed, see:  http://edenbythebay.blogspot.com/2017/02/parks-of-east-bay-watershed.html

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Fall on the Iron Horse Trail

I'm back on the Iron Horse Regional Trail, this time to report on fall, and thereby completing my four-season report on this gem in San Ramon. Since Summer on the Iron Horse Trail, we've had a series of searing and then surprisingly cooler days come and go, and definitely no rain. This is typical of our Mediterranean climate here in Northern California.

Shady oak and long shadows

Mile 18.5 heading south toward Dublin, CA

Comparing pictures, there's not a big difference between summer and fall. The grasses and spent plants do seem alarmingly dry, but the East Bay Regional Park does a good job of mowing, so there is not an excess of burnable material. A few trees sport yellow (or brown) leaves, making it feel more like fall. Some deciduous trees have even dropped their leaves.

Dry field

The shadows are longer in the late afternoon when I walk, so that helps with the heat of our Mediterranean fall weather. Kids from the nearby schools run by in large groups as part of their sports training, along with the usual joggers, walkers, and cyclists.

Long shadows and view of the Pleasanton hills

Side path with golden fall light

And on clear days the sky is a brilliant blue and the light that wonderful golden glow that somehow looks more like fall!

Shady (but dry) pines	Fall color
Dry vegetation	Orange berries

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Color in the Garden: Beautiful Browns

All year we have been using Penelope Hobhouse's book, Color in Your Garden, to learn about how to use color in the garden, including whites, clear yellows, the blues, pinks and mauves, strong reds, hot colors, and foliage in shades of green and gray. Along the way, we've developed a palette of plants that thrive in our San Francisco Bay Area gardens, whether native or Mediterranean plants. Now I'd like to part company with Ms. Hobhouse, and propose a new color for the San Francisco Bay Area – beautiful browns!

Golden hills in the inland valley

Golden hills of the San Francisco Bay Area

Our Mediterranean climate typically provides rain in the winter, and is dry or dormant in the summer. This leaves us with the dry golden-brown hills that are characteristic of Northern California for much of the year. Look at the following gallery, and consider the potential of brown!

Grasses

Golden grasses	Golden grass heads
Grass clumps turning brown	Small plants going dormant

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In addition, ongoing droughts (the most recent lasted four years), growing demand for water by an increasing number of residents, and rising water prices have caused us to rethink our gardens. Instead of bemoaning brown, let's embrace it!

Going to Seed

Golden flower head	Flowers drying in situ
Seed forming in the sun	Textured seed pod

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Let's take a closer look at nature, and the lovely shades of wheat, gold, bronze, and brown that she provides. We can continue that trajectory of replacing lawns, modifying our plant choices, and learning to love brown.

Leaves

Rustling brown hedge	Oak in fall brown
Fall leaves	Ivy turning brown in the fall

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One caveat to this wonderful world of the browns, is that we need to consider fire danger. The natural ecology of the San Francisco Bay Area includes fires that systematically clear out dry undergrowth. This natural process is not desirable for a populated area, so we need fill in the gap to mow, prune, and plant wisely to keep fire safe.

The Beauty of Bark

Mahogany textured Manzanita	Brown stretch marks on an Oak
Golden brown Redwood	Shreddy Birch

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Beautiful Bend in the Fall

On our way back from our fall trip in 2016, my husband and I drove from Spokane, Washington to Bend, Oregon for the night. We had a fun, talk-as-fast-as-you-can dinner with my sister and husband, nephew Lucas, niece Sarah and boyfriend Nick at Greg's Grill at The Old Mill. It was fun to see them and get caught up on all the news!

Old Mill in Bend, Oregon

Artifacts from the kiln

It was my first time visiting Bend in the fall (we typically visit in late spring for high school graduations, or late summer). I loved the chill in the air, the muted fall colors, and the snow on the surrounding mountains. I can see why Bend is such a desirable place to live and vacation!

Fall colors with Mount Baker in the background

Food and family at Greg's Grill at the Old Mill