Color in Your Garden

I recently read Color in Your Garden, written by Penelope Hobhouse and published by Little, Brown and Company (Boston Toronto, 1989). I’m a big fan of Hobhouse, and have referred to several of her works over the years, including The Story of Gardening and her The Art & Practice of Gardening videos. Hobhouse is an English gardener, lecturer, and writer, with dirt under her nails and always ready to try something new.

The introduction explores the importance of color in the garden design, whether seasonal color or shades of green. She compares the gardener and the artist –the gardener paints with light, while the artist paints with pigment. She discusses color theory and physiology, how the eye and brain see color, and how the gardener can use this to make the garden seem larger or smaller, a flower bed nearer or farther, or a planting scheme restful or stimulating. Most of the book is devoted to the plant catalog, arranged by color – whites, clear yellows, the blues, pinks and mauves, strong reds, hot colors, and foliage. The color categories go beyond flowers to embrace bark. foliage, and texture. The bibliography provides many valuable color and plant resources.

I enjoyed learning more about the physiology of color, and how to use that in garden design. I appreciated that Hobhouse embraces shades of green as color in the garden (here in the San Francisco Bay Area, we are starting to embrace shades of brown)! The plant catalogs are a great resource, and many of the plants are suitable for our Mediterranean climate (or have a comparable native version). On a personal note, I especially like my copy of the book, which my mom used to design planting beds in their Southeast Alaskan garden. I love coming across her notes in the page margins!

Redwood Regional Park

Our first East Bay watershed park visit of the year is to Redwood Regional Park, situated in the hills between Oakland and Moraga. My friend, colleague, and swimming buddy, Leslie, joined me for a hike and chance to explore this emerald gem. We hoped we wouldn’t be rained out, but were fortunate to visit the park during a brief lull in the heavy February rains. We entered through the Redwood Main Entrance.

Redwood Main Entrance

The park is over 1800 acres of lush evergreen forest, chaparral, and grasslands. Redwood Creek passes through the forest, close to walking and bridle trails. Because of the heavy rains, the stream was full of water. The trees of the redwood forest are descendants of a coastal redwood stand that once stretched from Rancho de San Antonio to El Rancho de Los Palos Colorados land grants (Alameda, Berkeley, Oakland, San Leandro, and Lafayette). Imagine!

Stand of redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens)

In the 1800s, the original, old growth trees served as a landmark that helped ship captains navigate the treacherous waters of the San Francisco Bay. Several lumber mills operated in the area throughout the 1800s and the wood used to build the homes of San Francisco and Oakland. Later the area was used for homesteading, ranching and grazing, and growing orchards or crops.

Redwood Creek full of water

Picnic area and amenities

Leslie and I enjoyed our time walking the accessible paths and trails of the second growth redwood forest. We didn’t see any blossoms, but the moss and ferns were lush and beautiful. We encountered families, hikers, and joggers out enjoying the break in the rain. One group was exploring for mushrooms in nearly perfect conditions.

Photo op	Signage
Riparian restoration	Fern lined path

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The areas along the creek are being restored to safeguard habitat for native newt and trout, so sections of the creek and various trails are closed. Still, we found plenty to see. Afterward we enjoyed lunch and conversation at nearby Hunan Yuan Restaurant.

Address:  Redwood Main Entrance – 7867 Redwood Road; Oakland, CA 94619 (37°48'05.5"N 122°08'40.5"W)  Web Site: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/redwood  Map: http://www.ebparks.org/Assets/_Nav_Categories/Parks/Maps/Redwood+map.pdf Wild flowers (sorted by color): http://www.ebparks.org/Assets/files/EBRPD_files/photoguides/wild-flowers/EBRPD_Redwood_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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Parks of the East Bay Watershed

This year I am learning more about the East Bay watershed by visiting some of its parks and preserves. Much of the land in the hills behind the East Bay is dedicated to storing, capturing, and filtering our emergency water supply. This back bone of undeveloped land is also a jewel for recreation right in our own back yard!

Lush riparian forest at Redwood Regional Park

Park or Preserve	Description
Lake Chabot Regional Park	The lake was created in the 1870s to serve as a main water source for Oakland, but is now used for recreation and emergency water supply. Amenities include a marina and café, hiking, and fishing. http://www.ebparks.org/parks/lake_chabot
Leona Canyon Preserve	This small preserve includes a hiking trail linking Merritt College and residential areas. The canyon includes chaparral and woodlands, and is a great spot for identifying native plants. http://www.ebparks.org/parks/leona
Redwood Regional Park	A forest of coastal redwoods with trees up to 100 feet tall. Trails meander through a lush green mixed forest along a stream. Amenities include hiking, picnic spots, bridal trials, and staging areas. http://www.ebparks.org/parks/redwood
Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve	Geologic and ecological conditions sustain a microcosm of plants from another time and place, and rare in the Bay Area. Provides a year-round display of blossoms. http://www.ebparks.org/parks/huckleberry
Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve	Site of ancient volcanic activity from 9 – 10 million years ago. Signs identify interesting volcanic phenomena for study. An open, dry landscape typical of California. http://www.ebparks.org/parks/sibley
Roberts Regional Recreational Area	An area of the Redwood Regional Park that is dedicated to recreation. Amenities include swimming, playground, ball field, amphitheater, picnic areas, archery, trails, and the Redwood Bowl. http://www.ebparks.org/parks/roberts

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The East Bay watershed includes many more parks and preserves than listed here. Besides harnessing and filtering our water, these parks provide places for solitary contemplation and active recreation. The parks are available to all. Membership provides parking and additional perks.

  

East Bay Watershed

The drought is over! East Bay Municipal Water District (also known as EBMUD), declared the four-year drought emergency over on May 10, 2016, even before our four-month marathon of rain from October through January! This is great news for all of us. Still, EBMUD recommends we continue to conserve and use water wisely. That makes sense, considering 1.4 million of us here in the East Bay vie for the precious commodity.

Lake Chabot provides emergency water and recreation for the East Bay

According the EBMUD’s website, the water system’s total storage is 85% full. The Mokelumne watershed—the main source of our drinking water for most of us in the East Bay—recorded precipitation at 191% of its average; the East Bay’s local reservoirs—used for emergencies—recorded precipitation at 150% of its average. In early January, the Sacramento Bee reported that the snowpack in a key location in the Sierra mountains is just 53% of average, but cited statistics from the California Department of Water Resources that the statewide snowpack is 70% of its normal.

EBMUD manages 28,000 acres of watershed land here in the East Bay. The land surrounds five reservoirs and a basin, which collect, and store water (we have delicious water). The land also provides habitat for flora and fauna, and recreation for humans. Some of the land is managed by the East Bay Regional Parks, with miles of trails to explore. To learn more about the East Bay Watershed Master Plan Update, and its goal to provide long-term management for the land and water resources: http://www.ebmud.com/recreation/east-bay/east-bay-watershed-master-plan-update/