Sabbatical and Seasons: Wrap Up

In this year of sabbatical we explored fun ideas, appreciated the seasons and seasonal change, visited parks and gardens, and enjoyed the beauty of the everyday.

Fall light in late afternoon

Fun Ideas

Here's a collection of fun ideas for the garden and the gardener.

Tennis Shoe Planter
Birdhouses
Fresh Herbs
Favorite Christmas Plants
The Art of Beatrix Potter
Christmas Gifts for Gardeners
Cousin Chris and the Glam Camper

Seasons

Enjoy the landscape in different seasons.

Winter at Bishop Ranch
Spring at Bishop Ranch
Summer at Bishop Ranch
Roses at Bishop Ranch
Filoli in Fall
The Beast of Lake Bishop

Regional Parks

Visit regional parks in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

Seahurst Park
Garin Regional Park
Wildcat Regional Park
Iron Horse Trail
Dry Creek Garden
Point Pinole
Black Diamond Mines

Gardens

Visit gardens in Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Marra Farm Community Garden
Garden on the 17th Floor
Kitchen Garden in Palo Alto
Dublin Heritage Park and Museums

Birdhouses

Thinking about adding a fun detail to the garden without spending a lot of money? How about adding a birdhouse? Here are a few I've seen while out and about.

Alaskan-style birdhouse with a tin roof and opening, and beautiful green patina

Seattle Victorian birdhouse in a leafy neighborhood

I don't know if birds actually use bird houses, but I have seen them pushing twigs into them. Perhaps they are preparing a cozy resting place or a back-up nest (just in case).

Rustic birdhouse at Filoli in Woodside

Rustic birdhouses like this one are placed throughout the Gentleman's Orchard at Filoli in Woodside, California. The birds they attract may help manage insects that could damage crops.

Thanksgiving 2018

I miss the turkeys in Dublin! And with all the construction going on for City Center Bishop Ranch, the turkeys I saw in San Ramon last year are long gone (possibly relocated to the foothills of Mount Diablo).

Pumpkin pie in the raw

Hope you're looking forward to a few days of respite this Thanksgiving, along with delicious food, and time with friends and family. Whether you're feasting on turkey pot pie, a turkey plate at a nearby diner, or a full blown Thanksgiving feast – pause a moment to reflect on all you can be grateful for, and all that binds us together.

Happy Thanksgiving!   

The Beast of Bishop Lake

This beast shows up on Bishop Lake every fall. I've never seen it in action, but I'm pretty sure it is a lake rake (or hydro-rake), which scoops up anything floating in the water; and mows the lake bottom.

The beast of Bishop Lake

Small plants grow on the bottom of shallow Bishop Lake, providing habitat and nutrients for the ecosystem. But occasionally the lake bottom is mowed to reduce plant volume and ensure water clarity.

Notice the aquatic plants hanging in the "teeth" of the beast

If you're curious, you can see how hydro-rakes work. Dredging and hydro-raking is an important part of maintaining a healthy man-made lake.

Food for the beast

Decorating for Fall at Heritage Park

I recently had another  opportunity to volunteer at the Dublin Heritage Park and Museums in Dublin, California. A group from the business women network at work (the Mighty Morphing Women of Power, as my husband likes to call us) worked with Master Gardeners Jim and Sue on several projects.

The museum before we started - notice all the fallen leaves!

The garden we planted in the spring, now all grown up

It was gratifying to see the results of our labors back in June (see Volunteer at Heritage Park). The plantings are mature and healthy. It is great to see that several hours of work in spring can bring beauty and pleasure to folks through several seasons.

Piles of leaves ready for the compost heap

The museum after we raked - no leaves!

Our group made short work of raking up leaves and sprucing up the garden beds. This made a significant contribution to the compost heap. Never mind that a gust or two of Dublin wind will undo what we did - for the moment it looks great!

Lady scarecrow

Another group worked on crafts and decorated the grounds in preparation for an upcoming fall festival. We also got a chance explore the park grounds.

Wash basin of fall gourds and wheat

Our business women's group (which includes a few men) enjoyed our service project and time together on a beautiful fall morning.

Barnyard in the fall with square harrow