Reflections on 2020 (OMG)

 Oh my goodness, what a year! It started off pretty well, with distant rumors of a new strain of COVID, but otherwise full of promise and business as usual. Then everything changed. We were confronted with a world-wide pandemic, orders to shelter in place, conflicts over how that should look, unemployment for some and working from home for others, economic upheaval, shortages, extreme weather, social upheaval, and isolation. Everything went online, from church services and family gatherings, to seminars and education, to shopping and events.

For Eden by the Bay, we started off the year with the theme of Vision (to tie into the year "2020"). Our goal was to look to the past for visionary ideas that got us to where we are; live fully into the present moment with the ideas that surround us; and look to the future for great ideas to sustain close to eight billion of us on our beautiful blue planet. Turns out, the future is now.

Clockwise: Chinese garden at The Huntington
Sky of the future
Historical plant dyes
Vertical farming is now

Outings to parks and gardens were curtailed, and the yearly trip to the desert was canceled. My husband and I managed a trip to Southern California and a tour of The Huntington before lockdown, and an outing to Crystal Springs and a short trip to Mendocino when things eased up. We read a lot of books about gardens and landscapes, and traveled back in time to Father Cadfael's medieval healing garden via video. We learned about more plants used to dye fabric, and I continued to hone my movie-making skills with short videos about dyeing with plants, and going "into the landscape":

• Enjoying the Birds 
• Fall at Bishop Ranch

I think we're all hoping this "new normal" is only temporary, and that we can get back to living our lives. One of the best things of the last year has been seeing how people met the challenge with creativity, humor, and resiliency. I'm grateful that we have each other to face whatever lies ahead (hopefully with more empathy for others and appreciation for whatever we have)!

Christmas in the Bay Area: 2020

Countdown to Christmas day! Decorations are up, boxes sent, gifts are wrapped, and tasty treats and ingredients procured. It's time to relax, finish up a few last-minute tasks, and enjoy the season. We'll miss family and friends this year, and our usual seasonal gatherings and activities, but we're looking forward to virtual celebrations.

	Greenhouse Ornament Collection

As the garden appears to slumber, it's a good time for us to hunker down for a short "hibernation" and change of pace. Stay safe everyone!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Gifts for Gardeners: Part 2

For the gardener, a gardening-themed gift from a friend or loved one is a real treat. It shows they've taken notice, and appreciate you for who you are. As a gardener, it is also a pleasure to share some of your own gardening passion in gifts you give to others. Two years ago I shared some of the fun gardening-related gifts I've received and given (see Christmas Gifts for Gardeners). Now I'm back with more (not a promotional piece, just real life)!

This planter by Peropon provides a taste of indoor gardening. The planter is self-watering, so could not be easier – just plant and add water periodically. I received this stocking stuffer in December and grew the tiny crop of clover in February while waiting for the days to lengthen and warm. The clover continued to grow and thrive into summer.

Self-watering planter

This beautifully made cloisonne key chain is easy to find when searching through my purse. The leaf is tropical and exotic, which adds interest.

Cloisonne key chain 

Books are always welcome. This one about German botanist, Alexander von Humboldt, and his associates is right up my alley – history, exploration, the Americas, and beautiful plants. What more could a gardener want?

Obscure and fantastic

Vases of all sizes, shapes, and kinds are welcome. This glass vase in the form of a sea urchin is perfect for displaying tiny, delicate blossoms.

Sea urchin vase is ideal for displaying a single rhodie blossom

Almost anything floral is a great gift for gardeners. What gardener doesn't like beautiful flowers on almost anything!

Visit to Mendocino

My husband and I recently took a four-day, socially-distanced trip to Mendocino. We rented a cabin (where the state's COVID-19 guidelines are strictly enforced), ate only in outdoor restaurants that complied with state mandates, and spent most of our time in the great outdoors. We were armed with warm clothes, a collection of face masks and multiple bottles of hand sanitizer.

Highway 128

The Andiron near Mendocino

From the San Francisco Bay Area, we followed the winding path of Highway 128 through oak forest and then majestic redwoods to the coast. We shared the road with only a handful of cars (one of the perks of the pandemic), and then checked into the Andiron Seaside Inn and Cabins (located about four miles from Mendocino). Our cabin (named "Curious") was filled with science-based games and activities, two telescopes, and binoculars. We ate a delicious dinner at the Trillium Cafe (in the garden, under a tent decorated with white lights, warmed by propane heaters, and socially distanced from other diners).

Contactless check in at The Andiron

Trillium Cafe for dinner in the garden

Mendocino is a charming Victorian era town of about 1,000 people (in its logging heydey, it boasted 20,000 inhabitants). The architecture is lovely, as is its situation on the Mendocino headlands, overlooking the ocean. A short walk across the headlands to the cliff-edge yields beautiful views of the rugged coastline. We found excellent menus at Flow Restaurant and Good Life Cafe & Bakery, and enjoyed watching wildlife in the evening, followed by fires in the wood stove, and episodes of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.

Mendocino on the headlands

Mendocino coast line

View of the ocean

Curious (the cabin)

Russian Gulch State Park is just up the road, north of Mendocino. We snapped pictures of the Russian Gulch bridge glowing in late afternoon sun from the lower parking lot, then again from the Headlands Trail. The winter light intensifies the yellow sediment of the cliffs and illuminates the dense vegetation that covers the headlands. The crashing of the waves and turning of the tide is so therapeutic.

Russian Gulch Bridge

The caves at Russian Gulch State Park

Dramatic skies at Russian Gulch

One day we ate a late lunch in Fort Bragg (a bustling city of about 7,000 people) at Silver's at the Wharf with the sun on our backs, and then headed for the Point Cabrillo Light Station. We saw the charming lighthouse and more of the coastline, with everything bathed in that golden, late afternoon light. The tide surged into the fjords that cut into the coast, and birds and sea lions foraged for food. 

Lunch in Fort Bragg

Fjord at Point Cabrillo

Light station at Point Cabrillo

Rugged coastline (definite need for a lighthouse)

Golden sunset

We spent our last afternoon exploring Mendocino, and visiting the shops (I felt a serious obligation to stimulate the local economy)! Shopping has changed - hand sanitizer at the door, 20-minute stays in the store, limited number of shoppers at any one time. The Mendocino Presbyterian church on Main street was constructed of redwood and dedicated in 1868, and now operates a food pantry and conducts online services. Multiple water towers are scattered throughout the town. Shops are tucked into Victorian buildings that are well maintained and all painted up. We enjoyed a hot toddy and corn dog at Patterson's Pub.

Mendocino Presbyterian Church

One of the water towers in Mendocino

Bead shop along the wooden boardwalk

View from Flow Restaurant waiting for to-go order

Back at the Andiron, watching the deer graze at dusk

We returned home via Highway 128 feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Even with all the restrictions and precautions, we had a great time exploring the beautiful Northern California coast!

Nature therapy

Vision: Wrap Up

This has been a year like no other! Together we have faced a world-wide pandemic (and ourselves). Following our theme of vision, we looked to the past for visionary ideas that got us to where we are, lived fully into the present ideas that surround us, and look to the future for great ideas to come.

Urban hubs of the future
Image copyright by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

The Future is Now: COVID-19

The pandemic brought the future into the present (climate change, wealth disparity, supply chain disruption, working at home, disease, travel restrictions). Welcome to the new normal.

San Francisco Flower & Garden Show - Canceled!

Trip to the Desert - Canceled!

Filoli, Gardens, and Tours - Canceled!

Farmer's Markets - Open (Six Foot Rule)!

Regional Park Trails - Open (Six Foot Rule)!

Bring Back the Natives - Open (via Zoom)!

Looking to the Past

Look to the past for ideas that got us to where we are. Hindsight is 20/20!

Dyeing Fabric with Plants

The History of Landscape Design in 100 Gardens

At Home: A Short History of Private Life

Connections

What's Happening Now

Live into the present and enjoy every moment, whether gardening or just living.

Indoor Gardening

Forcing Bulbs: Hyacinth

Easter Lily Care

Amaryllis Care

Calscape

Native Plant Finder

Soil Restoration

Horse Bedding

Wood Chips Everywhere!

Looking to the Future

What ideas and attitudes will take us into the future.

Vertical Farming

Cities of the Future

Designers for Tomorrow's Outdoor Spaces

The Seasons

Enjoy every season and all that it holds.

Winter   Spring   Summer   Fall

Enjoying the Birds

Fall at Bishop Ranch

Gardens and Adventures

Explore and experience the gardens and parks that are available.

Visit to Southern California (pre-COVID)

The Huntington

Chinese Garden at The Huntington

Japanese Garden at The Huntington

Crystal Springs Reservoir (mid-COVID)

Visit to Mendocino (mid-COVID)

Books and Movies

Read books and watch moves to learn and experience gardens of the past, present, and future.

Houseplants

The Professional Design Guide to Green Roofs

Brother Cadfael tends a medicinal garden in the middle ages during political unrest (and solves mysteries in the process): Winter Movies: One Corpse Too Many   Monk's Hood   A Morbid Taste for Bones Summer Movies: The Rose Rent   Saint Peter's Fair   The Holy Thief

Thanksgiving 2020

My husband and I are counting our blessings this Thanksgiving. Sure, we're weary of sheltering in place and living with so many unknowns. But we're grateful for faith and home, family and friends, good movies and books, interesting work and projects, and the beauty of nature. Wherever you find yourself in the pandemic, focus on gratitude rather than scarcity and find a way to celebrate Thanksgiving in a meaningful way. Best of all, reach out to the people you love! 

Wild turkey in the Oakland Hills

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoying Fall at Bishop Ranch

Fall is one of my favorite seasons. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, the change of seasons is subtle. Some plants go dormant. Other plants wait patiently for the winter rains (and go deeper into dormancy in case of drought). Still others flourish with only the mist of the night-time fog that rolls in to the Bay.

By choosing the right plants, fall can produce a vibrant tapestry of color, even here in the Bay Area. Join me as we go into the landscape to experience the beauty and serenity of fall at Bishop Ranch. In this video, we walk the paths of Bishop Lake and enjoy the view.

Fall Leaves

We've enjoyed the seasons in the past, including fall at Bishop Ranch. You'll recognize some of the views, plants, and architecture in The Beast of Lake Bishop and Fall at Bishop Ranch.

Fall Colors

More Flower Aquarium

My sister-in-law, who is a fantastic gardener and landscaper, gave me a flower aquarium as a Christmas gift one year (see Flower Aquarium). The flower aquarium is manufactured in Germany, and consists of a round, 7-inch globe with a 2-inch opening at the bottom; a silicone base that is also a flower frog and forms a watertight seal over the opening; and a base that serves as a stand. I have had hours of fun experimenting with this underwater garden.

Following is a gallery of some of my latest creations, and notes about lessons learned – what plant material works best, what to avoid, and any tips and tricks. Most arrangements last for up to a week, but then typically start to turn brown. I've found that it is almost impossible to get rid of all the air, so that bit of oxygen at the top of the globe may be why. Enjoy the gallery (and for more examples, see Flower Aquarium Portfolio).

Spanish Bluebells	Tulip Magnolia
Rhododendron	Iris
Toyon	Aster
Snapdragon	Pittosporum
Violets	Pink Ladies

Lessons Learned:

• Some flowers transpire a lot, and it takes several days for the tiny bubbles to dissipate. This is normal but obscures the view! 
• For some very delicate petals, like iris and aster, the transpiration bubbles raise the petals straight up after a day or two.
• Mix the vinegar and water in advance and let it rest, to get rid of any bubbles that are introduced when you fill the mixing pitcher from the faucet.
• The directions say to keep the flower globe out of direct sunlight. I'm not sure whether this is due to fire danger (like starting one via a magnifying glass), or because it speeds up pigment loss in the petals. 
• The Tulip Magnolia petals discharged a lot of pigment into the water. This makes me wonder whether the petals could be a source of dye (probably a reddish brown, judging by the color of the water, and not the lovely pinkish purple of the petals).
• Submerge the flower in a bowl of water for several minutes to dislodge dirt, and any tiny insects that might be living on the flower. Gently swish back and forth.

Wood Chips Everywhere!

I recently ordered five cubic yards of mulch as part of our soil restoration project. We've neglected our yard over the past several years, and are now doing something about it. Our hope is to create a wildlife- and people-friendly sanctuary here in the Oakland hills. See Soil Restoration and Horse Bedding to learn more about the transformation. 

Fresh delivery of wood chip mulch

I researched several free sources of mulch, including ChipDrop. They match up arborists with homeowners, to recycle mulch for free (or a donation). I love this idea. But the quantity could vary from three cubic yards to 12 cubic yards, and delivery could be at any time the landscaping team is in the area. Between keeping people from parking in front of the delivery zone, coordinating with gardeners, and the unpredictable quantity, it seemed more sensible to start with a trial run on a smaller scale. 

Expert delivery

We used BeeGreen Recycling & Supply, located right here in the San Francisco Bay Area. BeeGreen has a good selection of landscape materials, including bark, mulch, rocks and aggregates, soil and amendments. They also recycle local materials, and they schedule a two-hour delivery window. I chose a small bark in a nice earth tone, and used the Material Calculator to determine the quantity we would need to cover the area. I'm hoping the small-sized bark decomposes more quickly than the larger size, releasing nutrients into the soil.

Wood chips along the patio wall

Wood chips covering the historical lawns

Our gardener spread the wood chip mulch over the former lawn area, and in a strip along the patio wall. Now we're hoping for rain to help speed decomposition and soil restoration process!

Pumpkin Season

 We're coming to the end of October, a month of heat and fires and wind here in the San Francisco Bay Area. It's also a Blue Moon month, which boasts two full moons in the same month. The first full moon of the month was fiery orange, influenced by the smoke that hung in the air from the Napa and Sonoma fires, and was already lingering in the air from August. We'll see how the full moon looks on Halloween in just a few days. 

Cheerful Jack

Until then, we're celebrating the fall harvest of beautiful pumpkins, squash, and gourds, and decorating for the fall season. In this case, with a cheerful Jack O'Lantern on the front porch. If you're in the mood for something scarier, check out Spooky (Garden) Spiders from last year!