Regional Park Trails – Open (Six Foot Rule)!

I am yearning for the day we can return freely to our favorite East Bay Regional Parks. Many parks are currently closed. In other parks, the trails remain open for hiking, but the parking lots and visitor centers are closed. Gathering in groups for parties is not allowed, the 6-foot social distancing rule applies, and masks or bandanas must be readily available in case of close contact. If you can walk, bike, or bus to a park, you can get some exercise in the fresh air. If you're not as mobile, it may not be a viable option.

The Beautiful San Pablo Bay from Point Pinole Regional Shoreline

Before heading for a park, you can check the East Bay Regional Park website to learn its current status. Even with all the closures and limitations, I remain optimistic, and renewed our East Bay Regional Park membership for another year. Surely we'll have access to the parks again for long hikes and spectacular views! If not soon, the money goes to a good cause – maintaining green zones that serve as beautiful places for  exercise and contemplation, for our active urban population.

Cathedral of Redwoods at Redwood Regional Park

In the meantime, I can dream about some of our favorite spots, like the windswept shores of Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, the rolling hills and grand views of Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, the majestic stands of redwood trees in Redwood Regional Park park, the geology of Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, the botanical treasures of Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve, and the sand and coal mining history of Black Diamond Mines. And many more just waiting to be explored!

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

With so many venues and activities shut down and canceled, the highlight of the week is a trip to the grocery store! My husband and I gear up for early morning shopping with bandanas and our shared electronic grocery list, and tackle the task. We each have our specialty areas, and both are on the lookout for certain scarce items (we finally learned where to purchase rationed hand sanitizer).

Grocery stores have adapted to the situation with new strategies for crowd management, keeping the shelves fairly well stocked, and protecting checkers and baggers from customers with clear divider panels. They've also found ways to support the six-foot rule, by limiting store entrance to small batches of shoppers, establishing one-way shopping aisles, and marking off six-foot intervals at the check-out line.

Farmer's market in Montclair

Farmer's markets are still open, and also hold to the six-foot rule. The one in Montclair is much smaller than usual, but doing a thriving business in artisan breads, nuts, and beautiful produce. Other businesses are still open, such as Colonial Bakery and the EM Deli and Catering market (yes, donuts and rice are essential). A variation on the farmer's market is signing up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription, and having seasonal fruits and vegetables delivered. Grocery stores are convenient for one-stop shopping, but I also like to support our local farmers and businesses as much as possible.

Stay safe everyone, and look for ways to meet the challenges of the pandemic – six feet apart!

Filoli, Gardens, and Tours - Canceled!

Many of our favorite spring garden activities here in the San Francisco Bay have been canceled. Filoli Gardens and its spring blooms; Mountain View Cemetery and its tulip exhibition; U.C. Botanical Garden and its blooms from around the world; and the annual Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour are all shuttered. This is not surprising as we continue to shelter in place to protect our families, colleagues, and community from the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, I miss enjoying spring in our beautiful Bay Area, in the company of fellow nature and garden lovers!

Ornamental cherry tree

Flowering tree

For some of us, sheltering in place has its silver linings. It means more time home with family, a chance to slow down, less time on the road, opportunity to fit it weeding and pruning between other tasks, and a chance to count our blessings. Another upside is seeing all the creativity that folks bring to the situation. The internet, virtual events, Zoom calls, texting, phone calls, YouTube, and Facebook sustain us until we can return to "normal". Our technology and inventiveness can be used for good!

Pleasant stroll in the dappled shade

I'm using my extra time to take long walks and observe the spring transformation right here in the neighborhood. I'm also brushing up on some of my "Zombie apocalypse" skills, like learning how to sew face masks using what I have on hand. Take care and stay well!

Field of greens

Trip to the Desert – Canceled!

Had all gone according to plan, my folks and I would be together in Southern California right now, enjoying each other's company, searching for wildflowers, and exploring the desert. We've been meeting up in Hemet, California every spring for over a decade – they fly down from Southeastern Alaska and I fly down from the San Francisco Bay Area. From there we fan out and visit our favorite haunts, like Whitewater Preserve, Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park, Bautista Canyon, and more. Had life not taken another turn, we would probably be in Anza-Borrego State Park right now.

Since we are all sheltering in place for the duration, here is a tribute to our trips to the Anza-Borrego area over the years. We've approached it from the Badlands (great desolate and sweeping vistas), and from the backside of the Salton Sea (great place to look for obsidian and mud volcanoes).

The Badlands near S22 (2015)

The Salton Sea is 227 feet below sea level (2017)

We always stay at the Palm Canyon Hotel in Borrego Springs (although it is getting more difficult to get reservations, as flower viewing has become so popular). Its Western theme and shady dry gardens are welcoming, and the accommodations are very comfortable (it is a Dark Skies hotel if you like to see the stars at night).

Dry garden at Palm Canyon Hotel (2015)

View from the veranda (2015)

The Anza-Borrego State Park is a main attraction near Borrego Springs, and a short hike to the desert palm oasis is a must (preferably early in the morning before the sun heats up). On the way you can look for interesting plants and geological formations, beautiful flowers, and Borregos. No matter how dry the year, there is always a refreshing stream of water under the Fan Palms (Washintonia filifera).

Palm Canyon Oasis in sight (2015)

Searching for Borregos on the hills from a nice shady spot (2017)

Respite in the oasis (2017)

Of course there are the flowers. It is amazing that such a hot, dry landscape can produce such delicate, breathtaking blossoms. Here are a few of my favorites from the Anza-Borrego area.

Ironwood tree (2015)

Palo Verde tree (2011)

Smoke bush and ocotillo (2017)

One year a huge windstorm swept through town with 60-80 mile winds. The Palm Canyon Hotel and restaurant lost power, just after we ordered dessert. We enjoyed our pecan pie in candlelight, then found our way to our cozy rooms using flashlights. We turned in early, and listened to the Big Wind swirling outside. The next day calm and power returned. After breakfast we encountered a super bloom of yellow and orange flowers on Henderson Canyon Road.

The Big Wind stirred up a lot of dust (2017)

Henderson Canyon Road (2017)

A mass of White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata) caterpillars eclipsed the flower show. They maneuvered across the hot desert sand with efficiency until they found a plant they liked, then went to work. The caterpillars were very particular in their tastes – only the tender leaves and stems of the desert evening primroses would do. Flower seekers were just as interested in the hungry creatures as they were in the beautiful flower blooms.

Photographing the caterpillars (2017)

White-lined Sphinx Moth caterpillar (2017)

Other favorite places include the Anza-Borrego Visitor Center for its dry landscaping and interesting exhibits (and for the air conditioned theater, where you can watch and rewatch its nature videos). The metal sculptures by Ricardo Breceda are also phenomenal; they are distributed all around the Borrego Springs area.

Landscaping at the Anza-Borrego Visitor Center (2011)

Serpent, by Ricardo Breceda (2015)

Sometimes it is just fun to take a stroll, or park the car and walk out onto the desert floor. There is always something interesting to see.

Sunset stroll at the Visitor Center (2015)

Walk up Mine Wash off Highway 78 (2015)

At day's end we head for one of our favorite restaurants for dinner. Sometimes we dine at the Palm Canyon Hotel restaurant, other times at Kendall's Cafe or Carmelita's Mexican Grill, but always in good company with great conversation. A beautiful sunset, an evening stroll, and a tumble of stars finish the day.

Dressed for dinner, desert style (2017)

Sunset over the Palm Canyon Hotel (2015)

For the whole story:
Desert Delight (2011)
Anza-Borrego Desert Park (2011)
Dry Gardens (2011)
Anza-Borrego Desert Adventure (2015)
Backside of the Salton Sea (2017)
Anza-Borrego State Park and the Big Wind (2017)
Borrego Springs to Palm Springs (2017)

San Francisco Flower & Garden Show – Canceled!

I hope this post finds you sheltering in place with your favorite people, and with all the basic supplies you need. The future is now, with the whole nation (and much of the world) hunkered down to defeat our common enemy – coronavirus (a.k.a., COVID-19). For some it means working at home and homeschooling, for others it means loss of income and even lives. For some the science behind shelter in place makes perfect sense, for others the global response is overblown. Whatever the opinion, it is amazing to see the creative, innovative, and compassionate responses exhibited by so many people (toilet paper hoarding aside)!

Charming chicken coop from the San Francisco Garden Show in 2017

We've seen a rash of cancellations as part of the response, including the beloved (and renamed) San Fran-Nor Cal Flower & Garden Show, which had been scheduled for April 2-5. My aunt and I have been attending the show off and on for the last 20 years. Originally it was held at the Cow Palace in Daly City, then moved to the San Mateo County Event Center in San Mateo, then back to the Cow Palace. This year it was to be held in Sacramento. For various reasons my aunt and I haven't been able to attend for the past several years (several trips and a family wedding were involved). I had hoped we could attend this year, but life took another turn. We'll just have to rely on memories and ideas from past shows!

Another chicken coop from the San Francisco Garden Show in 2015

 Luckily, next year's show is already scheduled for April 8-11, 2021, at Cal Expo in Sacramento. It looks like it will be a wonderful event, with great exhibits, speakers, and seminars. Take a look, and get it on your calendar!