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!