Field Notes for December

Welcome back to Field Notes - this is the last installment for 2024. Where did the year go? I have really enjoyed experimenting with this format for reporting events and discoveries made during the month. I plan to continue experimenting with Field Notes in 2025!

December 1, 2024

We have stunning sunsets in the San Francisco Bay Area this time of year (in between rainstorms). The sunsets are brief and early so you have to make a point to see them. But they are well worth the effort for the dramatic layers of colors.

Winter sunsets in the Bay Area

December 3, 2024

My Aunt Char is home after her trip to Alaska. She spent a month with my mom, dad, and brother in Juneau, and they celebrated Thanksgiving together. The last week has been dicey weatherwise, with a major winter storm rolling in several days before travel day. Luckily she made all her flight connections with no issues! 

Winter storm warning in Juneau, Alaska

December 6, 2024

What a treat to attend the annual Business Women's Network cookie exchange with my former colleagues in San Ramon. It was thoughtful of them to include retirees, and so much fun to catch up with old friends during the festive, tasty event! BWN sponsors speakers, networking events, and workshops to enrich women's careers. Many men attend the events to learn how to be supportive allies, and how to inspire and equip their daughters. Everybody wins!

 

Spoils from a Christmas cookie exchange

December 9, 2024

Our kitchen is overflowing with good eats. We're pulling out more of our favorite fall recipes and filling the house with the wonderful fragrance of good, hearty food. There's also an uptick in home-made cookie production that has everyone in the family smiling and humming along with the Christmas playlist.

More roasted vegetables - this time for a delicious tomato-based soup

Turkey cottage pie, with a fancy woven crust

December 12, 2024

My Aunt Char and I attended a local production of A Charlie Brown Christmas this week at the Contra Costa Civic Theater. It was so fun to see the Charlie Brown Christmas movie brought to life with talented actors and innovative sets. The production ended with a group-sing of favorite Christmas carols (holiday music really makes the season). Afterwards, Aunt Char and I enjoyed bowls of ice cream at her home and caught up on all the news from her trip and the folks in Alaska!

Support your local theater!

December 15, 2024

While doing holiday errands, I made a quick stop at the Castro Valley Library to pick up a Mrs. Malory mystery that was on hold. Nearby is a portion of Castro Valley Creek that has been restored with plants native to the area (and has attracted lots of birds, squirrels, and insects). I enjoyed a quick respite from my errands in the lovely library and natural park.

Late morning sun in the Castro Valley Library

Castro Valley Creek restoration

December 18, 2024

The Christmas tree is now decorated and I'm enjoying the lights, sparkle, and ornaments collected over the years. We have lots of angels and instruments and glass balls in beautiful jewel colors. Other ornaments were handmade by our son in his youth, and still others were gifts or were collected during our  travels (like the dinosaur bone ornament from our trip to Dinosaur National Monument). My small greenhouse ornament collection never fails to delight. A batch of gingerbread cookies nourished us while we decorated the tree and strolled down memory lane!

Greenhouse ornament

Another greenhouse ornament

Dancing gingerbread lady

Sabbatical, Seasons, and Seasons of Life: Wrap Up

For this year's "Sabbatical, Seasons, and Seasons of Life" theme, we pushed the pause button on everyday life. Time to slow down, consider what is important, keep what works, and move on from what doesn't. In May, I entered a new season of life when I accepted early retirement from a career that I loved.

Family members in Juneau, Alaska were facing their own new seasons of life, so I spent most of May through September in Alaska. It was a time of some hard changes, and we faced them together. I missed my family, home and garden back in the San Francisco Bay Area. However, I was grateful to have the time that retirement provides to pitch in, to spend time with my family in Alaska, and to immerse myself in the beautiful place where I was born and raised. Incidentally, I found the transition to retirement easy and liberating (obviously it was time for a new season of life)! 

Retirement and new frontiers!

 Seasons and Seasons of Life

I launched into a new season of life as a retired person, and am loving it! More time to enjoy life and the beauty of the everyday.

Sabbatical, Seasons, and Seasons of Life

A New Season of Life

Counting Birds for the GBBC

Bringing Back the Natives

Bird Buddy

Shadow Play

🌷Spring Watch   🌞Summer Watch   🍂Fall Watch   ⛅Winter Watch

Outings in Alaska

I spent four months in Alaska with my parents, aunt, siblings, and a few childhood friends; and enjoyed the beautiful "Great Land" in the process.

Mendenhall Glacier and More

North Douglas, the Chilkats, and More

Summer in Alaska

Blue Ice

Summer Outing

Cruise Ship Spotting

Three Seasons of Sunsets in Juneau Alaska

Fall Outing

Remembering Three Seasons in Alaska

Landscaping

We completed a major landscaping project at our home in the Bay Area using a local company that specializes in native and sustainable gardens, and then delved into learning about the plants.

Site Visit (2022)

Site Survey (2023)

The Plan

Demolition

Progress (see Field Notes for March)

Finished

Six Month Report

Moonlight in the Garden

Some Favorite Plants

More Favorite Plants

Even More Favorite Plants

Field Notes

We experimented with a new format to report observations and experiences throughout the month.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Plants to Dye For: Wrap Up 2024

I managed to get in a couple of solar dyeing projects!

Dye Project: Poinsettia Bracts (solar)

Dye Project: Chokecherry (solar)

Plant Hunters

On a quest to learn more about plant hunters in the Americas.

Alexander von Humboldt

Dr. Elzada Clover

Dr. Lois Jotter Clover

Movies

We learned more about weaving (to enhance our understanding of dyeing with plants) and enjoyed some entertaining shows (that had nothing to do with plants or plant movie stars).

Wisdom of the Loom

Garage Sale Mysteries

Books

We read a few good books to learn more about historical gardening, and plant hunters.

The Complete Book of Garden Magic

Alexander von Humboldt and the Botanical Exploration of the Americas

Brave the Wild River

Winter Watch

Several atmospheric rivers have rolled through the San Francisco Bay Area in the last few weeks, often with accompanying flood watches in tow. It looks like we are officially in the rainy season. Unlike other climates, here in the West we receive the bulk of our rain and snow pack in late fall and winter. Our new landscape is loving the extra water, and foliage everywhere looks so fresh and clean with the summer and fall dust washed away.

Gray skies and pouring rain proclaim that winter is coming

We're on winter watch in anticipation of the winter solstice in several weeks. After the flurry of fall cleanup, I'm enjoying inside projects with heavy rain outside, punctuated with beautiful stretches of sunny, crisp fall weather. 

Thanksgiving 2024

My first Thanksgiving as a retired person! This year I can really focus on preparing our home and garden for Thanksgiving guests and for the holidays to come (with time left over). In fact, the gift of time is the thing for which I am most grateful in retirement. After decades of squeezing projects, deadlines, and a full life into a constrained time box, it is a pleasure to have time to squander. 

Wild turkey in the neighborhood (photo by Rick Quisenberry)

Some of my favorite gifts of time in this season of life:

• Time to focus on the current project on which I'm working. I can go deep experimenting, learning, and researching (and even go down a rabbit hole or two in the process)!

• Time to pitch in when needed, such as being able to spend extra time in Alaska with family to face the challenges of life together.

• Time and mental bandwidth to assess priorities, projects, and possessions, and to identify what no longer serves me in this new season of life (and what I want instead).

• Time to squander. Yes, there are always activities and chores that have priority and must be done. But there is now more flexible time for life's small pleasures, like reading in the afternoon, trying a new recipe, working in the garden, writing an article, and learning a new skill. 

Hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving celebration, with whatever time is available in this season of your life. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Field Notes for November

 Welcome back to Field Notes!

November 1, 2024

November is Native American Heritage Month, and the Friday following Thanksgiving Day is "Native American Heritage Day." According to the U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs website, National Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and affiliated Island communities; and to ensure that their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation. Each year the Department of the Interior selects a theme for the year. The theme for 2024 is "Weaving Together Our Past, Present and Future."  

November 3, 2024

We've had a drop in temperature here in the Bay Area, and a few nights of rain - has the rainy season started? To combat the chill, we're pulling out our favorite fall recipes and filling the house with wonderful smells of good, hearty food. Sometimes (but not often enough, I'm told) a batch of home-made cookies also contributes to the delicious fragrance.

Roasted vegetables - destined for a delicious soup

Cottage pie - full of tasty ingredients

November 5, 2024

Aunt Char is heading back to Alaska! I dropped off my jet-setting aunt at the airport today. She is heading to Alaska to spend time with her sister, brother-in-law, and nephew (my mom, dad, and brother). November may seem like an usual time to visit Juneau Alaska, but it is a great time to be warm and cozy inside—catching up on the latest news, reading good books, watching movies and shows, and starting a little online holiday shopping. For its small size, Juneau has a lot going on during the fall, such as musical programs, cultural events, plays, and lectures at University of Alaska Southeast (UAS). Plus, the scenery is beautiful, with or without a dusting of snow. 

 

Alaska Airlines on the tarmac in Juneau, Alaska

November 8, 2024

The wind has been blowing hard for the last couple of days, and the garden is a mess! Leaves, dried stems and seed pods, and small tree limbs are everywhere. Time for some clean up, but it seems fruitless to start until the wind has blown itself out! We're chipping away at clean up anyway, one section of the garden at a time, but may need professional help! Despite the windy mess, the days are beautiful, with blue sky and radiant sunshine. The temperature is warmish during the day and much cooler at night.

The side yard - what a mess!

November 11, 2024

A California Buckeye that grows up by the reservoir is laden with large seeds (click on the photo for a better look). California Buckeye is indigenous to California and has important ethnobotanic uses as a medicine, food, and fishing tool for California tribes. The USDA California Buckeye Plant Guide provides interesting information about the tree, including how to plant from seed. All parts of the plants are poisonous, including the seeds, so they should be planted with caution. Still, the plant provides seasonal interest, and the seeds are eaten by the California ground squirrel.

California Buckeye (Aesculus californica)

November 14, 2024

Our landscape maintenance crew is coming tomorrow for an end-of-season clean up of the new landscape. My husband and I have pulled out some of the most obvious weeds, but want professional help for other end-of-season tasks. Today I harvested some grasses and seedheads that might make interesting fall or Thanksgiving arrangements.

Plant material foraged from the landscape

November 17, 2024

Thank goodness for professionals! We hired our landscape company's maintenance team to clean up the yard, and perform end-of-season tasks. I took notes to see what they removed and what they left in the garden to overwinter. The weeds and annuals are gone, and plants and shrubs are groomed and trimmed up. 

End-of-season clean up!

November 20, 2024

Turns out, the Bearded Flatsedge mentioned in Field Notes for October is an invasive species in our area. We've never had one in our garden before, so it was a surprise to find it. We pulled the plants so they won't get a foothold in the garden (but enjoyed having the chance to observe them while it grew)! 

Invasive Species - Bearded Flatsedge

November 23, 2024

The Snow Village is assembled - this is one of our favorite Christmas traditions. Part of that tradition is to set up the village before Thanksgiving and to take it down well into January. We went nuts collecting many of the ceramic pieces while we were young and working. The charming scenes and warm lights cut through the gloom of short days, pouring rain, and chill of fall and early winter!

Snow Village scene - Center for the Arts

Dye Project: Chokecherry

I recently tried a solar dyeing project using drupes collected from the chokecherry (Prunus ilicifolia) in the lower yard. The deep purple drupes ripen in the fall, and are eaten by local and migrating birds, such as robins, chickadees, warblers, and a host of little brown birds (LBBs). Over the years, I've witnessed swarms of migrating birds descend on the tree and strip it of its drupes in less than an hour!

Solar dyeing with Chokecherry drupes - day 1

Because these drupes are an important food source for local and visiting wildlife, I only harvested what I needed for the project (660 grams or 23.28 ounces, about 4 cups). I rinsed the drupes in water to remove dust and small insects.

Chokecherry drupes

I used two dish towels (WOF is 154 grams/5.4 ounces) that had been scoured, mordanted with oak gallnut extract, and brightened with alum and soda ash. The WOF% is 428% for the 660 grams of drupes. Dyers typically recommend equal weights of fabric and plant material for solar dyeing (or double the weight for berries), so we're well over that. I added three teaspoons of alum and boiling water to the jar, and then layered drupes and dishtowels and topped off the jar with more boiling water. 

Solar dyeing with chokecherry drupes - day 14

I steeped the dishtowels in the chokecherry dye bath for two weeks, making sure to rock and rotate the jar daily to distribute dye and drupes evenly.

Hang to dry

As with previous solar dyeing projects, I squeezed out excess dye, rinsed the fabric, and then ran it through the washing machine without detergent and hung to dry. After waiting two weeks to help set the dye, I washed the fabric with a mild textile soap (like Synthropol or Professional Textile Detergent) and hung it to to dry. 

The result is a lovely shade of purple. One drawback with using this solar method, is that the fabric ended up with a number of dark spots. Possibly the drupes clung to the fabric during the whole process, rather than moving around with the daily rotation. The spots add interest, but may not be desirable for some dye projects. It will be interesting to see how colorfast the dye is, since berry-based dyes are known to fade quickly with time.

Landscaping: Even More Favorite Plants

I've been back from Alaska for a month now, and have been getting reacquainted with our newly landscaped yard in the San Francisco Bay Area. I'm continuing my Favorite Plants series so I can get to know the plants and how to care for them (see Some Favorite Plants and More Favorite Plants for previous postings). The garden flourished while I was away. The plants benefited from light irrigation to help them get established, and from the temperate Bay Area climate. Following are a few more plants that caught my eye.

The Bush Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus, a.k.a, Diplacus aurantiacus) has orange-yellow blossoms and is thriving in one of the front planting areas. In the same planting area is a Cherry Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus 'Cherry') with lovely red blossoms. Both are still producing flowers in November! Monkey flower is a perennial subshrub that grows 4-5 feet high with multiple stems. The stems grow from overwintering buds at the base of the plant, and blossoms develop on the new growth during the growing season. The plants are sometimes called "Sticky Monkey Flower" because the leaves produce a sticky resin that helps protect the shrub. The flowers resemble a monkey's face, attract hummingbirds and bees, but are deer resistant. The plant thrives in a variety of well-drained soils, and prefers full sun near the coast and partial shade inland.

Sticky Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus)

The Oregon Grape or Holly-leaved Barberry (Mahonia aquifolium, a.k.a., Berberis aquifolium) is a flowering plant that requires shade or partial shade, and thrives under oak trees. This one is well situated in the shade of the oak in the main part of the yard. Oregon Grape is native to Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. It is an evergreen shrub with a compact, rounded growth habit (2-3 feet high and 3-5 feet wide in maturity). The leaves are glossy with spiny edges like holly. Clusters of yellow flowers present in spring, followed by edible, blue-black berries in fall. (Could they possibly produce a dye in the future?) The plant attracts birds and bees.

Mahonia (Mahonia aquifolium)

The California Aster (Aster chilensis 'Purple Haze', a.k.a., Symphyotrichum chilense) is perennial plant that is native to coastal California and blooms from summer to fall. It thrives in loamy clay soil with full or partial sun, is drought tolerant but performs best with some water. California Aster blooms from summer to fall with daisy-like flowers (blue and lavender petals and a yellow center). Butterflies and moths are attracted to the nectar, and birds eat the seeds. For maintenance, cut the plant back to the ground in late fall or early winter. New growth appears in late winter and spreads by rhizomes.

California Aster (Aster chilensis 'Purple Haze')

What beautiful and interesting plants! Note that plant names change continually due to new scientific discoveries and reclassification of plants. Where possible, I like to use both old and new names to help with the transition.

Remembering Three Seasons in Alaska

I've been home from my extended trip to Southeast Alaska for a month now, and am back in the swing of things. Here in Oakland, we've had a heat wave, lots of cool, crisp fall days, a sprinkle of rain, and are now on the cusp of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Before plunging into this busy season of the year, I'm looking back at some of my experiences from three and a half months in Juneau with my family and in my childhood home. The visit spanned the end of spring, all of summer, and the start of fall.

Pause in the rain in downtown Juneau, Alaska 

Reflections on Rain

Southeast Alaska experienced an especially rainy summer, which was continuing right into fall when I left. In my youth, rains were typically misty, interspersed with partly cloudy skies. More and more, Juneau is experiencing Atmospheric Rivers that bring hard downpours. After many years living with perpetual drought, it was wonderful to be back in the rainy climate. I enjoyed the many moods of rain, as well as the benefits, like running the tap until the water is hot enough, taking long showers, and listening to the music of rain in the night. (It was still hard to shake some of my water frugal ways - like letting a leaky faucet drip). As in my youth, when the sun comes out, Alaskans drop everything and change their plans to take advantage of it!  

The shed out back, through a heavy downpour of rain

Out and About

Mom and I took lots of outings to favorite places through all the seasons (Mendenhall Glacier, North Douglas, Thane Road, Eagle Beach and Eagle River, Amalga Harbor, Jensen-Olson Arboretum, Shrine of St. Therese, Sunshine Cove). In addition, we hiked around the Auke Lake area and drove around the UAA campus, by Chapel by the Lake, out Fritz Cove Road, and up to see new residential developments and their views.

Hiking around the Auke Lake area

View of the airport from a newer housing development

Mendenhall Wetland Refuge

Social Fun

We spent time in the Juneau Pioneer Home, visiting Dad and participating in fun events like TJ on Piano, the Alyssa Fischer Trio (including Tom Locher, the piano guy), Brock on Guitar, Bread Making and Tasting, Chair Yoga, Enchanted Forest, and Senior Day. My sister Marianne came from Bend, Oregon for a wonderful visit, and we spent time with my brother Dave (relaxing in his home, meeting his friends and family, dinners out, and attending the fun-filled Wearable Art Extravaganza). I also reconnected with childhood friends, Ulla and Annetta, after many years apart.

Fall foliage at Juneau Pioneer Home

View from Hangar on the Wharf

A sunny summer afternoon on the deck

Delicious dinner at Mar y Sol

College buddies

A gathering at Canton Asian Bistro

Downtown Juneau

We usually try to avoid visiting downtown Juneau during the busy summer months. On days with 4-5 cruise ships in town, the population soars by thousands of people, making it difficult to navigate, find parking, and do errands. But we managed several excursions into town for Cruise Ship Spotting, the Annual Food Festival & Farmers Market, and a musical performance at the Alaska State Museum. We were also able to drive through charming downtown Juneau on days when only two ships were in town.

Downtown Juneau near the end of tourist season

Tahku whale sculpture

Kootéeyaa Deiyí (Totem Pole Trail) leading to downtown Juneau

Plants & Wildlife

We experienced lots of birds, from Pine Siskins, Robins, Blue Jays, and Warblers, to Ravens, Sea Gulls, Ducks, Geese, and Eagles. I saw a bear that ambled through my parent's yard, and Mom and I spotted one that worked its way through the underbrush out the road on one of our drives. I enjoyed seeing the wildflowers during the short bloom cycle, gardens and containers with exotic plants, and the rainforest plants of Southeast Alaska.

Fresh spruce tips in Spring

Alaska daisies in Summer

Alaskan wild rosehips in Fall

Field Notes for October

Welcome back to Field Notes!

October 1, 2024

Yesterday I flew from Juneau, Alaska to Oakland, California, and the difference in weather is remarkable. Our flight to Seattle was delayed on the Juneau tarmac for several hours, due to a weather system rolling in, with heavy rains and winds. In contrast, Oakland is in the midst of a week-long heat wave. Where Juneau was cold, rainy and foggy, Oakland is hot, dry, and bright. Honestly, I love them both!

Back in Oakland, and we're having an Excessive Heat Warning!

October 3, 2024

I'm back in Oakland, California with my family, and am surviving an Excessive Heat Warning. To beat the heat, we're taking early walks with Dakota the Husky. My son has discovered some neighborhood treats, such as this brightly painted staircase that connects two streets. From the top is a spectacular view of Oakland and San Francisco; the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge; and many points in between.

Sunflower Path between Morpeth and Proctor

Vacant lot with a view on Agnes (Click on the photo to expand it,)

October 6, 2024

Even in the San Francisco Bay Area, where it may seem like we have no seasons, we have fall color. Here is an example of fall color that we spotted on our long morning walks with Dakota the Husky.

 

Fall leaves in the Bay Area

October 9, 2024

What a treat to rediscover our newly finished landscape, after being away for four months. Granted, a few plants need seasonal attention, and a few others definitely look like weeds. For the moment, I am getting reacquainted with the yard and plants in the current cycle of their lives. But soon, we'll meet with the landscaping maintenance crew to learn about the next steps.

Look at all that growth!

October 12, 2024

What an interesting plant! I found it while becoming reacquainted with our new landscape. The iNaturalist app identifies this as Bearded Flatsedge, but I don't recall that from the plant list. Click on the picture to see a closeup of those leaf blades.

Bearded Flatsedge (Cyperus squarrosus)

October 15, 2024

Just finished reading In the Shadow of a Rainbow, by Robert Franklin Leslie (W.W. Norton & Company, 1974). This true story is about Gregory Tah-Kloma (a young Chimmesyan/Tsimshian from British Columbia) and his friendship with Náhani (the strong she-wolf leader of a large pack). Trapper-Dan imperils the pack as he spreads lies about how the wolves have killed livestock and raided traps. This myth fuels an ever-increasing bounty on Náhani's head. Greg strives to protect the pack.

I started reading the book on my plane ride home, and was captivated by the story. I also enjoyed learning the Tsimshian moon names, including:

• January - Big-Sleep-Moon
• February - Moon-of-the-Fallen-Antlers
• March - Moon-of-Meltwater
• April - Moon-of-the-Flowers
• May - Moon-of-Fawns
• June - Moon-of-the-Moose-Child
• July - Moon-of-Walking-Thunder
• August - Sagamore-Council-Moon (meeting of the chiefs)
• September - Moon-of-Painted-Leaves
• October - Fallen-Leaf-Moon
• November - Moon-of-the-Storm-Chief
• December - Moon-of-the-White-Hare 

October 18, 2024

After a little more research—using the landscaper's Plant List, the iNaturalist app, and the internet—my husband and I have pulled quite a few weeds. The new garden already looks so much better without them. While working in the yard, I harvested some of the dried tassels, seed heads, and plant material to create a fall arrangement. For previous projects, see Pampas Grass, Fall Foliage Arrangements, and Fall Foliage Arrangement. I'm not very talented or experienced at it, but it is gratifying to use available material to create a fall arrangement!

Fall arrangement from the landscape

October 23, 2024

How do I like retirement? I'm just finishing my first six months of retirement (according to my research, the first year is the Vacation Phase), and so far, I don’t miss work at all (I do miss the daily interactions with colleagues, but keep in touch via phone calls and text messages). I am so grateful to have had the flexible time that retirement affords to be in Alaska for several months, and am now grateful for the time available for projects, people, and living life. Bottom line - I'm loving retirement!

More time for family and friends (photo by Chris Schuyler)

October 27, 2024

I started a new solar dyeing project, using drupes that I harvested from the Chokecherry (Prunus ilicifolia) in the lower yard. The deep purple berries ripen in the fall. Swarms of small migrating birds periodically descend on the tree and strip it of its drupes, so it an important food source for wildlife. I harvested what I needed from the tree and the ground,  and left plenty of fruit for the birds.

Solar dyeing with Chokecherries - day 1

I'm using two dish towels (WOF is 154 grams/5.4 ounces) that have been scoured, mordanted with oak gallnut extract, and brightened with alum and soda ash. I collected 660 grams (23.28 ounces, about 4 cups) of chokecherry drupes, so the WOF% is 428%. Dyers typically recommend equal weight of fabric and plant material when solar dyeing, so we're well over that. I added three teaspoons of alum and boiling water to the jar to create the dye bath, and plan to steep for two weeks. So far, I'm loving the color!

October 31, 2024 🎃

Halloween in the Hood! Skeletons abound in the neighborhood and make the afternoon walk so much fun. Here are a few for you to enjoy!

Surfer Skeleton and his playful pup

Waking up and ready for fun