Point Lobos Vista

A day of hiking ... Point Lobos State Nature Reserve

Life is good.

"Walk Gently, Breathe Deeply, & Reflect"

Farewell .. Adieu, My Sweet Garden: 4th Blogiversary

Greetings my friends, 

today marks the 4th Blogiversary of Bay Area Tendrils ...

It's a celebratory day, yet one that is bittersweet as I'm preparing to say farewell to my garden.

Perhaps the dearth of posts has hinted at a major life change on the horizon. 

And so, for the second time I am parting from a garden I've nurtured from the ground up, having worked for nearly 15 years to create a sanctuary space from scratch in Northern California. The Bay Area Tendrils archives tell the tale of my move from Chicago, where I left behind a beloved small-space town garden.

The Midwestern winters had taken their toll after decades of shoveling snow, together with the endless challenges of icy winters and a flat-roof building. The temperate climate of California held the promise of a kinder environment: Year-round gardening with a breathtaking palette of plant material.

In the past I've posted photos to illustrate the transition: The process of designing an outdoor room for relaxation, to share meals, and bask in the company of birds, bees and butterflies. But first, I would spend the better part of two years extricating brambles and shoveling out loads of rubble in preparation for planting. Digging deep, then mounding up a series of beds and borders filled with compost and fresh soil amendment. All toted back and forth, bag-by-bag in my Honda hatchback, along with pavers and plants to transform the blank slate into my own lush botanical wonderland. 

When I leave here I'll take a small selection of container plants: 

 Indispensable herbs like rosemary and lavender;

Cupheas to invite hummingbirds to my new balcony; 

Succulent beauties like Aeonium 'Schwarzkopf' & 'Sunburst.'

"The most noteworthy thing about gardeners is that they are always optimistic, always enterprising, and never satisfied.  The more one gardens, the more one learns; And the more one learns, the more one realizes how little one knows."   ~  Vita Sackville-West

Mt. Tam at Dusk .. Marin County

As the 4th anniversary of blogging on Bay Area Tendrils approaches, 

I'm considering how to commemorate the occasion. Leave a comment if you have any ideas...

View of Mt. Tamalpais at Dusk 

An iPhone photo that lacks a crisp focus, but thought I'd share it regardless.

Our 'mountain' in Marin County may not be very high, but it's a beloved landmark with a profile that can't be missed.

Rainy Season in Northern California

The rainy season has arrived in Northern California, a long-awaited drenching for garden beds and borders.

I rarely have time to post these days. Life seems to be getting in the way.

As Fall moves toward the Winter season, I sit with a cup of tea and dream about my visit a few years ago to Rancho La Puerta. The inspiring landscape of Tecate, Mexico remains in my mind's eye, along with a high point of my week long-stay at the spa: a cooking class at The Kitchen That Sings! ... La Cocina Que Canta. 

With the sound of falling rain outside my office window, I'm imagining the scent of something wonderful baking in the oven. A savory tart for dinner? Or, I might just step out into the garden to pick Lemon Verbena leaves before the first frost of the season. If I turn the oven on very low, the leaves can be quickly dried for tea to enjoy in the months ahead. The wonderful aroma of the drying herb will fill the house!

Ethereal Atmosphere Celebrates Golden Gate Bridge at 75

International Orange Exhibition Runs Through Oct. 28, 2012 at Historic Fort Point, San Francisco

The elusiveness of fog provides inspiration for an installation by Pae White ~ Entitled... 

'muhf-uhl' 

An artist I admire, Pae White is among the group of artists selected to honor the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge in celebration of its 75th anniversary.

A vast woven tapestry sets the stage for visitors to experience the foggy atmosphere so often encountered when crossing the Golden Gate Bridge.  Read more about the exhibit and participating artists on the FOR-SITE web site:

www.international-orange.org/