Snowy Egrets! The Gardens of Alcatraz Island

Restoration of the historic Alcatraz Island gardens is ongoing.

The island is reached via a short ferry ride from San Francisco.

On a recent trip to see the lush spring bloom throughout the Gardens of Alcatraz,

I took countless photos that must be sorted and labeled.

Look for an in-depth feature to appear very soon on: Alice's Garden Travel Buzz

One delightful aspect of the tour: An opportunity to peek through the vegetation and see the fluffy feathers of young Snowy Egrets!

Sorry, but it was impossible to get a good photo, as the birds are ensconced in such dense thickets.

As the sign mentions, the egrets are able to find plenty of food in tidepools and at island's edge.

No problem getting close to the seagulls!

Getting there: http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/

To learn more about visiting the gardens: www.alcatrazgardens.org

Click here: Gardens of Alcatraz on Bay Area Tendrils Garden Travel

Keeyla's Way with Color! Meadows at San Francisco Flower Show 2010

Keeyla Meadows' Yard - Flickr photo: aroslis

Keeyla Meadows Garden Installation - San Francisco Flower & Garden Show 2010

Artist Statement excerpt: "The purpose of this garden is to focus on a red-headed snake, the San Francisco (peninsula) Garter Snake, which is on the endangered species list... The colors of this snake, red, turquoise and black - inspired the material sections of this garden...."

.. Garden Vignettes ..

Keeyla is the author of ...

Fearless Color Gardens

The Creative Gardener's Guide to Jumping Off the Color Wheel'

http://keeylameadows.net

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Container array .. Great Dixter
England
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Via Aqua .. a Modern Approach - 2010 San Francisco Flower & Garden Show

Via Aqua

Via Aqua - Design by Huettl Landscape Architecture

2010 San Francisco Flower & Garden Show

I'm drawn to modern design, although I've never had the opportunity to live in a contemporary space.

Joesph Huettl's approach to Via Aqua combines rectilinear elements and a minimal aesthetic,

resulting in an understated, elegant setting.

Above photo by Huettl L.A.

The garden's open steel grating forms a floating deck; the industrial nature of the material and the stone patio playing off the pop of color in the gorgeous chaises longues.

Overall, the reflective quality of the water animates the design.

www.huettldesign.com

Wildflower Walk .. Mt. Tamalpais .. Marin County

Pacific Coast Iris ... quite tiny but what a presence!

Wildflower season on the trails around Mt. Tamalpais, and Marin County's Bon Tempe Lake.

Lemon yellow blooms ... Coast sun cup, perhaps.

Mt Tamalpais

Alligator lizard: Didn't mean to frighten you!

Life cycle of the woodland: A stumpery to please Prince Charles.

Abstraction: Rusty orange rock face.

Baby blue ... brightening a shady spot.

Cynoglossum grande

Garden Folly for the New Millennium- 2010 San Francisco Flower & Garden Show

The Living Room ... Organic Mechanics

San Francisco Flower & Garden Show 2010

James Pettigrew and Sean Stout, designers ... aka Organic Mechanics

create consistently fresh and innovative designs.

The Organic Mechanics 2010 show garden is no exception:

The Living Room seems calculated to captivate the senses, and in the manner of visionary work, provokes discourse. The elements came together in ways that challenged me to consider the scope and language of modern garden design. An experience I celebrate in design that looks forward, not back.

A detail of the building's circular watery surround, enlivened by shiny blue glass spheres - The Living Room is a garden folly that takes the the form of a cube, with exterior walls outfitted in a panoply of richly textural succulents. You're drawn to enter across a small circular moat, accessed via large stepping stones (repurposed aged griding wheels, if I'm right).

Tongue-in-cheek, the designers suggest thinking outside the box in their description of the design. Thinking, rather, "around the box." The entryway presents an inviting contrast, with the warm tones of natural wood

outlining the doorway.

A peek inside, where the table setting presents an inviting tableau,

and the impact of a stunning chandelier is enhanced by its mirror image.

Notice the pop of turquoise showing up on the right.....?

Detail showing a corner of the folly & shallow circular watery surround.

Step inside....

An engaging shade of turquoise makes the rectangular window cut-outs pop!

Gold Meadow Award Winning Garden

2010 San Francisco Flower & Garden Show

Link to cool youtube video:

San Francisco Flower & Garden Show & The Living Room

Silvery .. Scalloped .. Spiky - Drought Tolerant Spring Selections

Annie's Annuals & Perennials

Silvery, scalloped & spiky selections!

All are drought tolerant, a quality I'm looking for when choosing new plants for the garden.

These beauties are available online at Annie's Annuals & Perennials: Locals will come upon their booth at the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show. Among the crowd, I'll be picking out plants on opening day of the show!

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Black Barlow'

A shade perennial for USDA Zones 3 - 10, this dramatic columbine should grow well with average to low water. Interesting, there are no spurs on this variety.

Beschorneria x 'Martin Grantham Hybrids'

Such a savvy plantsman, Martin Grantham is a Bay Area treasure, working his plant magic at my alma mater, San Francisco State University.

A specimen for dry gardens, this rare & unusual cultivar grows in USDA 8 - 11, or perhaps as a container specimen in colder regions if given protection. Place in part shade to full sun.

Plants are wonderfully textural, and when in bloom, the flowering stems are stunning, as are dark red seed pods that follow.

Centaurea gymnocarpa 'Velvet Centaurea' pictured below: The grey foliage is a give away, as it's one indicator of a drought tolerant plant. A showy Spring bloomer, deer proof and perhaps even fit for a dry and shady spot, this centaurea boasts rich pink-purple blooms - for USDA zones 8 - 10.

Dianthus plumarius 'Rose de Mai'

Don't we all adore the clove scent of dianthus in our gardens?

This variety is recommended for USDA zones 3 - 11, and according to Anni J. - one of the head propagator's at Annie's - the plant pictured is 7 years old and does not receive supplemental water in our summer-dry region. Quite a recommendation.

Grow in full sun.

Annie's Annuals & Perennials

San Francisco Flower & Garden Show ... Soon!

Pinchusion Protea ... Leucospermum cordifolium

Celebrating 25 years, the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show will soon be here.

Certainly I'm excited at the thought of seeing this year's show gardens,

and I look forward to perusing all sorts of cool stuff in the Marketplace.

I'll be checking out the seminar schedule to hear experts on a variety of subjects. 

My gal-pal Annie Spiegelman will be speaking on Saturday, March 27th at 11:45.

New York City born and bred - albeit transplanted to California, 

Annie has a new book, Talking Dirt:

 a savvy, informative, and in her own inimitable style, 

irreverent and fun guide to organic gardening. 

Then there are the plants! 

Hot new plant selections to stir lustful urges in horti green thumbs.

There are new owners on-board for this year's Show, 

and brilliant new features that I can't wait to see up-close.

There's a Victory Garden designed by Tim O'Shea of greenworksgardens.com,

with assistance from The Edible Schoolyard program of the Chez Panisse Foundation.

Nearby displays will lend insight into how edible gardens can be a part of our lives. 

My foodie instincts are engaged, hearing about the Slow Food Plaza.

 The Victory Garden and local farms will provide ingredients for food served to show visitors.

Farm to Table .... a good thing!

Across from the Plaza, look for an outdoor Sculpture Garden and it should be stunning! Luminary artist Topher Delaney is involved,

as is Evan Shively, who turns salvaged wood into beautiful furniture & construction elements, and others, including Inka Biosystems and Luciano Tempo of Living Green.

Stay tuned for more new & views.

March 24 - March 28, 2010 - San Mateo Event Center

Native Plant Restoration & Andy Goldsworthy at The Presidio

Winter blooming California Lilac - Ceanothus thrysiflorus at The Presidio of San Francisco, where reforestation & restoration of native plant habitats is ongoing.

At The Presidio: The Spire, a sculptural installation by Andy Goldsworthy. 

Redirect:  Alice's Garden Travel Buzz

Secret Garden in Granada, Spain

Early 20th Century Modernism: Studio and gardens of artist Jose Maria Rodriguez-Acosta

....down the road from the Alhambra Palace yet hidden from view!

Visit  Alice's Garden Travel Buzz to read more...