Marilyn Monroe and .. Me

Datura wrightii - Photo Copyright Alice Joyce

All text and photos Copyright Alice Joyce

Desert Sojourn: Part 1

My trip to the desert was rained out, but not before one week of hiking and exploring. Once upon a time ... Marilyn Monroe, Raymond Burr and equally illustrious movie stars stayed at this Mid-Century Modern hotel in the desert. Although a fire ravaged the property and its charming casitas, new owners have restored the classic lobby, pool, eight unadorned rooms, and 2 remaining casitas for visitors to Borrego Springs. The restaurants - Krazy Coyote & Red Ocotillo - are popular spots for grazing.

Creating an Oasis : Glorious Garden Fountains

Chicago's Millennium Park - Crown Fountain by Jaume Plensa

Currently atop my short list of favored fountains.
All text and photos: Copyright © Alice Joyce

Think... Summer!

Fountains elevate the atmosphere of a garden, creating an oasis with a play of water... pleasing sounds that refresh. On a grand scale, fountains function as focal points within an expansive landscape design:

in historic settings...

or contemporary estate gardens.

Text and photos: Copyright Alice Joyce

A vineyard vignette encompassing a sequestered space for relaxation.

A contemporary terrace at a friend's home, away from the town.

Always a pleasant diversion to discover a chic garden shop while traveling,

or to be in the embrace of a formal parkland on a surprisingly sunny winter's day.

Winter Blooms .. Spring Approaches!

One of my favorite gardens to photograph: This one-acre landscape will be included as part of an Australians Studying Abroad tour -- a one-day visit to private gardens that I'm now planning for the Spring of 2012.

Text and Photographs Copyright © Alice Joyce

It's been 10 years since I first wrote an article about the garden, which appeared as a cover story in the San Francisco Chronicle - Home & Garden. Photographing a garden over the span of a decade is a project that encourages an intimate connection with the site.

I'm looking forward to the months ahead, as the landscape's ornamental grasses, deciduous trees, and dormant perennials awaken. I'll be dropping by to capture the displays and seasonal changes in a continuing series of photographs.

Click here to read the original article: California Dreaming

Beverly Hills Beauty .. Greystone Park Gardens

A little-known gem of a public park in Beverly Hills....

Greystone Mansion is an impressive Gothic-style estate surrounded by picturesque gardens.

Although more minimal than the landscape originally created in the 1920s, and designed by Paul G. Thiene, the lovely parkland has been administered by the City of Beverly Hills since 1965.

A cultural and historic destination you'll want to explore when visiting Los Angeles, Greystone is the site of special events -- from weddings to home and garden shows. It's a popular location where filming often takes place for television and movies.

Visit www.beverlyhills.org for the park's current Open Hours: Admission is free.

Look for Greystone on AlicesGardenTravelBuzz.com

Internet Thieves .. Copyright Infringement!

The longer you blog, the more likely you'll discover

your content and photographs have been stolen.

The nature of the 'beast' that is the internet?

Ultimately, it makes no difference if you watermark photos or not,

or if you embed your photographs with copyright information.

Watermarks can be sliced off / embedded data is easily ignored.

I'm told savvy computer geek thieves know how to remove watermarks,

and they surely aren't concerned with embedded attribution.

I could spend all my days (and nights) searching AND finding obscure and not-so-obscure web sites and blogs where my words appear in my own voice yet on a totally foreign web address.

Splog = spam blog.

A friend's web site was hacked yesterday,

and she has reminded readers of the importance of backing up your web site and blog content.

Is the internet a sexy beast? One we find alluring despite its faults?

You may soon see a copyright notice in each and every Bay Area Tendrils post.

ALL TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS COPYRIGHT: ALICE JOYCE

Little steps to lessen, if not alleviate, opportunities for sploggers.