Morning Dew on Grasses: Kenzo Winery

In a reflective mood....

...as I look back on my 2011 sojourns. I pore over thousands of photographs taken this year and think about the highlights of my gardenwalks. In touring California wine country, a visit to the elegant landscape of Kenzo Winery, Napa stands out.

Arriving in late-morning, the sight of dew on a grass meadow caught my eye immediately. Here, the landscape has been designed to encompass just such sublime vignettes. Shortly after being greeted, I learned that Kenzo Winery's lovely white wine...  Asatsuya Sauvignon Blanc is named for the dew's sparkling display.

Longwood Gardens' Indoor Living Walls

A Series of 2011 Round-up Posts .. Stories & Photos

Longwood Gardens indoor living walls installed by Ambius, winner of the Hall of Fame Judges Award for creativity and execution at the 19th annual Plantscape Industry Expo 2011. 

Landscape architecture - Conservatory Plaza: Kim Wilkie 

These lush walls comprise more than 47,000 plants covering some 3500 square feet, including many fern species: Holly, Rabbit's Foot, Button, Asparagus and Maidenhair ferns. 

Longwood Gardens Blog - New East Conservatory Plaza

A Garden Landmark: Mexico City

via Wikimedia Commons

Wordless Wednesday

Photographer: Anna Maj Michelson - Portland

Cactus fence at the House of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, Mexico City

Perennial 'Pamina' Puts on a Show

Another iPhone Photo

Anemone 'Pamina' at the peak of its Fall bloom. 

Now that the garden is being tidied in anticipation of winter, the long-blooming anemones have finally been cut back. Pink is not a color that appears much in Alice's Garden, but when Spring and Summer have passed, I welcome these deep rose-pink flowers that have spread to fill an entire bed. 

By the way, I failed to mention that my new phone is Apple's 3G, not the latest version with a spiffy camera. I really can't expect great photos, but it does provide an option when I haven't brought my 'real' camera along. 

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to comment on taking photos with their phones. Seems like using or not using a phone camera is on the minds of many bloggers. Meanwhile, if you noticed my signature avatar has become an '!' ... exclamation point, it's because I've been reconfiguring things. Hope to correct that soon. 

On another note,

I reviewed a terrific new book, Wildflower Wonders, by Bob Gibbons.

Photo Copyright Bob Gibbons: Mazama Ridge - Mount Rainier

Published by Princeton University Press, the book overflows with Bob's heavenly images of the world's most magnificent sites for wild species blanket vast areas. 

To read the review and to see more photos, visit Alice's Garden Travel Buzz

Wood Line: Land Art by Andy Goldsworthy

I wonder whether many of my blogging friends upload photos from their phones?

This process is new to me, having just acquired an iPhone recently. When I stopped to do a bit of exploring at The Presidio of San Francisco, I made my way to the latest Andy Goldsworthy installation: Wood Line - Perhaps you can get a sense of the connected cut log segments snaking through the opening in the trees. The quality of the photo is nothing like what I have come to expect from my Canon camera.

The image was posted as a Twit Pic: http://twitpic.com/73qgto - An app I'm using to stay connected to my Twitter peeps! 

An amazing work by Goldsworthy is permanently on view at the Hess Collection Winery. Click below to see the post:

 Andy Goldsworthy:  Surface Tension