Day Trip

This time to Fort Mason Community Garden. I've never been to Fort Mason, I've been around, but I played tag-a-long on Mr. C's trip to the Nautical Museum (can we say super cool Cartography!) and then the library that was closed, but conveniently located across the street from the Friends of the SF Library Bookstore...you should go. BUT, the community garden was definitely the highlight for me, Mr. C practiced his patience.

As you can tell, I am continuing my obsession with Dahlias and this Garden had an amazing assortment. There is definitely more to come from this excursion, including a fabulous collection of Garden Creatures. How can that not make you happy?

ps- I love the use of the old tree stump as a succulent planter!

P is for Anemone?

Pulsatilla vulgaris formerly Anemone pulsatilla, common name Pasque Flower


This image is of the seed pod that comes out later in the Spring after the flowers have gone. The flowers themselves are as showy as the seed pods (though don't look quite as alien) and emerge as an early sign of Spring, providing the name Pasque as associated with Easter.  After doing a little research on this species, I am more inclined towards the seed bud than the actual flower itself though both are attractive. The plants themselves stay pretty low, about 6", with the seed pods reaching up to 18". 

P is also for Poppies

...all the different types and another of my favorites.

Most, if not all, varieties are charactized by graceful and slender stems with delicate petals, some feathered like Papavar and some more ruffled like Eschscholzia (aka California Poppy and the state flower of the Golden State). In all, the common name Poppy is applied to eleven different varietals in the family Papaveraceae.

From Left: Papavar, Romneya coulteri, Eschscholzia californica, and Papavar varietals (sorry, didn't get the exact species for all of them).

It's been awhile

But I went back to my alma mater (GO TRITONS!) during this last pass through Southern California and was excited to see all the additions (and that they have left Camp Snoopi alone) that I had only ever seen the drawings for during my tenure in the Planning Office. By far the coolest thing was the Boulder Teddy Bear in the Engineering Quad for the Stewart Art Collection, the campus' installations of awesome randomness.

Have a rockin' weekend!

N is for Nerium

....Oleander that is but I am being slightly snobby and trying to adhere to the botanical names. Trying.

So I have many ideas of what Oleanders look like in my mind. As stated before in a previous post, I grew up driving 99 and am familiar with the scrubbinous of those Oleanders, but also the well established and stately ladies lining the road to my grandfather's house.  All are poisonous (do you remember the book or the Michelle Pfeiffer movie?) but tolerant of extreme conditions like drought, heat and intense sun.  Despite some drawbacks I think these are beautiful specimens either ignored or pampered.

L is for...

lame?

I didn't manage to set up a post for today but I will have a very cool "L" plant for you soon. Until then, a cool succulent design with rusty bits.

Summer Fun

Who's ready?

I have been on the looking for a croquet set for a very, very long time. I grew up playing an extremely competitive version with my family and I missed those games. My search started last summer while I was still in New York, I had dreams of picnics and croquet tournaments (everyone must wear white) in Central or McCarren Parks, but I never found the right set. Fast forward a little over a year and my stepmother surprised me with this set. I am totally excited to finally have my picnic and croquet. This is what summer is to me.