Seven gardens, two days. We decided to split it up.
As with many other parts of California and beyond, the weather pattern has been a bit unusual this year. Saturday and Sunday mornings were 32 degrees around 6:15am. That means it had been even cooler at some point in the wee hours. That fact was confirmed by the obvious demise of some wonderful tomato and basil plants I had neglected to protect, thinking danger of frost was so last week.
So, the tour. We took sun hats and raincoats. And used them both. We started with the two western-most gardens where the elevation is a bit lower and the climate generally warmer. They were next door to each other and located on a hill with spectacular, 100-mile views. Only one of them had a truly interesting garden, however. We loved the 18 kinds of lavender, salvia and other colorful low shrubs--more would have been in bloom, but it's been too cool. That's the photo at right. They also grow enough of all kinds of berries to keep Marie Callender in business. Some inspiring stuff, there.
Higher up, nearer our neck of the woods, some of the other gardens had reported snow flurries. We chose one in the tall pines. Lovely, deep green, forested backdrop with shade-loving flowering plants and a beautiful little greenhouse made from recycled materials. Other features included a wisteria that had climbed up a 70' incense cedar and lots of wild dogwood. It was probably our favorite. Soft ice of some kind was falling from the sky.
Next day, we saw the smallest (1 acre) and the largest (80 acres) in the same neighborhood. Both were lovely. The larger one takes two full-time jobs to maintain even though much of it has been left natural. More giant wisteria, one beautiful lawn area (fourth photo). Apples, kiwi, berries, grapes, and every other kind of edible. More like a little farm.
The last two were up by Scott's Flat Lake, about 15 minutes north of us. The first offered a spectacular backyard view of the forest and lake. Big demerits, though (!), for about 5000 sq ft of fake lawn. Really? On a garden tour? OK, but they gave us brownies and lemonade, so... The last place, on the other side of the lake, was a 40-acre spread with many large ponds and a stream. There had been five gold mines on the property, so the owner has restored part of one (that's me, inside), plus lots of other mining equipment, a stagecoach station, cabins and too much other stuff to mention. There were shuttles to move folks around. Impressive! Like a little state park.
So, we got some ideas (more lavender), became inspired (more berries!), and felt energized to get a few more projects underway outside soon (pathways, more bark mulch, like, everywhere, and a little greenhouse, maybe). That is, as soon as it stops raining.
OH, oh! And after the last garden on Sunday, we had time to catch the last 40 minutes of a wonderful bonsai show put on by the local bonsai club! That's worth a set of it's own photos...
