Rhododendron are at their peak We beat the heat with a day at the beach on Sunday, very much in need of a rest after a grueling final push to complete our murals in Oakland. My limbs were soothed by a long walk in the surf, a quick dip in the chilly brine and a […]
Tag Archives: california flora
The Week in Bloom
Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) Since I was a teenager I’ve always ridden nimble, road racing bikes and my attention has been on speed and navigating the road to avoid flats. Inspired by our rural environs and the Rivendell ethos, I’ve recently swapped out my racing machines in favor of a sturdier, Surly Long Haul Trucker, […]
The Week in Bloom
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) The Sap Moon of March and a stretch of sunny days have conspired to launch a timely Spring, with more plants budding, blooming and leafing than I was able to count, beginning just after the Vernal Equinox. Here are several from on and around our property at about 700′ elevation, Latitude: 38.40222
Longitude: […]
The Week in Bloom
Superstition is the consequence of the repeated confluence of seemingly unrelated phenomena, not unlike coincidence, but with a belief system attached. For the superstitious, the minutiae of daily life appears to reflect the orbit of planetary bodies, luck and ill omen seemingly spinning in sync with the vacillating tides. The Romans called this day the […]
The Week in Bloom
Mustard (Brassica juncea) Bright yellow mustard riots in rows of south-sloping vineyards nearby. Meanwhile, wild honey bees have descended upon our Camelias, now drowsily drooping and dropping to the ground in earnest. In the garden the favas are in full boom and look healthier than last year, having improved the soil: Vicia faba