A Garden Grows in California

13 Oct '08 1:53 pm

Hi, Mark-
I really liked the new pictures, especially those of the dogs and of the begonias. I've never seen one with such long, narrow leaves before; at first glance, it sort of resembles a maidenhair fern (until you see how rubbery it is)!

I've just about given up on selling my place this year, as my deadline on the place in Wells is Oct. 20. After that I plan to remove my place from the market and stay here until the spring at least. We'll see how things are going then. I haven't given up yet, and, as I was just informed that my application for membership in the spiritual community in the Interior was accepted, that's still a possibility for me. Decisions, decisions! Very Happy

I've been sick in bed for the last 5 days with the most terrible cold I think I can remember having! Friends have been supplying me with chicken soup, etc., so I haven't felt alone (just sorry for myself Smile

)!

I managed to plant up one window box, which actually is located above the window on my deck. I replaced all of the soil and planted scillas and crocuses for the spring along with a variegated vinca minor, an ornamental oregano and some "Frosted Curls" sedges that self-sowed around the garden. I think I might get a few violas for winter colour once I get back out in the world again!

That's all for now from here; keep well!

Cheers;
gordonf

13 Oct '08 3:30 pm

Gordon, I'm sorry things haven't come together yet, and I hope you feel better soon.
Mark, intriguing plants, and I love your dogs.

14 Oct '08 7:59 am

Wow, I love that long leafed Begonia too. Does it flower?

14 Oct '08 10:53 am

Yes Kerole it flowers and you can see them somewhat in the first picture of that Begonia. They're white and fairly small, not unlike those of 'Paul Hernandez'.

Sorry to hear of your illness, Gordon. Like macflax I wish you health and, whenever the best time turns out to be, a favorable property exchange.

26 Oct '08 4:27 am

Last month Lia's three cousins all came up to Duck Cove for a family reunion. At Christmas we'd gone to Kent's house in Bozeman, Montana for a get together and we joined them for the first time. We all had a great time together skiing, eating and playing a traditional family card game they call Hell. When their parents died they did something interesting with their inheritance which we might all like to consider.

They decided to put a portion in a fund to finance reunions of this sort. They draw from it for their travel, lodging and food costs so that budget is never an obstacle to their getting together. One lives on Cape Cod on our East Coast, one lives near Portland Oregon on our West Coast and the other Bozeman Montana so getting together would never have been easy or cheap. By creating this fund they took away the second barrier. As a result, all their children have stayed in close contact with each other and the Lia's three cousins see each other regularly.

Just thought it was such a good idea that I had to share it. I'm thinking others might want to consider setting up something of the sort for their children to promote family closeness after they pass.

The photos below were taken up at the house and garden Jim and Mims built at Duck Cove, near Point Reyes National Seashore about an hour north of San Francisco. Jim moved to a retirement home a little more than a year ago. Jim just celebrated his 94th birthday and Mims passed several years ago. We went up there with Jim a week before the big cousins get togehter to make sure everything was ship shape. While there I brought my camera and took these photos.

Jim designed the house and they both designed the garden but she planted it. They used a lot of California natives and it hasn't been tended much for years now but continues to look good to my eye.

26 Oct '08 4:28 am

Last month Lia's three cousins all came up to Duck Cove for a family reunion. At Christmas we'd gone to Kent's house in Bozeman, Montana for a get together and we joined them for the first time. We all had a great time together skiing, eating and playing a traditional family card game they call Hell. When their parents died they did something interesting with their inheritance which we might all like to consider.

They decided to put a portion in a fund to finance reunions of this sort. They draw from it for their travel, lodging and food costs so that budget is never an obstacle to their getting together. One lives on Cape Cod on our East Coast, one lives near Portland Oregon on our West Coast and the other Bozeman Montana so getting together would never have been easy or cheap. By creating this fund they took away the second barrier. As a result, all their children have stayed in close contact with each other and the Lia's three cousins see each other regularly.

Just thought it was such a good idea that I had to share it. I'm thinking others might want to consider setting up something of the sort for their children to promote family closeness after they pass.

The photos below were taken up at the house and garden Jim and Mims built at Duck Cove, near Point Reyes National Seashore about an hour north of San Francisco. Jim moved to a retirement home a little more than a year ago. Jim just celebrated his 94th birthday and Mims passed several years ago. We went up there with Jim a week before the big cousins get togehter to make sure everything was ship shape. While there I brought my camera and took these photos.

Jim designed the house and they both designed the garden but she planted it. They used a lot of California natives and it hasn't been tended much for years now but continues to look good to my eye.

26 Oct '08 7:08 am

A brilliant idea, Mark! My father's parents' descendants now number close to 100 energetic, talkative, laughter-loving, life-embracing individuals. Starting with the millennium festival, we have booked out entire camping grounds for 2 or 3 day weekends for our reunions; we had a wedding at midnight of the millennium, and we have gathered almost every year since to celebrate an 85th birthday or whatever: Next year will be the 'decades' party: the eldest uncle would have been 100 in 2009, an aunt 90, my parents turn 80, cousins turn 70, 60, 50... and in the next generation we have 40, 30, 20 and 10. And we darn-well expect one of the prolific descendants to provide a baby specially for the occasion. Now that I think of it: perhaps we should set a target of 100 descendants: a few more babies, a few more marriages (or perhaps the other way round) and we should make it - without much help from Yours Truly Laughing

26 Oct '08 4:33 pm

What a great arrangement Lia's cousins have. I love the potted plants along the deck.

16 Nov '08 8:01 am

Today I got busy in the garden and raked, reseeded, mulched, fertilized and then watered the lawn in the back. Then I took the camera for a walk. I did stop to smell the roses and took a stroll behind the warehouse to see the pond. Then I turned on the fountain in case Lia's dad takes a walk in the garden this afternoon or tomorrow morning. Since I cut back the jasmine vine you can really see the blue asian brick tiles near the maple tree which sits in the raised bed behind the hot tub. I noticed the view from up on that deck back into the garden was much better with the vine cut back. I even got a picture through the blue asian brick tiles but then I felt a nudge from behind. Turning around, there was Fletcher. While I took advantage of an opportunity to photograph him, he got comfortable beside me and gave us both a bath. On the way down from the deck I noticed the Begonia luxuriens was looking particularly good and that the Lapagaria was in bloom on the screen that separates the hot tub deck from the driveway.

16 Nov '08 5:16 pm

I love the roses. I'm a big fan of paths that seem to invite you to meander. I've been working on putting in paths in our garden. It started out as a sensible idea on a sloping block to make maintenance and watering easier but I also like the look of it, although I wish I'd designed the paths before planting. Fletcher is gorgeous!

A Garden Grows in California

Great New Pics!

Return to Lia's parents house at Duck Cove.

Return to Lia's parents house at Duck Cove.

Family gatherings

An autumn stroll in the garden.