Author Archives: admin

PLANT ITINERARIES: March Valentine!

Posted on March 8, 2019 by admin

Missed it in February… found it in March… for hummingbirds… and a late birthday present… and a few more native beauties: Mimulus ‘Valentine’ – Red Valentine Monkeyflower Penstemon eatonii – Firecracker Penstemon Golden Yarrow – Eriophyllum confertiflorum Lewisia cotyledon ‘Elise … Continue reading →

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MOVIE NIGHT: I Am Eleven

Posted on February 19, 2019 by admin

We’ve made it… or rather watched it… second time… on the last day before little kitty’s 12th birthday! Enjoyed it as much as the first time, this is a movie to stay with us!

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CALIFORNIA: Monarch Butterflies

Posted on February 13, 2019 by admin

Are We Watching the End of the Monarch Butterfly? Create Habitat for Monarchs Growing Milkweed from Seed #SaveMilkweedSaveMonarchs Planting Challenge The Four Biggest Hazards Facing Monarch Butterflies, and How You Can Help Western Monarch Call to Action Native Milkweed Planting … Continue reading →

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CALIFORNIA: State Insect

Posted on February 10, 2019 by admin

Virtual travel from Japan to California brought up the topic of the state symbols… like, the official State Insect of California? The California dogface butterfly or dog head (Zerene eurydice) was designated the official State Insect in 1972. The butterfly … Continue reading →

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CITINERARY: Hakone

Posted on February 6, 2019 by admin

Founded in 1969, IT is the first outdoor, open-air museum of art in Japan. IT creates a harmonic balance of nature and art by exhibiting sculptures with views of the surrounding valley and mountains. The permanent collection is comprised of … Continue reading →

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MOVIE NIGHT: Friends Forever

Posted on January 27, 2019 by admin

Blutsbrüder teilen alles Our Big Time Set in the midst of World War 2 and interspersed with beautiful choir music, the horrors of the war unfold when the Germans realized one of the boys in the choir is a Jew … Continue reading →

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CUPERTINO: Apple Park

Posted on January 26, 2019 by admin

Finally made it to the Apple Park Visitor Center… main reason being the Apple Park and the California native plants… and a beautiful park it is with so many manzanitas in bloom!  While at the Visitor Center we’ve augmented our … Continue reading →

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PLANT ITINERARIES: Monarch Butterfly Garden

Posted on January 14, 2019 by admin

Amazed by the incredible Journey of the Butterflies… saddened by the latest population drop that brought their count to a record low… inspired by The Monarch story… we’ve just embarked in our little California native journey to create a Bird&Butterfly B&B… after starting … Continue reading →

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PLANT ITINERARIES: Bird & Butterfly Rock Garden

Posted on January 13, 2019 by admin

Planted: Asclepias fascicularis, Narrow Leaf Milkweed Asclepias speciosa, Showy Milkweed Erigeron glaucus, Seaside daisy Eriogonum grande var. rubescens, Red-flowered Buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum, Sulphur Buckwheat Eriophyllum lanatum ‘Siskiyou’: Spreading Wooly Sunflower Heteromeles arbutifolia, Toyon Monardella villosa,Coyote Mint Monardella villosa ‘Russian River’ Verbena … Continue reading →

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BIRDS&BUTTERFLIES: Here Comes the Sun…flower!

Posted on January 12, 2019 by admin

Another epiphany for the plant of the month… if it is December it is Toyon… the Christmas berry… California Holly! It needs sun… as does the butterfly B&B… so here is the beginning of the Bird & Butterfly Bed & … Continue reading →

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