Author Archives: admin

PLANT ITINERARIES: Monarch Butterfly Garden

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

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!

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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WINTER BREAK: North Lake Tahoe

A winter full of surprises… and epiphanies… after looking for another ski or winter destination we came to realize that for us Tahoe is a 14 year old tradition to be continued and celebrated… wonderful beach walks… amazing sunsets in … Continue reading →

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MOVIE NIGHT: Joyeux Noël

Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas) Based on the true story of three armies in the bloody trenches of World War I – and the miraculous Christmas Eve truce they unexpectedly forge. Christian Carion’s Film, Joyeux Noël: A Place of Memory

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PLANT ITINERARIES: More California Natives

Last native plants of the year… THE Ceanothus ‘Centennial’… and a few additions for the butterfly bed&breakfast…  Achillea millefolium ‘Sonoma Coast’  Asclepias speciosa / Showy Milkweed Ceanothus ‘Centennial’ Scutellaria antirrhinoides / Snapdragon skullcap

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MOVIE: The Man Who Invented Christmas

Merry, merry Christmas to one and all! The journey that led to Charles Dickens’ creation of “A Christmas Carol,” a timeless tale that would redefine Christmas. A Christmas Carol – The Original Manuscript in Original Size – with Original Illustrations … Continue reading →

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PLANT ITINERARIES: Color & Fragrance

Never say last fall planting… unless you fall for the Peachy Keen Hummingbird Mint… and Salvia ‘Aromas’… the Purple Sage… the Evergreen Currant or Catalina Perfume… California Aster… you know, for the butterflies 🙂

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MARS: InSight Landing

Landed!

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HIDDEN VILLA: California Native Plants

If it’s November it is seed sowing time… and the Santa Clara Valley Native Plant Sale for the last planting of the year… got a couple buckeye seeds as well… adding some California Color to the mix… the fall magic … Continue reading →

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