SouthCoast Botanical Garden

Have driven by this place so many times and always wanted to go in an visit, yeah finally did.
The Cherry Blossoms are is bloom, beautiful not too many trees but they were all in bloom.
They have a great cacti garden, love the black cactus and it's got a yellow bloom.
This is a small garden lots of conifers they do have a rose garden, but since it's not rose season we'll have to go back and look at all the tea rose.
They have a small Japanese garden, no bonsai too bad. If you want to see bonsai you can go to Descanso Garden or Huntington Library.
They did have some cacti for sale, very nice and good price. Didn't buy one but I did get a clipping of a geranium, hope it makes it. Oh yeah the poppies were blooming
Here are some pictures, enjoy........

Where is the world is Martha.......

Oh it's been a long time since I've done this.

But I'm ready to start. Even is it's just for me.

Hawaii, was nice going but not all the time.....OMG long flight and shitty seats.

Sis make ti Foster Botanical Garden, what a nice place. It was small but packed with beautiful flowers and trees. Nice place to relax sit and visit a while. Very isolated so if you're not sure about being by yourself and not see people about, this is not the place for you.

Took so many pictures, that I can't possibly post them all, but here are a few. The rest are on Facebook, damn Facebook. Very cheap admission price and you have the place all to yourself.

Heart's Ease Nursery

Finally made it to Cambria while it's still open..........Heart's Ease, was here more than 10 years ago, that's a long time.
Always wanted to come back, I'm glad I did.
A small place but nice they have candles, oils, soaps, potpourri and a garden make sure you go to the back room, that's where the entrance to the garden is, they should put a sign
"this way to the garden"
I should have bought the sage while I was there, but decided to have an early dinner at Robin's.
After dinner I went back to Heart's Ease and it was closed............oh will I ever make it to Cambria at a decent time or at least while the shops are open for more than 1 hr.
here are some photos, not much plants but a very nice place can't wait to go back.

In case you have that coffee urge, French Corner Bakery and A Matter of Taste are right across the street. Coffee was good and just what I needed after that good dinner, yummm

The drive back was great, slow down, enjoy the ride. I wish I had stopped in Harmony, population 18......art and hand blow glass, I want to see it!!! This is central coast so they're all on Cambria time, so fustrating when you want to do something after work and averything is closed.

Garden update

This is late, for sure.....
The garden did good this year and it's still going. Good news there is an eggplant on the vine and more good news there's lots and lots of flowers on the vine. Yes this will translate to eggplants.
Cross your fingers that they all make it.
The Butternut squash was not a successful and I'd hope, here is a flower. For those who haven't seen the flowers, they're as big and my hand, couldn't believe it, but they are so beautiful. I'll have to figure out when to pick the flowers and how to prepare them.
The tomatoes are still going and going and going. Good job tomatoes.....
I hate to say the peppers did not make it, not sure what happened there better luck next year.
The top photo is the million bells I bought a few months ago, they look happy.

Old Town Nursery

Been meaning to write about the Old Town Nursery. Found this place just like many of the other places I visit, by accident, they say there is not such thing as an accident..........

Found it on my way to a gas station, on my way to LA. This place like many of the other places is small by they has the nicest lavender and butterfly bush plants. Like always could not resist and I'm glad I didn't, the plants I adopted are doing great. The butterfly bush is still in the same pot and it hasn't stopped blooming. Even with the cold, more Arctic than anything, weather we're having it's still blooming. I guess they plants just feel at home and they should they're in good company.

Here are some pics I took, couldn't upload the other, somethings wrong with the iPhone, maybe it's the fact that I haven't downloaded the updates.......my bad.

By the way, the had great fountains in this place, can't wait I really need a fountain, yes I said "need" this will just make the garden complete, if there's such a thing.

Enjoy.......

Clairmont Farms

So I made it to one of the many lavender farms in California, one down a bunch to go.. Clairmont Farms in Los Olivos, CA
This place was great, a lavender lover dream, it's a little off the beaten path but worth the drive. You can go 101 to the 246 to the 156 and you'll see the signs to the farm, this is the scenic route. Or if you're like me and take roads you really don't know Exit on 246 to Solvang, turned left on Refugio Rd, right on Roblar Rd, right on 156 and you've arrived, this is really scenic....
There's lost of farms and wineries on the way, mostly apple farms and if I'm not mistaken you had to pick the apple. Now people, I love the garden but if I'm picking apples I'm not paying to let me pick them. Yeah, just put them in a bag and I'll be off. Got to the Lavender farm and it was a sea of lavender, hahahah
there was small barn like building where they had lavender products, would have bought something but there was no one there, maybe next time. Not sure if it was the honor system, but wasn't taking any chances, so I'm keeping my self honest, for once. By the way no way to take a cutting, I was prepared.....
The farm is open from 10am to 5pm. As you head out don't forget to turn left, you're in 156, at Alamo Pintado Ave, turn left and you'll hit downtown Los Olivos, if you're in the mood for wine tasting this is the place, lots of tasting rooms. I'm sure none were free so don't think you'll be drinking for free. Once you're done with all that it's time to hit the road. Love it love it love it, must be the lavender farm, how do I get one of those............... here are some pics hope you like them.
Notice the "I love my chickens" sign,
remember 3 chickens= 15 egg/wk.

Here are the rest of the photos from the Chubby Checker concert.
enjoy.............