Nature's Velvet Stem

Entry No. 202

This plant is even cool when the leaves have dropped off.

It's A Shoe And A Weapon

Entry No.  201

Nature's Velvet

Entry No. 200

I always see this plant outside of TJ Maxx, but this time it was especially captivating.

Friendship

Entry No. 199

This is a photo of Roberta and Darn, my down-the-street neighbors.  Every morning they walk the neighborhood radiating love.

Who Lived Here?

Entry No. 198

There are no other houses like this in our immediate neighborhood.  Today as I looked out from our porch I began to wonder what the story was.

Hey What's That?

Entry No.197

It's killing me that I can't see what is on the other side of those balls.

Pretty Urban Farm

Entry No.196

Let's hear it for self-sufficiency!

Guardian?

Entry No. 195

I had heard that marigolds are good companion plants for vegetable gardens.  Upon further reading I see that it's a bit more complicated than that, mass planting, only certain varieties, etc... Oh well, they are pretty.

Our Own Little Wild Kingdom

Entry No. 194

This little caterpillar was amazing.

I Love A Good Free Pile!

Entry No. 193

Looks like my VW Bus is getting new paisley carpet, yea!

Beautiful Street Music in Berkeley

Entry No. 192

We came across this guy, Eyal, near the Berkeley BART, playing the hand pan which is an instrument he said was invented 13 years ago in Switzerland. It can play chords with a single tap!

Aquarius Moon

Entry No. 191

My son disappeared for a few minutes after dinner tonight.  I was just wondering where he was when he burst in saying, 'Mamma  the moon is sooo beautiful tonight'.  My heart just swelled with pride that my little techie remembered to pause and be with Nature. 

Tradition

Entry No. 190

My husband always had his picture taken on the porch for the first day of school each year.  Even though we homeschool, we are carrying it on with our son.

Nature Mimics Nature

Entry No. 189

Vivid

Entry No. 188

The flowers on this vine looked electrified in this morning's light.

Bubble Fun

Entry No. 187

What Gives?

Entry No. 186

I cannot understand why there is such a difference in size between my various kale and chard plants. They came from the same flats, started out the same sizes, were planted on the same day, get the same water. I don't think that sun/shade exposure is the factor, because the  4" specimens and the 10" specimens get about the same amount as each other.  I am baffled.

Realization

Entry No. 185

I have been wanting a tall pot to hold succulents ever since about 4 years ago when I spot this really great one at a shop in Summerland.  Unfortunately, it was not in my vacation budget.  I never forgot it though, and have tried on and off again to find another.  But alas, I  haven't been able to find one like it, around here. This week I started searching again in earnest,  but to no avail. Then one day while I was in the shower, ( I do my best brainstorming in there, don't you?), I realized I could create the look.  Not only did I not need to spend big bucks on a tall pot, I could fake one with two pots I already owned.  Then all I had to do was find a complementary pot to actually hold the plants, and---voila'!

Adaptation

Entry No. 184

This is my dog Coco.  She really likes this chair.  She will stand in front of it and whine because I won't let her in it. Problem is,  she has really sharp claws that will wreck the upholstery, so I put a magazine in it to deter her.  Apparently, last night she decided she no longer  cared...

Beautiful Harbinger Of Fall

Entry No. 183

Little by little they are staking their claim to the intimate corners of our back yard.

Potential

Entry No. 182

I found this 1930-40's?  table on the side of the road in Marin.  I couldn't resist picking it up to see if I can bring it back to life.
On an interesting side note. I flipped it over to look for the manufacturer and it's stamped "1007 Gall Furniture Manufacturers, Oakland, Ca".  I Googled them and found that they were located within 3 miles of my house.  I also found out the in 1947 the owner O.B. Gall, was a member of a local Masonic lodge and that he lived on Trestle Glen.  Don't you just love the internet?!

Vessels

Entry No. 181

These vases by artist Scott Wilson  really caught my eye today at the Grand Lake Farmer's Market.

Tomatoes!

Entry No. 180

Gone are the days of the mealy, tasteless, supermarket tomato.  Good riddance!

Elusive Buck

Entry No. 179

I took several shots of this buck while he grazed, as he move to the right so did I.  I took my eyes off him for 5 seconds as I walked around the tree and POOF!  He vanished.

You Never Know What You'll Find At The Farmer's Market

Entry No. 178

Grant shares he and Mike's latest discovery with me

Yet Another Reason Why I Love Going To The Gardener

Entry No. 177

It has characteristics of both the pitcher plant and the Venus flytrap.  What is it?

Wish Me Luck

Entry No. 176



I have wanted a plumeria ever since I finally killed the one my mom brought from Southern California, by watering it in the winter, (who knew?). I met a generous guy in Ventura who gave me this cutting. It's been blooming for about a month now and I haven't been brave enough to put it in a pot.  I've finally taken the plunge.  Now we just cross our fingers, refrain from watering it for 5 weeks and hope it roots.

Do You Think Seagulls Can Read?

Entry No. 175

Part of the license of this car says "SHYTE"

I Never Knew This Was Here

Entry No. 174

This is Preservation Park in Oakland.  I have driven by it from the other side on the way to the freeway, but never from this side.   Today I varied my routine and  was rewarded with a view of this courtyard and fountain. 

Oh To Be Young And Flexible Again!

Entry No. 173

What If?

Entry No. 172

This morning as I walked our dog, I noticed this technological relic.  I saw the AT&T logo and thought, 'what if they were required to remove these?'. 'They certainly have the money, and what's more what if they were required to plant a tree in it's place? ' 

You Never Know What The Day Will Bring

Entry No. 171

My neighbors down the street invited my by to see this really cool plant they just bought. Incidentally this rooster had wandered onto their property off street, this morning.  It was still there at 7pm when I stopped by.