Friday, May 10, 2019

Beaches and Gardens

Happy Friday!  I've had a most energetic week filled with all kinds of activities.  It's good to arrive at Friday, take a breath and look back on the best things that filled the week.  As always, I link my Willow's Week report to Susanne's Friday Fave Fives post. 

1.  Saturday was a fun day.  We drove to Pasadena (well, San Marino, really, but no one knows that San Marino is next to Pasadena) to the Huntington Library and Gardens.  I spent the day in the Huntington Rose Garden with my weaving and spinning guild friends talking with people and demonstrating how a simple loom works.  The bonus was that I got a lot done on Son #2's scarf.


Lunch spot overlooking the Japanese Garden


2.  Our local hospice hosts a yearly spring garden tour to raise money.  I really enjoy going with friends to wander around people's gardens and noticing what is being grown and how they are landscaped.  On Sunday, a friend and I took our pastor's wife for her first tour.  We all agreed that while we like seeing the large expansive and expensive gardens, our favorites were the small ones which are more our style.  And it was fun to hang out with someone who is just learning about gardening and finding a few ideas that might work in my garden.
I like the border of this herb garden--pots to plant MORE herbs.


We all agreed that this terraced hillside area was perfect--flowers and veggies together.


3.  World's Best Neighbor went to visit her son for Mother's Day.  I took her to the Santa Barbara airport.  That is SO MUCH easier than LAX!  On the way home, google maps routed me off Highway 1 onto Santa Barbara streets because of two accidents.  It was faster and I got to drive right along the beach!  Obviously, I didn't take any photos.

4.  The route from our place to Santa Barbara has some of the most beautiful beach scenery! I love just glancing over and seeing the pods of surfers and the sand and the waves.  The tide was all the way in.  I don't think I've ever seen the water so high and near the road.  It was beautiful!

5.  Most people, when they think of Southern California, imagine that we have 365 days of sunshine.  What they don't realize is that we have what is termed May Gray and June Gloom--days and days of "early morning coastal fog and low cloudiness".  Hence May Gray.  That's what we have had most days this week.  I really don't mind.  The soft clouds and cool temperatures are a pleasant contrast to those blistering hot days of July (July Fry), August and September.  I love soaking up the cool days.


10 comments:

Wendy said...

Sounds like a busy but good week. Our local community garden organised an open garden day last year of local gardens. We really enjoyed visiting as many as we could. Interesting info about your weather. I was definitely guilty of imagining lots of sunshine. Have a good weekend.

ellen b. said...

That is a spectacular drive up the coast to Santa Barbara! Glad you had some beautiful surroundings for your weaving and spinning. San Marino is a lovely spot!

Barbara H. said...

A busy week indeed! Glad it was a fun one for you! The Japanese Garden is lovely! When we used to drive from SC to TX and back to see family, sometimes we took the scenic route in MS along the coast to see the Gulf of Mexico - sometimes even stopping for a bit to walk around in the sand if we had time. Such a nice break on a long drive, and always fun to have water in view.

Karen said...

What a lovely view to have while you were weaving! I love the herb garden with the pot border. That is so smart. And that drive sounds spectacular! Happy Mother's Day to you:)

Mereknits said...

Your trip just looked so amazing, so glad you had a wonderful time and your sweet bunny is back with you. It sounds like you have returned home to a wonderful week.

Faith said...

Oh i just love the little garden pic with all the pots!!! How fun!

Sounds like a full week of things that made you happy.

Perhaps one day Dave and i will make it to CA again and next time instead of San Fran we will visit the southern CA area. But not in May! Ha!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Hello Willow! What fun to do some weaving at the Huntington Gardens! I miss being close enough to just drive up there now and then. One of my favorite places.

Like you, I savor the cooler days! Not quite ready for the "July Fry" yet, nor will I ever be! Haha!

I hope you are having a lovely Mothers' Day.

Tracy said...

BEAUTIFUL photos, Willow! It's always a treat to stop here and see all you've been doing, where you've been going, etc. Your weaving is lovely! :) Happy Days ((HUGS))

Susanne said...

That sounds like a really lovely drive along the beach. And gorgeous photos of the flower gardens.

Gracie said...

As a newlywed from the midwest, the May Gray confused me. Rain coming? Nope. I had the hardest time adjusting to trying to figure out the weather patterns in San Diego 47 years ago when I lived there for about six months :-) I appreciate getting glimpses of your interesting activities and am glad you don't mind the weather patterns!