Part 1 Dark Horse Ranch, Mullien Harvest, and on to Amador Day Lilly Nursery

As we dropped down into the warm Central Valley from cool coastal Marin County, I exhaled; whew, the land was still spring green. There's been so much in the news about the drought that my mind was primed to see brown vegetation everywhere, which normally happens some months out in summer. Now it's hard to know what the new normal is. The Central Valley, bread basket of the USA, falls between the lower coastal mountains and the higher Sierras. It's hotter than the coast and heats way up in the summer. The hot air rising in the Central Valley pulls in cool ocean air laden with moisture (read fog). That's why Mark Twain needed a down vest in San Francisco during his infamous summer visit.

But I digress. Our journey to Gold Country in the Sierra Foothills was marked with tender green foliage everywhere. The occasion was my birthday and some friends joined us to share a cottage on a ranch, visit a day lilly flower farm, play music, hike, cook and eat, cook and eat.

 When I'm talking about a ranch, I'm not talking rustic ranch. It turns out to be a beautifully designed and landscaped gentleman's and (woman's) ranch where sheep, chickens, grapes and good conversation abound. I later told owner, Sherry Fields (along with her husband, country doctor, Dan Fields) that the photos she posted don't do it justice. And I can't say mine do either. I was just having too much fun for photos. We had a lot of little chats with Sherry and Dan, learning that their obvious labor of love is coming to fruition after 14 years. It is a real find and a wonderful place to share with friends. There's a cottage for 4 or a beautiful barn for 2, very nicely done with all the amenities.  The bucolic landscape is classic foothill country with oaks speckling the rolling hills, especially beautiful in the spring.
  
The area is a Central Valley version of Napa/ Sonoma wine country. There are a lot of boutique wineries and old mining towns retrofitted with quaint to upscale offerings.  We were there for neither, though we made a short foray into Amador City. Nope, came for the day lilies and to settle into a rural landscape for a spell. In the summer expect a lot more heat and rolling hills gone brown.

Here is Dark Horse Ranch:  
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3533175 

Part 2: Mullein Harvesting
  An unexpected treat, mullein harvesting.  Discovering that our intended hike in the National forest was still an hour away, we opted to stay local and explore some old logging areas. At first this seemed like a pretty depressing prospect, anticipating a barren landscape of tree stumps. Fortunately the land had been selectively cut which  means that the forests are thinned, rather than clear cut. It's a better forestry method since these areas can still support wildlife to some extent. And it means that there are still many trees and underbrush and it was rather lovely. We found was an amazing abundance of mullein plants. Though not native to the area, this is a medicinal herb that's been used for centuries for a variety of issues. I've used it for years for colds, congestion, and ear aches. It's an interesting  landscaping plant with fuzzy soft rosette that eventually bears a tall flowering stalk. The flower stalks are fun to use in arrangements though the dropping flowers do scatter all over.

New members of the family

If Facebook is any indicator of our desire to see certain subject matter online, I just disappointed you terribly. You were looking to see some sweet babies or puppies. No, that's how attached I am to my vase collection (have no fear, my cat rules).

I'm really not sure what this container was intended for. Some designer in product land said "let's design a glass thingy to ....?" Part terrarium, part dip server, wine cooler, or hey, maybe it was designed for flowers. I don't know but I found 3 of these (well okay, Max got one) and love the possibilities. More to come.

Pave' Workshop/ Round 2

Something new: 

After a workshop, I'm inviting the participants to come back in a few weeks for Round 2:

Those interested make an arrangement on their own and send a photo to post and share with all of you. There is nothing like practice to improve your work, revisiting what you've learned, taking it a step farther, going it alone...

What I love about these pieces is that each person did take it a step further in their own way. The results are very fine. Give them a hand!

I

                                                                                                          Gila

                                                                                                                                                 Susie

 

    Nancy

Strange sky, the Dawn Chorus, Pinkish Bowl

 

 

There is a time of day officially allotted to birds. They wake up, maybe shake of their feathers, and begin to sing all at once. Called the Dawn Chorus, it's the time when these sky photos were taken, just before the sun comes up. The birds announce their territory and check in with their species members for location and a general I'm okay/you're okay report and what other unknowable communications? In our semi urban neighborhood it's one of the only times of day when it's quiet enough to hear them, before we layer it up with human sounds.

A Memorial

Doing flowers for a Memorial/Life Celebration holds a special place in my heart. I've lost a number of friends; way too young, along with my parents and Jon's parents. And then there are our beloved animals, Bosco, Moey, Moo Shu, and Ruby...  It's familiar, gut wrenching territory. These times are so raw and weighted in the sorrow, though there has always been a bittersweet kind of beauty and grace and even moments of laughter. It's such a distinct place mentally, a temporary circle of people whose members band together to perform their tasks and rituals and grieve. It's a sacred space, if I can use that word. The flowers take their place as they do for all of our important passages in life, side by side with us. 

These flowers were for a beloved member of the renowned Modern Mandolin Quartet who taught at the San Francisco Music Conservatory. I worked on this together with Max lampert, my dear friend and often creative partner. Bruce Veldhuizen, also a close friend and sought after builder of fine cabinetry and creative pieces, built this complex sphere that he graciously loaned to us.

Helleborus continuous

All you need is

Mining magnolias.

So the last few days, I've been going down into a darkened cold room and checking out the 8ft tall magnolia branches sitting in a corner in a bucket. They went from bud form to bloom and I teased off the spent blossoms, layering the floor in petals. The branches were too grand to pass up for an upcoming memorial of a very renowned and beloved musician in the classical mandolin playing community. It was also too early to be buying them. But this opportunity would not present itself again, until I am more connected to the growers and procurers of flowers  And so the effort to retard their bloom for as long as possible. It was rather sad that these abundantly spectacular blossoms in first bloom were seen by no one but me for brief moments. But there are still quite a number of blooms and the branching structure itself is sculptural and magnificent and will be used to it's best.These are from the small branch I brought up into the light.

Pave's/Flower Carpet Workshop Feb 7

This was such a wonderful group; so curious, open, willing to help each other and generous of spirit. Sometimes I don't want the classes to end.

                   Here's their work:

                                     

                                                                                                                              Gilla

Nancy

 

Susan

                                                                                      Devi                        

                                               Susan

A Rose by any other name is called Hellebore

 It's been busy since the holidays, a sort of multi- disciplinary chapter of life- now that no one has the flu (knock wood, knock, knock...). After finishing a painting commission, I'm working on a garden landscaping project for shade loving, low water plants. And finally a Floral/Design website is in the works. It will born soon- this spring? It's been a huge mental hurdle to begin and I'm so grateful to be getting some help with it. Flower wise, Max (my friend and creative cohort ) and I are working on a big wedding coming down the road later.  Some more floral workshops are coming up soon. Stay tuned!


The Latin name for the Christmas or Lenten Rose is Hellebore.  
These are evergreen, shade loving, flowering plants that will grow most anywhere in the country. They take hard winters and our milder Mediterranean climate. They are one of the first flowers of spring or can show up as early as Christmas. The plants hug the ground and their flowers tend to nod over, so their beauty is often overlooked. But if you can give them a little height or bring them in for cut flowers, you're almost there- tip- toeing down the path of serious hellebore addiction. For even the most simple looking hellebore, each flower goes through several phases, changing color as it ages, the inner flower falling away and leaving the sepals or bracts. It just doesn't seem there's is a time when it's not doing something interesting, even when the bracts are old, lingering on the plant for a long time.

 

The above photograph is a hellebore after bloom. What you're seeing are the sepals- just like Poinsettias. In both cases, the flower is the more subtle center and the sepals or bracts are showy and long lasting.

 Hellebores used to be available in a limited number of colors, but hybridizing has really resulted in an enormous selection. Still, these are not widely available. If you want to really see how amazing their variations are, take a look at these sources: 

Visit Cottage Growers is in Petaluma. It is a destination garden nursery. They have an amazing selection now. 
 http://cottagegardensofpet.com/


But truly,the guru of hellebores is a kind of a mad (in the best way), brilliant plant scientist living in the hills of West Virginia. His name is Barry Glick of Sunshine Farms. 
I had the pleasure of chatting with him last year and he's very entertaining and passionate about his work. He has an incredible collection of plants he offers for sale, but hellebores rule.
 
http://www.sunfarm.com/