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A Day in Half Moon Bay

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Sophia, Ivan and I headed out to Half Moon Bay yesterday.  The main purpose was to pick up an order I placed back in November (and subsequent orders, lol) from  Hans @ Dry Oasis Plants .  Some kids were swimming, the weather was lovely - but I wouldn't call it swimming weather 😉 There are a stretch of nurseries off the highway, it's a bit challenging pulling back OUT onto the highway.  I've ALWAYS wanted to visit them, specialty succulents, orchids - I think the carnivorous plant nursery has closed. And I don't want to be a downer on it, it was fine.  But fairly tame findings all in all. Sophia and Ivan are quite knowledgeable on orchids - and let's just say there were some Trader Joe's references.   *Not a slam on TJ's we've all happily purchased plants there.   Ivan had arranged for us to visit his friend Joseph's greenhouse, located behind the main strip of retail nurseries.  He is  FloraEpiphytica  on etsy.  Things go...
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Day Out

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I'm doing a little hunting & gathering for the front re-do spring planting, that called for a trip to Berkeley.  First stop, American Soil & Stone where I promptly tore my favorite work sweatshirt.  Appropriate.   Thankfully, it was a gorgeous day and I didn't need the extra cover for long! We are in a stretch of t-shirt weather.  I wanted this little boulder baaaaaad.  Too hard to reach down inside and get it out, why I usually trick Ivan in to going with me 😉. A stop at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery.  This clump of Phlebodium aureum, rabbit's foot fern was beautiful in the dappled sun.  Though the rabbit's foot part wasn't really showing.  And of all the -absolutely not looking for that plant, I bought this? Rhododendron lysolepis, a dwarf Rhododendron. I'm so confused by this, maybe I'll pot it and try Bonsai?  The tiny leaves got to me.  Moving on, Flowerland! Weed It and Reap!  My photo doesn't do this Cannomois ...
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Arroyo Mocho Trail

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 I run almost every morning, but the chilly wind this morning made me feel blah about it.  I decided I'd go for walk after lunch.  I headed straight down Hillcrest Ave.  When we first moved here, I thought these trees looked so "California".  Retzlaff Winery vineyard is on the other side of the fence.   Grape vines are definitely nicer to look at in the summer and fall.  You meander all 3 sides of the vineyard and come out on this trail parallel to their driveway. The setting is lovely, we held a few fundraisers here when I worked with the schools. A mile away, I've arrived!  Often there is water down there, hence the bridge.  Although California is entirely free of drought, Livermore didn't get the hammering of rain some places did.  Our YTD is 8.93", our rain years are recorded July-June. The majority of the rain falls Dec, Jan, & Feb.  I ignored the bridge, I prefer the back trail. I miss the water rushing by, along with...
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