I survived Outside Lands
3 days in Golden Gate Park with music, food & fun. The crowds were overwhelming at times, and the music skewed a little to the younger crowd. Other years I've gone, they threw us a bone with Paul Simon, or choices like Kings of Leon, Green Day, Counting Crows & Janet Jackson, Ms. Jackson if you're nasty!
I still accepted the freebies they were handing out, I'm sure I'll find something to do with this rolling tray. Jewelry?
Cathy and I took a small break on Saturday to walk around the Hillwide garage sale that was going on. I saw several of these gorgeous trees, I believe are Corymbia ficifolia. If you know better, please correct me. They are stunning, and I'd love to plant one.
Then back to the festival for the afternoon/evening. Olivia recommended the food @ Nobu, we could never seem to find it. I did enjoy a tofu Banh mi. I can't give a fair review of the food, it's supposed to be better than most festivals - and likely it is. We usually had one item and then snacked when we got back to the airbnb. I did try a Filipino burrito (tofu) at Senor Sisig. It was good, but nothing special. And with tax I believe it was $28.
Cut some of the sunflowers down, I use them to shade the tomatoes. Plus the goldfinches love to eat the foliage, and later the seeds. Since I don't want 10,000 sunflowers in the tomato bed next year, I chop & put the heads out for the birds & squirrels to feast.
Cereus repandus flowering
I think you'd mentioned you were headed to this festival in an earlier post? I'd never heard of it, but then when a few SF area friends mentioned it on social media (a couple complaining about the noise and the crowds) I felt hip to know what they were talking about! Love the Amaranth and the Dendrochilum filiforme... August is looking good in your world.
ReplyDeleteThis was my third (and last, but I've said that every time ;) Outside Lands. They used to have a comedy tent, and we really underestimated how much we enjoyed that. Especially for a break from the crowds, and a chair to sit down for a bit. Still, it was a fun weekend. That chain flower knocked my socks off!
DeleteThe belladonna and amaranthus were show-stoppers.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I really love amaranthus. In person it looks almost like chenille.
DeleteFun weekend.. thank you for sharing. :-)
ReplyDeleteAmaranthus, I have that on my 2026 list ... to grow. Beautiful!
They are easy to sow, a big plus.
DeleteI'm glad you had a good time! That tree is beautiful and your Cereus flower is a stunner. I have to grow some Amaranthus - it's so dramatic.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun, I'll admit to being worn out by the end of it. Amaranthus would be fun in a few of your arrangements!
DeleteI think you're right about the tree ID. Had to check the name you gave to find it's a eucalypt so that fits (I was going to offer melaleuca!). Amaranth is reseeding in the LA garden, Marty calls it the War of the Worlds plant, I guess he finds it scary! I've always loved SF, lived there a couple years in the late 70s when it was filled with local businesses and vendors before the big-box era wiped it all out. As far as partaking...modern stuff is much too strong for me! I'd have been one of those assisted by EMTs, so no way. So many treasures to come home to esp. the dendrochilum! Last big crowd I was in was the county fair, up close with cows, pigs, sheep ;)
ReplyDeleteOh no, War of the Worlds! Ha ha ha, I better keep chopping those heads off to bring inside - maybe that saved me from it reseeding everywhere? SF has changed, the park still has a touch of magic. It was gorgeous at night with the lights, trees and fog rolling in. 100% agree on the strength of modern day flower, overwhelming! After some of the things we saw, a close up with cows, pigs & sheep sounds preferable :)
DeleteGlad you had a good time at the festival. I imagine it was a lot with all the people.
ReplyDeleteIt could be overwhelming at times, the early hours were nice.
DeleteYou have a wonderful sense of adventure. Enjoyed your SF adventure from my dull but beloved patio.
ReplyDeleteWow that's a stunning Orchid, and your xeric garden looks great.
There were a few moments I would've preferred being on my patio, lol. But it was a fun weekend, and I'm glad I went. That orchid blooming was a lovely surprise!
DeleteSounds like you had fun. And no kidding, that is a stunning tree.
ReplyDeleteThat tree, I'm a bit obsessed with it.
DeleteOften these days, I find myself starting a sentence with 'remember when'... whice makes me feel so dang old. I'd be overwhelmed by the crowds at such an event, no doubt. (I make an exception for the NW Flower and Garden show).
ReplyDeleteI love your vase against the darker wall color: its fabulous. So are the suflowers. Like you, I leave them for birds and squirls when they break off, though I'd give my right arm for that fun metal chair you display them on!
Chavli
Thank you. Sunflowers are so cheery, aren't they? The chair was just a lucky clearance item from HomeGoods or something like that. I think it was a weird turquoise color, and I painted it orange.
DeleteI love the flowers on the Dendrochilum filiforme. So ornamental. (Which reminds me it's the 15th of the month, time to water my indoor succulents.) The Corymbia ficifolia you found is a stunner.
ReplyDeleteYou're smart to have a schedule! I finally started feeding things on more of a regular basis.
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