Sunday morning, I got up early - had some eggs & coffee and ran out the door to get to Berkeley! I stopped to pick-up Ivan & Sophia and headed over to David's house for the first house on the open garden tour.
The house across the street (not a through street, a sweet little cul de sac) was for sale. I'm dreaming of buying the house & spacious .79 acre lot and becoming David's very best friend! If you enjoy looking at real estate and have a million+ dollars getting dusty, here's a link.
Kensington (Tracy's) house 
With a stern reminder to myself to not go too close in for photos - back up girl! Hopefully to show off the overall feel of the space. My first photo, I can only laugh at myself. But come on, that's gorgeous! Agave ovatifolia.
My apologies are in order, the first few photos are "foggy" - it was a gorgeous morning, but my camera/phone was dirty. Thankfully Sophia noticed within the first 10 minutes and cleaned it. You park up top, and walk down the driveway to his cool house.
The front porch is enrobed with beautiful things!
There were delicious donuts & hot coffee inside.
But first, I had to turn around and check out the slope. The sun was just starting to touch this, ahhhh.
This clump of Dyckia was spectacular.
Before you head round the corner, this pretty Salvia was showing off *I believe Salvia puberula 'El Butano'. My apologies for the photos- like a vaseline smeared filter for an older Soap Opera actress.
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So inviting! There should be a special word for that feeling when you've entered a garden space - and you can't take it all in, wanting to look at every single plant/planting. Yearning doesn't quite cover it.
Gorgeous.
A peek from the inside, looking out - the windows are everything and extend further than I captured.
A cute moment when Ivan reached up to this fern and said to Sophia "remember when this was in our apartment?!" He gave it to David when it started to outgrow their space.
Ok, a few close-ups.
Fist sized bromeliad bloom.
So many different neotropical blueberries, I can't guess ID's. If I understand correctly, they have a few that are not ID'd as of yet.
Hoya somesuch. Triple handhold.
They moved some of the neotropicals to a spot with some sun- just to try it.
Headed around the back, and down some steps
to a beautiful setting, a pond David dug himself and is now full of fish.
this frond so shiny, looks like it's made from plastic
Manihot ?
Gorgeous hanging planter - this is bending the tree branch currently! When well watered, I imagine it's 60 lbs., at least.
Because we were with Ivan, we got to peek into the greenhouse real quickly. Ssssshhh.
Ok, I'm realizing I cannot post all 3 gardens. Photo overload!. On our way out, the largest Gasteria I've ever seen!
I loved this draping Aloe - I didn't catch the name, a cliff dweller.
and a sweet spot to the other side of the driveway. What a garden! David is so intelligent and warm, he must have answered a thousand questions on Sunday (at each garden). He was so patient and spent time with everyone - he is a true gem of a human being, and then some 💗💗💗
Wow, that is a lot. Looks like you had a good time taking it all in.
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