Sunday visits, part two

 I'm pushing myself to post these while I still have the excitement from the visit(s) flowing through my veins.  Sophia, Ivan and I stopped for a quick lunch after David's garden.  David was texting Ivan "hurry up, this is the best garden in northern California!" Marcia Donahue's Garden. 

Backing up a bit.  Her signature clay beads hanging in the first photo - there was a similar "necklace"  hanging on a large Eucalyptus tree in that empty spot below 👇.  The area was cleared. I asked Marcia her plans, she smiled and said "oh, the possibilities!" but she wasn't sure yet.  She did think she would keep the Agave. 

Closer up to a magnificent Bromeliad.  

And away we went into magic land.  

Boxes of her ceramics were here & there. Thou shalt not steal. 

I'll admit to having a few pieces of garden art, but it's usually not my thing.  Her art is a completely different animal.  Electrifying, earthy and alive -every bit as much as the green things growing. 

A papaya tree to the left there, David mentioned he grew it from seed.  

Gorgeously carved huge step-leaves.

Oh, I love these!!!

Even a bowl of old utensils was interesting... if I tried this No, it would be silly. 

A view from up top, on a balcony outside the kitchen.  Just to give an idea of how hidden away and FULL the garden is.  If this 7,500 sq. ft. garden was a typical lawn + a tree + 2 bushes, it would feel so very small.  Instead it is a glorious sanctuary.  

Bowiea volubilis, climbing up a tree.  I always want to call these "Bloomin' Onion"!

The pond, gorgeously planted round.  This photo doesn't do it justice, it was 12:30 so the sun right overhead. 

I walked to the veg garden, that I remember reading about the beginnings of at Dangergarden blog

Of course, by October we're down to zucchini & tomatoes in this climate. The scaffolding made it all so much cooler.  

I think we walked all the pathways at least 3 times, each trip seeing something we hadn't noticed before.

It's all so totally unique.  One of a kind, and Marcia herself was so kind - she opens her garden almost every Sunday afternoon!  

Colletia ulicina was in vibrant bloom in the front yard.  I hope to find one, I initially thought it was a funny Grevillea.  I think it was David or Ivan who worked out the name with Marcia.  

A 30' sculpture in the gorgeous side garden space.  

An absolute in a class by itself garden!  

As we were walking the street to Marcia's, BANANAS!  I have an ongoing "3 banana project", never to get a flower or fruit.  Oh, what a climate Berkeley has.  

For once, I won't go back through this post to remove extra exclamation points.  I think this garden deserves them. Next up... Ann Nichols' garden!