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Flowering crabs and more
May. 1st, 2005 09:08 pmWe just got back from a week in Washington D.C., mainly visiting M's mother & sister, but getting some sightseeing in as well. The cherries were mostly done but the flowering crabapples were truly magnificent.
( Pictures )
We also got to see the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks, designed by Beatrix Jones Farrand and the owner Mildred Bliss. Very lovely, some of the most graceful and charming formal gardens I've seen.
( Pictures )
While at the U.S. Botanic Gardens, I discovered that patchouli is in the mint family. I WANT ONE! I always thought it was a tree, but no, it's just a little mint-like plant that could be quite happy in a pot. I shall begin a quest.
Yesterday I went to Berkeley for a pottery sale. I adore Rikki Gill's work, particularly her designs that look like exploding flowers. The photos on the website don't do the pieces justice -- they look flat and garish, but in person there's a wonderful depth and subtlety to them (they are definitely colorful though, no doubt about that).
Then I had lunch with a friend who is just back from a 10-week trip -- wonderful to see both her and her pictures. Picking M up at the library where he was doing research, we went on to visit 2 wine stores, getting more of the yummy $6.50 Borsao we discovered at Vintage Berkeley, and some favorite Thomas Coyne Mourvedre at Solano Cellars. The latter was doing a Coyne wine tasting, and we ended up having an entertaining conversation with a couple who had known the eponymous Tom before he became a winemaker. Also picked up some fabulous rhubarb crisp to go from Fat Apples, a place I was introduced to a couple years ago by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
naomi_traveller and spikeiowa when dalmeny was visiting. They make it just right, with the rhubarb nice and tart, not oversweetened. Mmmmm.
Today I went to a lovely afternoon tea and garden party, sporting a frivolous pink & black hat I picked up at Berkeley Hat the day before, festooned with roses for the occasion. Much fun (and much food) had by all. The hosts' house and garden are on a steep hillside which has been lovingly landscaped with many exuberant old roses (a Belle of Portugal reaching for the powerlines, Mermaid as well). Magnificent.
Not much gardening done at home, though. Must do something about that tomorrow.
( Pictures )
We also got to see the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks, designed by Beatrix Jones Farrand and the owner Mildred Bliss. Very lovely, some of the most graceful and charming formal gardens I've seen.
( Pictures )
While at the U.S. Botanic Gardens, I discovered that patchouli is in the mint family. I WANT ONE! I always thought it was a tree, but no, it's just a little mint-like plant that could be quite happy in a pot. I shall begin a quest.
Yesterday I went to Berkeley for a pottery sale. I adore Rikki Gill's work, particularly her designs that look like exploding flowers. The photos on the website don't do the pieces justice -- they look flat and garish, but in person there's a wonderful depth and subtlety to them (they are definitely colorful though, no doubt about that).
Then I had lunch with a friend who is just back from a 10-week trip -- wonderful to see both her and her pictures. Picking M up at the library where he was doing research, we went on to visit 2 wine stores, getting more of the yummy $6.50 Borsao we discovered at Vintage Berkeley, and some favorite Thomas Coyne Mourvedre at Solano Cellars. The latter was doing a Coyne wine tasting, and we ended up having an entertaining conversation with a couple who had known the eponymous Tom before he became a winemaker. Also picked up some fabulous rhubarb crisp to go from Fat Apples, a place I was introduced to a couple years ago by
naomi_traveller and spikeiowa when dalmeny was visiting. They make it just right, with the rhubarb nice and tart, not oversweetened. Mmmmm.Today I went to a lovely afternoon tea and garden party, sporting a frivolous pink & black hat I picked up at Berkeley Hat the day before, festooned with roses for the occasion. Much fun (and much food) had by all. The hosts' house and garden are on a steep hillside which has been lovingly landscaped with many exuberant old roses (a Belle of Portugal reaching for the powerlines, Mermaid as well). Magnificent.
Not much gardening done at home, though. Must do something about that tomorrow.
