Memorial Day Mendocino Botanical Gardens

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Yes, yes, I know.  I have posted about the Mendocino Botanical Gardens before.  But, it’s sort of become my muse.  (If I may humbly use that term.)  Right about the time I think I might start get tired of the place I go back and fall in love all over again.  We spent a four-day Memorial Day weekend up in Mendocino and spent the better part of an afternoon exploring the garden and enjoying the hummingbird wars, coastal breeze, roses, veggie garden, golden rod crab spiders (what?), and Dahlia buds.  As I sit in 100+ degree Sacramento heat this week I am channeling the coastal breeze and cooler weather from Mendocino wishing we never came home…

Golden Rod Crab Spider known to change its color based on if it is hanging out on a white or a yellow flower. Had to do a little research after spying this creepy lady. I can’t remember ever seeing one before. Hope never to see one in my house…
Another specimen I cannot remember seeing before with blue cones
Never get tired of Dahlias
Dahlia Baby
The garden has a good collection of public art that changes regularly
Mother Nature is creative in the interesting things she creates is she not?
Saved this little one who had flown in to a green house and couldn’t figure out how to fly out the door.
Never grow tired of this view

Check out other posts I have done on Mendocino here…

Mendocino Guest House Inn

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While visiting Mendocino last weekend we finally stopped by the Mendocino/Fort Bragg Guest House Museum.  It was a short and cute little museum.  But, the fun part was the large redwood stump out front displaying rings from almost Pre-Christian times.  We don’t see many trees this large anymore outside of the State Parks that care for them.  But, for those of you who may never have seen anything like this before check it out and then read of the many historic events that occurred in its lifetime.  I have never seen anything like this outside of California, has anyone else?

Memorial Day Mendocino

/ Bulldog Travels / 21 Comments

A week late but here I am.  For Memorial Day we bombed up to Mendocino, Bulldog and trailer in tow.  Our favorite site at MacKerricker State Park was full so we found a superb little private campground within walking distance feeling lucky we found anything at all. The weather was perfect, about 70 degrees all weekend, without a cloud in the sky.  70 degree weather gave way to over 100 degree + weather following.  We enjoyed it while it lasted…

 

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Sorry for the terrible iPhone photo but the bulldog was as excited as we were to go somewhere fun and get out of the heat.

 

We took our favorite local Fern Canyon hike to the full and flowing waterfall at Russian Gulch State Park nearly 7 miles round trip.

We also checked out the Mendocino Botanical Gardens as usual.  So, stay tuned for more flower photos on that…


 

 

Paris – Architecture

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Surprise!  I went to Paris.  I am back and have finally finished going through all of my photos.  I hope to post some interesting finds over the coming weeks.  I do hope you will enjoy my journey!

Cee’s Fun Photo Challenge gave me inspiration to share my first Paris photo.  That of a very unusual building called the Centre Pompidou in the 4th Arrondissement near Les Halles.  (Hadn’t really figured out how to start so thanks Cee!)  I am not sure this building is to my taste but I give the architects bonus points for having the moxie to build something like this in Paris!  The building houses a public library, center for music, and a Modern Art Museum.  (Appropriate.)

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Cee’s Fun Photo Challenge – Architecture

France is truly one of the most beautiful countries I have ever visited.  For other posts from previous trips to Paris and France please visit my page here!

Gold Country – Calaveras Jumping Frog Jubilee

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I’ve lived my whole life in this area and always heard of Mark Twain’s famous Jumping Frog Jubilee.  I finally put it on the calendar and made a point of going.  I needed to see those silly frogs jump at the famous Calaveras Jumping Frog Jubilee in Angel’s Camp, California!

It turns out it was great fun to watch the kids “jockey” the frogs.  Some were creeped out and others fearlessly kissed their frog and sent it on its way.  Some jumped and bounced making me fear for the frogs life.  (Thankfully none were squashed/harmed while I was watching.)

The adults weren’t as much fun to watch as the kids but the length the frogs were jumping was far more impressive.  (Upwards towards 18 feet was the maximum I witnessed.)  The 30 year old record was made by Rosie the Ribiter at 21 feet 5 3/4 inches!  Other clever frog names include: Froggy Balboa, Joe Frogtana, and Hillary Croakin.

Small town festivals are a lot of fun.  I challenge you to tell me about a small town festival with a more interesting theme that jumping frog challenges!  🙂

 

For other Gold Country Posts please click here.

Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge

A Jubilee must qualify as “Jubilant” for the Daily Post, right?

Springtime in Napa – Chateau Montelena

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Visiting Napa this last week made me realize I never posted photos from the last time I took Spring photos in Napa a few years prior.  Now seems as good a time as any to share photos from Chateau Montelena, the winery famous for putting Napa wines on the map in the 70’s when good wine was only known to come from France and Italy.

The grounds here are the most spectacular I have visited in Napa.  The asian-inspired garden is magnificent and truly doesn’t even need the wine to make it enjoyable. The grounds are a perfect place for a blanket and a picnic.  The garden theme doesn’t exactly match the facade of the building though.  However, as separate and distinct items they are both noteworthy and stunning.

Have you ever been to Napa?  Who do you think has the most beautiful winery?  I feel like I could go back every spring foe ten years and not even come close to capturing all of the beautiful wineries.  But, I will sure try.

To check out my other Spring Napa photos please click here. 

Too pretty for color
Mama duck let me get way too close. Maybe she couldn;t help but be zen in this garden?
Pretty cool facade huh?
No Napa post is complete without wine barrels
This bottle put Napa on the wine map

Springtime in Napa – V. Sattui Winery

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A recent trip to Napa made me realize Diana and I did the same thing a few years ago and I never shared the photos.  Here are a few we took from our prior Spring Photo fling in the beautiful Napa, California.

These were taken at V. Sattui, a  popular stop for anyone who regularly visits the Napa region.  Folks can stop here for tasting, to enjoy the gardens, and for a great picnic spot.

We randomly ran in to a really friendly Georgian Monk Wine Maker visiting Napa to learn more about wine making.  He was interested in our cameras and wanted a photo.  How could I argue?

Check more Spring Napa photos by clicking here…

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Springtime in Napa – Hall Winery

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Hall Winery Napa – When art and architecture overshadow the wine.

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On our way to Castello di Amorosa we couldn’t help but notice the giant shining bunny at Hall winery.  We.Could.Not.Pass.Up.The.Bunny.  What we didn’t expect was a dozen other magnificent pieces of art set in a uber comfortable setting meant for guests to savor the wine, the weather, and the scenery.  If only we had more time to stop at the hundreds of wineries in the area…

What’s your favorite part of Napa?  Favorite wine or winery?

Pretty Purple huh?
They call this “Ocean” view.
Slightly creepy yet interesting man
Art made from the metal bits the vines are typically attached to
Art made from bedazzled sweatshirts which cracks me up because I can think of all the women who once wore them
Art from Index cards
Pretty window

For more of my Napa drive please click here…

 

Springtime in Napa – Stirling Vineyards

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Flowers and Trees were growing and blooming everywhere we went in Napa last week.  The colors were amazing.  It seems like every direction we looked there was something beautiful to photograph.  We drove by Stirling Vineyards which is the vineyard with a tram/gondola that takes you to its hilltop tasting room with dramatic vistas.  It wasn’t the tram we were interested in this time.  We were taken by its tree lined driveway and overgrown but blooming fields.  It’s times like this I wonder why I don’t live in Napa…

Do you have a favorite Napa winery to visit?

Check out some more Spring Napa Shots here…

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 Jennifer’s Unmellow Yellow challenge!