These days there are Busch Gardens theme parks in both Tampa Bay, Florida, and Williamsburg, Virginia. However, in this episode of California’s Gold (originally aired 20 years ago, on November 7, 2004) Huell begins by talking about a once very popular Southern California tourist attraction — the Busch Gardens in Van Nuys, which closed back in 1979. I never visited […]
Since I’ve been looking through my photos from last October when I visited the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens in Fort Bragg, I thought it would be nice to revisit this episode — it was my very first look at this beautiful spot in Mendocino County. This segment of California’s Golden Coast originally aired in September 2003, and I featured it here on the blog in October 2018: I’ve been a botanical garden fan ever since my visit to the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park in 2016. Before that, I had no idea how wonderful such places could be — perfect for photography, for wandering, or for just sitting to relax in the middle of nature’s beauty. Watching this episode of California’s Golden Coast is a great introduction to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, a unique and beautiful public garden near the small town of Fort Bragg; I was surprised to learn that this garden has been here since 1961. Now it looks like I have another spot to add to my must-visit list! The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is the only public garden in the continental United States located directly on the coast. Huell explores this rare jewel set within coastal pines and coastal bluffs in Fort Bragg. In addition to its diverse flora, there is a retail nursery and garden shop as well as workshops, classes and lectures so you may take a bit of the […]
One of my favorite YouTube videos recently is a 12-hour soundscape of ocean waves; I frequently use it to lull myself to sleep. When I gaze at these images from the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden in Fort Bragg, it’s easy to summon up the boom and crash of waves along a rocky shore along with the fresh salt air on […]
I didn’t spend too much time in the small garden abutting the redwoods of the Jack Hume Grove in Vacaville. The flowers were few, and the sun was very bright when I arrived, not long after 12 noon. But a few colorful autumn blooms did catch my eye as well as the attention of some insects. Sadly, although there were […]
June 1978 — If there are two experiences from my 1978 Canadian road trip that I wish I could re-live today, they would have to be those from this week’s post. Even though I was very much present for both, I can’t honestly say I fully appreciated how very special they were at the time. I know I’ve said this […]
I live a relatively short 30 miles from Capitol Park in Sacramento, but I have to admit I’ve never properly explored all it has to offer. I did spend a few hours exploring this beautiful park back in September 2017, but I still managed to see merely a small part of it — and that was made very clear to […]
I’ve been a botanical garden fan ever since my visit to the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park in 2016. Before that, I had no idea how wonderful such places could be — perfect for photography, for wandering, or for just sitting to relax in the middle of nature’s beauty. Watching this episode of California’s Golden Coast is […]
The pomegranate fruit may seem fairly intimidating to those of us accustomed to bananas and apples, but they have long been used in cooking and they pack a serious nutritional punch. The pomegranate plant originated in the arid climates of the Middle East — in fact they were one of the eastern Mediterranean’s first domesticated fruit trees — but have […]
Guiseppe Murer (1885-1972) was a leading citizen in Folsom from the time he first arrived in the early 1900s. He personally constructed or refurbished several of the structures along Folsom’s Sutter Street while still finding time to work in his gardens, regularly harvesting crops like asparagus, cherries, walnuts, and grapes. This historic house and property are being restored and preserved […]