Saturday, October 1, 2011

The Flowers of Northern California


Northern California is a gardener's dream.  While on our trip celebrating my husband's birthday this year I couldn't help but photograph all the gorgeous flowers along the way!






Along the coast at Half Moon Bay the flowers just thrive in the coastal fog and mild temperatures.  No frosts or 100 degree temperatures to stress their growth produces beautiful blooms to enjoy almost all year long.  















The hydrangeas at our hotel were truly breathtaking...a fantastic mix of colors and varieties along the front greeted our arrival.  A border filled with a combination of mopheads and lacecaps...what could be more beautiful? 


Lavender edged the back patio's flower borders mixed with begonias and impatients.   A wedding in the garden for all to enjoy and a real treat for the guests as we got to "attend" without a formal invitation. 







The gazebo is magnificent and while we were there the hotel had three weddings and receptions within a 24 hour period.  This is a wedding destination and people travel from all parts of the country to have their "dream" wedding with attention to every detail.   I must say it is the perfect setting for any special occasion!


My favorite flower is the stargazer lily and in the hotel foyer there were four magnificent bouquets each in their own niche that perfumed the air on arrival.   Just beautiful!!


The day we spent there the fog hugged the coast but fog is very common in the morning and usually clears in the afternoon.  When the sun breaks through there is no prettier place to be!  


We drove back through San Francisco on our way to Sonoma and snapped this picture of poppies 
growing seemingly unattended in the median! 




We headed up to Sonoma and Napa for a several days which is  another fabulous place to flower gaze.  I think everything grows in this region...even if you have a "brown thumb". 
  

At an olive orchard and vineyard in 
Glen Ellen beauty is all around!



Roses were blooming among the 
olive trees and in the vineyards.
I love these large standards.  My mother-in-law had a rose garden very similar to this...brings back lovely memories cutting them and bringing them in her house. 













The fountain is surrounded by a bed of ornamental kale
 and is the focal point in the rose garden. 




This display of begonias is in Yountville
 is a great splash of red!!
     

These containers are perfect for fall in front of 'Napa Style'.


Great courtyard garden.






Window boxes in St. Helena..I visit them every time we are there as they are always planted differently and 
with such vibrant flowering plants.




Great sweet potato vine 
trailing out of  a citrus tree container! 



Morning glories under control.  (If you have ever grown them you know what I'm talking about)  



Our last morning was spent having a wonderfully organic omelet in the Sunflower Cafe on the Sonoma Square...our trip was a welcome break to our brutal summer but now fall is here in Oklahoma and it's a beautiful day!  I'm headed out to the garden to do some flower gazing.  




I'm linking this week with:


Seasonal Sundays
Susan's Outdoor Wednesdays
Tootsie's Fertilizer Fridays
and Beverly's Pink Saturday


Make sure you go by for a visit!


Happy Fall Y'all!!

22 comments:

  1. So I am happy, and sad, I visited your blog today. I LOVE northern CA. This summer, I realized how amazing the northern part of the state is, and how much I have taken it for granted. Your photos are so beautiful. There is a Martha Stewart article about the amazing hydrengas and lavendar, and other flowers, of No CA and your post is so much like the article. Crazy, huh? Now the reason I am sad is because of your wedding photo. When I think of my daughter's upcoming wedding, that photo is what I see. Unfortunately, we live in the Pacific Northwest and there is nothing around here that is as perfect as that hotel wedding. We just don't have the terrain or the view, or the venues. Still, thanks so much for sharing about your outing. I really enjoy Half Moon Bay and can't wait to visit agains.

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  2. What a great trip. We have taken vacations in this area a couple of times and love it. We throughly enjoyed Half Moon Bay. Thanks for letting me enjoy your trip.

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  3. Such glorious flowers. So neat to see them in full bloom at this time of year.Great to have you be a part of Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  4. Oh my heavens, all of those flowers are absolutely gorgeous! The fact that you got to see them all, take photographs of them, is just wonderful. What a trip! Thank you for sharing them with us!

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  5. As usual, you have captured perfectly the place I so love to call home! I have been very bad at going out and taking pictures this year but I am determined to get up to Half Moon Bay a couple of days before the Pumpkin Festival this year to get some good photos. The pumpkin farms aren't as abundant as they've been in the past and I fear for the future of this great tradition. Come back soon!

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  6. It looks like you had a more than lovely trip! Blooms all the way. Such lovely images you shared today! Have a delightful week!

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  7. I agree, northern CA is a gardener's paradise. I can only dream of such beautiful gardens. ;-)
    ~ Sarah

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  8. Love all the pretty flowers and scenery. Makes me want to visit.

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  9. Your flower gazing tour is so beautiful. Thank you for taking us along. True, No. Calif. is has gorgeous flowers at almost anytime of the year. I have always said I would love to live in Sonoma, but I know I couldn't afford to. Ginger

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  10. so nice to see home through others, as a native californian i take this all for granted...

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  11. What a great trip. The flowers are lovely. I've never been to Northern California. I'd like to visit there some day.
    Barb

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  12. What a beautiful series of flowers photo's and those wedding photo's are gorgeous. A beautiful setting there.
    Have a nice day

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  13. Looked like a wonderful trip. Absoutely beautiful
    garden pics !

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  14. I love Northern California as well...I am from Southern California and love visiting relatives there. Napa and Sonoma are my favorites!Wonderful photos!!

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  15. Those hydrandeas are very special! I am a great fan of the blue ones. Cheers from Canada.

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  16. thanks for sharing your beautiful photos. We lived in N.Ca for many years and I miss it.

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  17. The flowers are amazing. They have the perfect growing conditions. Unlike Atlanta where flowers tend to bake in the sun.

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  18. You did a lot on this trip. The pictures of the hydrangeas are amazing. Happy Birthday to your dear husband!

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  19. Oh, you're making me so homesick for northern California! I miss the California poppies and hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers! Beautiful pictures! I'm your newest follower!
    Hugs, Cindy

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  20. Well, These are really very beautiful series of flowers photo's and those wedding photo's are gorgeous. A beautiful setting there. You done a perfect arrangement with flowers.
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