Wine Country
If you are looking for something different to do this Halloween weekend in wine country, swing by Florence Avenue in Sebastopol to see the whimsical sculptures of the local junk artists Patrick Amiot and Bridget Laurent. Gnomes, pirates, witches, majestic owls, comic heroes, and fantastical animals will greet you. These quirky sculptures that inhabit the front yards of this residential street will bring a smile to your face.
At the intersection of East Washington and Adobe Road in Petaluma, California, one can feel the new vibrations emanating from the thousands of colorful dahlias that grow in the field at The Happy Dahlia Flower Farm. Among the playful kaleidoscope of colorful blooms, visitors are immersed in a sensorial state of being filled with beauty, life energy, and nature. While well-known for producing exquisite dahlias in their many varieties, the farm has blossomed into a sanctuary for the spirit, soul, and connection. The Happy Dahlia Flower Farm has become a place to experience the sacred seasonal rhythms of the farm, landscape, and community.
This week we’re taking in the fall colors at the orchard of Hale Apple Farm in Sebastopol, California. Foodies, farm enthusiasts, and fans of this radiant season will find this to be the perfect autumn outing in wine country.
Last Saturday, we spent our morning literally walking in circles mesmerized by the many fragrant varieties of blooms that form the lavender labyrinth at Bees N’ Blooms farm in Santa Rosa. Lavender fans, flower lovers, and farm enthusiasts will find this to be the perfect summer outing. The lavender labyrinth and farm are nestled at the foot of Mount Taylor on the Santa Rosa Plain and are home to thousands of honeybees, and native bees, cut flowers, and farm animals.
On a brisk and sunny morning in February, Debbie and Herb Rowland graciously invited Flowers and Grapes into Pacheco Ranch Winery (PRW), their family’s private historic 70-acre vineyard and winery in eastern Marin County. PRW has produced complex cabernet wines at this historic site for generations, and winemaking is still a family affair. However, while we were there to capture the fleeting beauty of their blooming vineyard this spring, we also discovered the property’s stately historical elegance and learned about their family’s rich legacy as vintners in the celebrated wine country of Northern California.
While mid-February is just a bit early to capture the festive early spring blooming of bright yellow mustard flowers in the vineyards throughout the wine country, I did see a few eager mustard sprouts ready to announce the coming of spring on my recent visit to the historic Sonoma Mission Vineyard in located Sonoma, California. What I didn’t expect on this visit was to have my focus shift from the sleepy dormant grapevines of winter to the vibrant surrounding native and drought-tolerant plants growing in this charming historic vineyard.
Winter is a perfect time for gardeners to bundle up and go outside to explore new gardens. Inspired by a bout of cabin fever brought on by recent rain storms, I ventured out to Sonoma Garden Park to find a charming working farm and so much more!
I am excited to share my adventures in gardening, floral design, and the beauty of the Northern California wine country with my new blog, Flowers and Grapes. My floral arrangement pictured above in a repurposed rustic urn, abundantly filled with seasonal homegrown flowers, vegetables and locally grown grapes is like a still-life reflecting my many interests in gardening, floral design, sustainability, and regional flavor. This abundant urn is also a metaphor for my hopes and dreams for continued bounty in my garden and in friendship, love, and life. Flowers and Grapes will be a platform to share my creativity, sense of whimsy, and celebrations of the seasons.
Mustard bloom is one of the most exciting times to visit the wine country. For a few short weeks, this seasonal show makes a stunning backdrop drawing many visitors from afar to capture the spectacular seasonal moment in portraits and photos. However, mustard also has a rich beneficial history rooted in wine country.