897tgigvib
Garden Master
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- Mar 21, 2012
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As many of you know, I presently live at Lake Pillsbury in the Mendocino National Forest, officially called zone 8, but that my garden in the lake basin has not yet since 2008 suffered less than 21 degrees for a coldest temperature because of the microclimate.
I was raised gardening south of here some in Santa Rosa, where Luther Burbank declared it to be natures' chosen spot for growing plants. (There is an exact wording of his quote I can't think of right at the moment).
And then, for 21 and a half years I lived and gardened in southwest Montana where it is barely zone 4 before moving back to California, here at the lake. There in Montana I learned to appreciate and to grow in the difficult short season climate. Coming back to California to grow plants was nearly overwhelming. Enjoying such a looooong season.
During my time in the army I spent 14 months stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco as a Saxophone player in the 6th Army band. While there in 1975 and 1976 I did enjoy closely living in the very special climate there, at some of the places which I used to visit with my aunt Eleanor. (She being of the opinion that it was not a sin to swipe a slip of a plant if you did it carefully, lol).
Just yesterday I got to be there again. Being much older and versed about plants so much more than in 1976 I saw again the plants I knew and loved then with new appreciation.
The plants of San Francisco live in one of the most special TROPICAL climates there is in the world. Especially that small area generally west of the Golden Gate bridge at the north shore coast, and then inland perhaps a mile or less.
This area is densely populated for sure with homes that cost around a million dollars or much more. Robin Williams lives at China Beach for example. (I almost knocked on his door for a friend who wants to be in his new show, lol).
The area is filled with very old unused FORTIFICATIONS that used to bear cannons that would have defended San Francisco from foreign invasion. One I visited along the water, actually being lashed by waves, is so old its history is unknown. Only deteriorating concrete framework is left. Likely from the late 1700's Spanish period, it was built too low to the water, and may well have lowered closer to the water from an earthquake shortly after being built. The framework is askewed slightly.
There are newer ones from Civil War and Mexican war days, and the largest of them are from the Spanish-American war days. Those were rebuilt and added to during both WWI and WWII. One right at Fort Miley is huge and apparently held very huge artillery cannons during WWII and it is hidden behind a rise from most of the ocean.
I mention these things because many may not know about the huge military defenses San Francisco was prepared with in case of invasion or attack during WWII. A good portion of ships were built in the Bay Area and also supplied from there. (In fact, in the hills near where I am there still sits a WWII communications vehicle station, and Lake Pillsbury itself was used to train pilots to land on carriers. Yes, this little lake had warplanes flying around, touching water, lifting, coming in for landings on the strip which is visible when the lake is low, and yes, the airstrip north of the lake is still used.) I digress, sorry.
So, at San Francisco I walked around waiting for the follow up appointment for my eyes. I saw this...
http://foundsf.org/index.php?title=Native_Flora_of_San_Francisco
The second photo there, that spot. This is a pretty good article.
=====
I saw some of these Manzanitas. I think they have been propagating and planting them. There are areas where lots of work is carefully being done to rebuild the habitat. It is amazing to see the progress every few weeks when I go down there.
http://www.presidio.gov/about/Pages/native-plants.aspx
There was so much more that I saw! (These Manzanitas are really bright green compared to the Manzanita where I live!)
I was raised gardening south of here some in Santa Rosa, where Luther Burbank declared it to be natures' chosen spot for growing plants. (There is an exact wording of his quote I can't think of right at the moment).
And then, for 21 and a half years I lived and gardened in southwest Montana where it is barely zone 4 before moving back to California, here at the lake. There in Montana I learned to appreciate and to grow in the difficult short season climate. Coming back to California to grow plants was nearly overwhelming. Enjoying such a looooong season.
During my time in the army I spent 14 months stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco as a Saxophone player in the 6th Army band. While there in 1975 and 1976 I did enjoy closely living in the very special climate there, at some of the places which I used to visit with my aunt Eleanor. (She being of the opinion that it was not a sin to swipe a slip of a plant if you did it carefully, lol).
Just yesterday I got to be there again. Being much older and versed about plants so much more than in 1976 I saw again the plants I knew and loved then with new appreciation.
The plants of San Francisco live in one of the most special TROPICAL climates there is in the world. Especially that small area generally west of the Golden Gate bridge at the north shore coast, and then inland perhaps a mile or less.
This area is densely populated for sure with homes that cost around a million dollars or much more. Robin Williams lives at China Beach for example. (I almost knocked on his door for a friend who wants to be in his new show, lol).
The area is filled with very old unused FORTIFICATIONS that used to bear cannons that would have defended San Francisco from foreign invasion. One I visited along the water, actually being lashed by waves, is so old its history is unknown. Only deteriorating concrete framework is left. Likely from the late 1700's Spanish period, it was built too low to the water, and may well have lowered closer to the water from an earthquake shortly after being built. The framework is askewed slightly.
There are newer ones from Civil War and Mexican war days, and the largest of them are from the Spanish-American war days. Those were rebuilt and added to during both WWI and WWII. One right at Fort Miley is huge and apparently held very huge artillery cannons during WWII and it is hidden behind a rise from most of the ocean.
I mention these things because many may not know about the huge military defenses San Francisco was prepared with in case of invasion or attack during WWII. A good portion of ships were built in the Bay Area and also supplied from there. (In fact, in the hills near where I am there still sits a WWII communications vehicle station, and Lake Pillsbury itself was used to train pilots to land on carriers. Yes, this little lake had warplanes flying around, touching water, lifting, coming in for landings on the strip which is visible when the lake is low, and yes, the airstrip north of the lake is still used.) I digress, sorry.
So, at San Francisco I walked around waiting for the follow up appointment for my eyes. I saw this...
http://foundsf.org/index.php?title=Native_Flora_of_San_Francisco
The second photo there, that spot. This is a pretty good article.
=====
I saw some of these Manzanitas. I think they have been propagating and planting them. There are areas where lots of work is carefully being done to rebuild the habitat. It is amazing to see the progress every few weeks when I go down there.
http://www.presidio.gov/about/Pages/native-plants.aspx
There was so much more that I saw! (These Manzanitas are really bright green compared to the Manzanita where I live!)
