Virginia Robinson Gardens - Beverly Hills

Thursday's Los Angeles Times has an article in the Home Section about the Virginia Robinson Gardens in Beverly Hills.

Beverly Hills, con brio -- Los Angeles Times, Home, Page F3

The gardens have recently completed a restoration begun in 1997 and are open to public tours, by reservation only.

It might be interesting to get a group together for a visit sometimes. It sounds like an interesting and enlightening trip.

A Stink in the Air

Ah, November and time for everyone in the neighborhood to top dress their lawn with steer manure. I hate it. You can't take a walk without being assaulted with it on all sides. Heck, I even smelled it driving around with the windows up.

Thank goodness I don't have a lawn because I would not be able to use the product in my garden. Usually is cool during November so things aren't so bad, but this week the temperature rose back up into the 80's. Yeeech!

Luckily it shouldn't be too much longer before the smell disappears. Another inch of rain and all should be well.

Locust in Fall

Click for larger image

Dramatically clear here today with the temperature around 75 degrees.

Last weeks rain has cleared out the sky and left it this striking blue. The yellow leaves of the locust tree off the back porch are quite striking when juxtaposed with it. I am surprised the rain didn't strip this tree as it usually does. Perhaps it wasn't as heavy as in the past.

It is supposed to warm up here for the next few days and then turn cooler again with a chance for rain. The evenings have been quite cool for the Valley, getting down into the 40's at night. It makes it fun as you get some feeling of the seasons change and the upcoming holidays.

Christmas Shopping?

Just a gentle reminder, if you are shopping for holiday presents through Amazon.com, you can use the WelchWrite Bookstore. Simply click on the link below to start your shopping and WelchWrite receives a small portion (around 5%) of each sale.

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You can also see some of my recommendations for books, hardware and software by visiting my Douglas Recommends... page.

Coast Journal

Coast Journal is a new blog focusing on, "a regular review of non-fiction books, primarily about plants and gardens, nature, with some history thrown in ," according to its owner, Valarie Adolph. Her reviews also appear on Amazon.com.

I am always looking for a new books, especially about gardening, so this should be a neat, new resource to add to my favorites list.

The Garden Safari

Taking a nearly obsessive approach to documenting their garden, Hania and Hans Arentsen, have created The Garden Safari.

Their site includes photos and sound from the large variety of fauna that inhabit or visit their garden. They have sections on birds, squirrels, insects and more. The site is illustrated with wonderful photos and a large amount of information on each item.

There are days when I wish I could document my garden in this detail, but, alas, I don't have the time, nor photography skills or equipment to make it a reality. It is nice to see, though, what can be done by someone who is deeply immersed in their garden and the place they live.

Via Metafilter.com