The Wedding Tomato - A Black Krim

Now Fruiting- Our Commemorative  Black Krim Tomatoes *

My Rosalinda

Married - San Luis Obispo

Home to this Black Krim

* Plant Purchased at San Luis Obispo Farmer's Market
 At nearby Loma Grande Ranch, Rosalinda and Joe married

SLO Dreaming - Loma Grande

The name Loma Grande translates directly to English as "Big Hill".

Some folks say, however, that you should never translate the word loma, because it means a lot more than that.

Loma Grande is, in fact, an historic ranch in Edna Valley. It lies inland from Pismo Beach, about five miles. It's also around eight miles from the town of San Luis Obispo. How long has it been a working ranch? All I know is that it's barns are over a hundred years old. The local wedding industry helps to support the working of this long-time agricultural site.

If you are interested in getting married at Loma Grande, you can email info@lomagranderanchvenue.com

Pismo Beach - Fall Camping with Cousin Martha

Cousin Martha and I camped for two nights at Pismo Beach in San Luis Obispo county, the week before Thanksgiving. Overwinter Monarch Butterflies, a very happy dog, and a heavenly beach,  made it a trip we're dreaming about repeating as soon as possible.

Jasper-The-New-Pooch had never seen a tent before. He's a little uncertain

Impressions of Morro Bay Harbor (San Luis Obispo County)

The Fishing Fleet
L.R. Shimer

Please click on the illustration above for a deeper impression

SLO Deerweed in Full Bloom (Hiking San Luis Obispo)

Deerweed
Lotus scoparius
Click on the illustration above for all the glorious detail

Deerweed (Lotus scoparius) was in full bloom when we hiked Madonna Mountain, in San Luis Obispo  a few weeks back. The deerweed is only just starting to show yellow, up here about 200 miles north at Edgewood Nature Preserve in the San Francisco Bay Area.

With it's shiny bare red stalks in the winter, deerweed adds an arty element to it's surroundings. It also provides nectar for gorgeous mint-green hairstreak butterflies. So, I'm thinking about giving this native a try the next time I'm visiting SLO and swing by Las Pilitas Nursery (http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/lotus-scoparius). Las Pilitas is a great native plant nursery, but they have very specific hours. I recommend you call ahead if you're going. (You can also get plants from them by mail.) And double check with them on the directions. The drive over from the freeway to the nursery is rural California at it's best as well. Keep an eye out for wild turkeys, quail and bears - not kidding. Ask about the bear that used to be somewhat of a regular at the nursery.

The Carrizo Plain: Soda Lake Jack Rabbit

People go to the Carrizo Plain National Monument for the wildflower bloom. It's one of two places left in the Central Valley of California that is considered to be close to it's pristine pre-agriculture condition.

It's been a dry winter here in California, so there weren't an abundance of wildflowers. Still, we thoroughly enjoyed our short trip to this out-of-the-way, isolated preserve.