From Tree to Lantern

Wildwood's winter hobby is woodworking.  This December, we're tackling a lantern project.

The starting point is a forty eight inch wide by thirty inch redwood slab.  This piece of redwood is a 'scrap' piece from a large milling operation on Lawndale Road in Kenwood, CA. Scrap is in quotes because while it is too small to use for conventional lumber it is really a beautiful piece of wood.  The grain is very narrow and the tones throughout the wood are luminescent.

We used a chainsaw to cut the slab into manageable pieces.   The top 'hood', side slats, and base will slowly take shape using a combination of power tools and hand saws.  

Half Moon Bay Hike

We stepped off the beaten path during the Thanksgiving break.  Most of the time, the Northern Bay Area is our home.  A trip down to the Half Moon Bay Watershed was a welcome change of scenery.

The Tunitas Creek Trailhead is a short drive from the Skyline Ridge Drive that separates Portola Valley from the Pacific Ocean.  Upon entering the forest, one is immersed in a vast silent chamber of trees and ferns.  Redwood needles carpet the forest floor.  The effect is a deep rich almost glowing expanse of brown.

An up and down five mile loop on the Grabtown Gulch Trail, Purisima Creek Trail, and Borden Hatch Mill Trail provides a complete getaway.  Fern dells, meadows, waterfalls, creeks, and Redwoods are all included free of charge.  They're a great antidote for the hectic holidays!

Touchdown at Wildwood

The entrance to Wildwood underwent some major changes this past year.  Mainly, we eliminated four wind damaged trees.

Suddenly, the area was sunny. Really sunny. And really bare.

We moved some good soil from another location on the property to create a planting area.  We used the John Deere to move in some large lichen covered boulders.  We positioned a large twisting oak branch within the boulder groupings.  We planted Joe Pye Weed, Vernonia, Matilija Poppy and Lomandra.

We were missing something though.  Then, the Egret touched down.  Now that the Egret likes it, we think we're on the right track. 

Seeds from Strybing

This past weekend, I stopped by Strybing Arboretum to talk to the garden's curator, Don Mahoney.  He was gracious enough to take some time out from the weekend plant sale to look at one of the Dogwoods in the garden.

Not just any Dogwood either.  A species [Cornus urbiniana] native to Mexico that is rarely found in the US.  It grows a bit taller than the Dogwoods native to the east coast and the bracts on the flowers curve inward with the tips touching.  The flowers look like big sales in the spring.

We found fifteen seeds on the tree and snipped off some young growth to use for cuttings.  Now it's up to me to get them to grow.  No pressure!

Novum in November.

We're giving special attention to the Maple in the center circle at Wildwood this year.  Well, this blog is giving it special attention.

Each month, we're taking a snapshot and looking at the progression of colors throughout the year.  This month, it's at the peak of fall color.  The special characteristic of Novum is it has more orange tones than most upright trees in the fall.  So, while most red trees are bright, this maple positively glows.

And it looks great after a long summer of continuous hot sun and windy conditions!  The tree's canopy is beginning to cast shade on the center circle.  With next year's new growth Novum will probably be 20% larger!

Before, Before, Before

Everyone likes the after pictures.  They show a landscape in its best light.

There's quite a bit of work involved in getting those pictures.  A blank canvas great - do something with it.  Here's a [gutted] house in Mill Valley, CA with a mature Japanese Maple in the front yard.  And weeds.  The backyard is 3000 sq ft.

The after pictures are in progress.  There's tractors involved, a living wall, and lots of greenery.  Once we load the tractor back on the trailer we'll have time to document the changes.

Bigger Bee's Bliss

This past June, Studio Wildwood designed a garden for the entrance to a hillside Sausalito, CA house.

What a difference five months makes!  The Salvia Bee's Bliss is knitting together nicely.  This fragrant groundcover unifies the entire space, leaving room for accents like the Matilija Poppy and Rhododendrons.

In June, the tree fern peeked out from the corner.  Now it's unfurling new fronds and holding it's own.  The Tristania's are even a foot taller.  Soon they'll cast even more shade for the Sword Ferns and Iris.

Spring [and Winter] promises to be bigger yet.