Sunday, May 4, 2014

Peanuts, Poppies and Shasta Daisies

Another wonderful week, another delightful trip... but very little quilting time. This time we visited the lovely town of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County. Two famous sons left sites for townsfolk and visitors.

Luther Burbank moved here in the 1870s. He was one of the world's most successful horticulturists creating hundreds of fruits, potatoes and flowers. His modest clapboard home surrounded by an acre of gardens is a city park and National Horticultural Historic Landmark. And what lovely gardens! Very home-like and informal. Something seems to always be blooming.

I never knew he developed shastas nor did I realize how many varieties there are. These are the flowers that bordered our front garden when I was a child and they may just be my favorite flowers.

Shasta daisies, Luther Burbank gardens, Santa Rosa CA.
Shasta daisies
 
Some other garden beds include glorious yellow, orange and red poppies.

Several varieties of poppies

The rose garden included this unusual variety of purple-pink rose called Blueberry Hill. (I found my thrill...)

Blueberry Hill roses, Luther Burbank gardens, Santa Rosa CA
Blueberry Hill roses
Almost 100 years later Charles Schulz, creator of Peanuts with Snoopy and Charlie Brown, moved here. He built the Redwood Empire ice rink near his studio and later an eponymous museum next to it. Spend the day ice skating, lunching at the Warm Puppy Cafe and touring the intimate museum.

This ice arena, in the form of a Swiss chalet with white stucco walls, brown wooden shutters and window boxes, was built by Charles Schulz in 1969.
Redwood Empire Ice Arena

My husband was happy we came home in time to enjoy the Star Wars series on DVDs. May the 4th be with you!

Fret not; enjoy the day.
Ann

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