UPBEAT TIMES, INC. • JUNE 2017 • 7 Exploring the Possibilities! by Kimberly Childers • kimberlychilders@att.net


inch spikes of blue fl owers rising up from lush green.


Exploration is a favorite word for


Santa Rosa, CA. ~ Droplets of clear water spatter from the moss covered Italian fountain, creating soothing, relaxing sounds, veiling highway noise not quite far enough away. Light blue cloudless


sky


overhead, trees now heavy with verdant


leaves;


lightly rustle in the slightest breeze.


Lately I’ve


been intrigued by tiny alpine plants growing in vin- tage iron sinks


with gravely soil, probably my next project or creating a better habi- tat for wild things in a reserved, random corner of the garden, or both! There is always an ongoing list of ‘To Do’ and then there are satisfying moments gazing at the gardens, glistening black crows perched on the fence curiously amuse. I’m planting more deli- cious nectar fi lled butterfl y fl owers for sure, vivid salvias, reds, deep purples and more milkweed variet- ies. There is a low growing white fl owering salvia to tuck into those empty spots in the sunny garden as well. Salvia caradonna is a must have for elegant borders with its 12


June. So many fabulous fl owers and herbs, vegetables. . .well, al- most everything blooming in such astounding profusion this month. Check out red fl owering Meconop- sis papav- eracea, sheer silken poppies and


the deli-


cate, lover of dry shade under tall trees, Epi- medium Ber- beridaceae. O- oo-oo-ogle over fl amboyant Rudbeckia, you know them as Black-eyed Su- san (pictured),


plant some very cool drought-toler- ant ornamental grasses in big pots and they can add stunning vertical texture to borders too. Find your special varieties on line or locally. Purveyors of plants are packaging everything much better and ship- ping healthier stock these days. It’s time to get out and visit plant nurseries, catch a tour of different gardens, farmer’s markets, veg and fruit stands. Take a stroll through our famous Luther Burbank Home and Gardens. Speaking of which, Digging Dog nursery, in beautiful Albion, is an enchanting place to stop by with an A to Z list of pe- rennials, grasses, trees, shrubs and


vines. They offer a mail order cat- alog that ‘reads like a horticulture trip around the world’. Check them out in person or on line @ digging dog nursery.com. Call them if you like at 707-937- 1130.


I’ve


got my eye on Pink


Muhly grass, Muhle- bergia capil-


laris, or smaller


M. dubia, drought tolerant and evergreen in mild winters. How about planting a meadow, or border a long pathway of arresting PINK grasses with pink Echinacea or some other outrageously stunning combination? You decide! Pour


yourself a cup of steamy and re- juvenating Jasmine Green tea, sit down in your comfy spot, google and get to know Eliot Coleman on new and old thoughts about ‘or- ganic’. An organic farmer


(Four Sea-


son’s Farm) in Maine since 1968, Coleman has toured the world in search of the best organic


farmers .


Coleman comes from the era of Helen and Scott Nearing, those pioneering and truly inspiring or- ganic farmers. He reminds that his farm is not a USDA certifi ed farm but has standards much higher. His


... continued on page 13 JOKES & Humor # 3


A man walked up to a vend- ing machine, put in a coin, and pressed the button labeled, “Coffee, double cream, sugar.” No cup ap- peared. Then two nozzles went into action, one send- ing forth coffee, the other, cream. After the proper amounts had gone down the drain where the cup should have been, the machine turned off. “Now that’s real automation,” the man


exclaimed. “This thing even drinks it for you!”


Happy Father’s Day to all you awesome Dad’s!


Pub and Gift Shop hours: 11AM to Midnight daily 725 4th St. Santa Rosa, CA


707-545-2337 www.russianriverbrewing.com “Never, never, never give in!” ~ Winston S. Churchill UPBEAT TIMES, INC. • JUNE 2017 • 7


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