Point Lobos painting

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve was one of our first stops when we hit up the Monterey Bay area during our trip back to California. We normally have Max with us when we’re roadtripping. Dogs aren’t allowed in the reserve, even if they’re just hanging out in the car, so we usually skip it. You can park on the road and walk in if you’re traveling with a dog. It’s just south of Carmel on the way to Big Sur. Check it out if you have the chance.

Point Lobos panorama

Flying baby!

Looking south towards Big Sur

Don’t forget to enter the Beautiful Edible Garden book giveaway!

P.S.  It’s currently 35 degrees in Madison, WI… is this normal? I hate it. We still have a couple of ice chunks in our backyard. I will not miss a majority of WI weather when we move back to California.

The Beautiful Edible Garden

When the good folks at Star Apple Edible and Fine Gardening asked us if we wanted to give away a copy of their brand new book The Beautiful Edible Garden, we were thrilled! The book is GORGEOUS and incredibly inspiring. We’ve been loving their work since seeing their fantastic show gardens at the 2011 SF Garden Show.  To enter just leave a comment below telling us what you’ve got planned in the edible department this year (if you have any bunny proof suggestions, we’d love to hear them, too). The winner will be announced on Friday, April 12th. Make sure you’re following Star Apple on facebook and keeping an eye on their blog, too!

UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who entered. The lucky winner is Liz!

Puya alpestris

We couldn’t miss out on the SF Botanical Garden when we were back in town for a visit. I think the Puya alpestris pictured above is blooming right now, so you should go check it out. Check out our blog about the Puya insanity at SFBG last year.

Zoe & the Kniphofias

Zoe loves traveling around in the Ergo. It’s pretty amazing to be able to nurse and walk around looking at plants without anything hanging out.

Aloe busting out of a rock wall

Wollemia nobilis (super rare)

Aloe plicatilis

Ribes sanguineum

The CA Native section was starting to get all flowery.

Lachenalia

Aloe polyphylla

No trip to Monterey is complete without a stop at Succulent Gardens. The big Aloe polyphylla on the right was HUGE. It’s in a wine barrel.

Caution, Succulents

Matti’s been playing around, taking crazy pics with the panorama camera setting on his phone.

Echeveria

Aeonium

Echeveria ‘Cassyz Winter’ all cresty

That’s me on crutches…

Don’t miss out on the giant Succulent Globe by Succulent Gardens at the SF Flower & Garden Show this weekend (the nursery is closed during the show).

Dudleya & Lewisia hanging basket

Love the hanging baskets of Dudleya and Lewisia at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. I want it hanging in my backyard. SBBG has one of the best collections of Dudleya around. I want them all.

Dudleya vicida

Dudleya ‘White Sprite’

Dudleyafest

Dudleya anomala

Hurray for Dudleyas! Get more Dudleya action from our last trip to SBBG here.