This day of our road trip proved to be the most activity-filled of all. Our hotel in Pacific Grove, The Butterfly Grove Inn. We spent the night in a place that holds special memories from my childhood.  Pacific Grove is a town…

Whenever we go on a road trip, something always unexpected happens, which helps to make the experiences that we have, even more memorable.  This was certainly true of this day. Morro Bay "Gibraltar of the Pacific" After…

Four days into our California road trip, we have had a wonderful time, which included some welcome surprises. My mother and her sister, enjoying a nice conversation over breakfast. Sunday morning began with a nice breakfast with…

The third day of our road trip began in Santa Barbara - a place that we are both very familiar with.  However, our goal for this day was to do a combination of things; some which we had done before while also taking part in some new experiences. The…

After spending a fun-filled morning in Ojai, exploring the secret Taft Gardens, we traveled north toward the small town of Los Olivos, which is located approximately 35 miles north of Santa Barbara. On our way out Ojai, we sat at an…

Did you ever read the book, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett?  It was one of my favorite books as a child, and I always imagined myself exploring a hidden garden. Well, on the second day of our road trip, I was able…

Well, it's that time of year again - time for our annual road trip.  Each year, my mother and I dust off our suitcases and embark on a trip where we enjoy the culture, food, history and of course, the gardens of a different region of the…

Do you have a list of favorite plants?  I do.  Mine is made up of about 12 plants, and they change from time to time. One of my recent additions to my favorites list is anacacho orchid (Bauhinia lunarioides). This lovely…

I love springtime in the desert when it comes alive in shades of yellow, orange and pink.   Cactus Flowers, Beavertail prickly pear (Opuntia basilaris) Last week, while I was driving through a residential area nestled in the…