Springtime is a groovy time to visit the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Though we’d never been there before, I felt like I had for this hit tune from younger days kept playing in my head.
Mendocino, Mendocino
Where life's such a groove You'll blow your mind in the mornin' We used to walk through the park Make love along the way in Mendocino
The album, Mendocino, by the Sir Douglas Quintet, came out in 1969. Lyrics were by Doug Sahm.
In fact, the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is a child of the ‘60s. It was founded in 1961 by Ernest Schoefer – a retired nurseryman – and his wife, Betty. Ernest's experience in horticulture enabled him to discover just the right combination of water, mild coastal climate and ideal soil conditions for his dream garden. The Gardens on 47 acres opened to the public in 1966. The Schoefers maintained the Gardens until 1978.
The garden is more or less divided into sections featuring particular plant groupings. The best known and most popular is the Rhododendron garden. Though we visited in May, most of the fragrant blossoms were still in bloom. These delightful shrubs are native to Southeast Asia and the Himalayas. Schoefer realized that the foggy northern California coast would be an ideal environment for them.
Many of the older Rhododendron hybrids are no longer available to the nursery trade. The Gardens may be the only place where they can still be enjoyed.
The Perennial Garden was delightful with its mix of lilies, herbs, and annuals. The cacti and succulents were among my favorites.
Other lovely collections include old-fashioned roses, Heaths and Heathers, camellias, and a natural area in which various endangered species thrive. Those who have the time and energy to walk a bit further will enjoy a path through a pine forest to a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
In addition to your camera, be sure to bring binoculars. Bird watchers will be amply rewarded for their patience.
Here are some more photographs from our "walk through the park."
Geranium spp.
If anyone can tell me what this is, I'd appreciate it.
Garden scene
Helianthemum 'Fire Dragon'
Aquilegia spp.
Fuschia spp.
Acer palmatum 'Holland Special'
Persicaria capitata
Bergenia cordifolia
Rhododendron 'The Honorable Jean Marie de Montague'
Limnanthes douglasii
Sempervivum
Sedum dendroideum
Aeonium undulatum
Grevillea 'Fanfare'
Leucospermum cordifolium
Heath and Heather collection
Campanula poscharskyana
Garden scene
No matter the time of year, you'll feel like groovin' in the Gardens. There's always something to tempt you.
Havre de Grace (pronounced: Have-ruh-duh-Grayce), Maryland is
a small town you should visit. Located at the confluence of the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay, Havre de Grace has retained its historic charm
though it has long been beside heavily-traveled routes along the Eastern Seaboard.
It was formerly known as Harmer’s Town, named by the settler – Godfrey Harmer –
who established it in 1658. The Lower
Susquehanna Ferry first crossed the river in 1695.
The Marquis De Lafayette visited several times while
traveling up and down the coast to encourage American patriots and fight alongside them. It was he who
suggested that the proposed city along the banks “should be called Havre de
Grace” meaning “Harbor of Grace.” So it was.
Though small in size, Havre de Grace was proposed to be
named the capitol of our new nation. It lost the distinction by one vote to the
swamp along the Potomac.
Havre de Grace became a terminus of the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal in 1839. The Underground Railroad route ushered slaves to
new-found freedom in nearby Pennsylvania.
Nowadays, U.S. 40, I-95 and U.S 1 carry lots of traffic
nearby. It’s amazing that so many people pass without knowing about the
jewel of a town just down the hill.
As proudly noted on the Explore Havre de Grace web site, Smithsonian.com
listed it among the Best Small Towns in 2014. Rightly so. Interesting shops and
restaurants, museums, special events, walking tours and gardens satisfy
tourists, and of course there’s the beauty of the Chesapeake Bay. Walkers can
enjoy it from the Promenade.
Havre de Grace Promenade
One particular feature of this part of the Chesapeake is the
area known as the Susquehanna Flats. Millions of tons of sediment are deposited
at the mouth of the river into the bay covering thousands of acres. Rich with
submerged grasses, The Flats attract many species of wildlife, especially fish
and waterfowl. Fishers and hunters follow.
Canada Geese
Havre de Grace is famous as the Decoy Capitol of the World.
There’s no better place to learn about the history of hunting waterfowl and the
decoys that attract them than the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum.
Havre De Grace Decoy Museum
No matter your interest, a good walking tour can begin just
about anywhere. Park your car where it’s legal and start strolling. That’s what
I did. Follow me as we view landmarks and some of the gardens of Havre de Grace.
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