Showing posts with label Inspiring Journeys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inspiring Journeys. Show all posts

Fall Gardens at Filoli

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Fall Gardens at Filoli- www.gildedbloom.com

Fall is a beautiful time of year to tour Filoli in Woodside, CA as the gardens are still in bloom and the  trees are beginning to change color.  We visited there recently since two of my paintings are featured in the current art show, "Fall Landscapes of the Golden State".  We were dazzled by the beauty of the estate and still spectacular gardens in October.

Fall Gardens at Filoli- www.gildedbloom.com

The flower beds throughout the grounds were filled with colorful blooms.  A combination of orange and purple flowers defined the central garden and was stunning.  Layers of zinnias, dahlias and salvia grew in beds lined with boxwood for a lovely autumn display.

Fall Gardens at Filoli- www.gildedbloom.com

The formal garden design at Filoli provides dramatic viewpoints throughout the property.  Many are highlighted with elegant garden sculpture and wrought iron filigree gates.

Fall Gardens at Filoli- www.gildedbloom.com

The rose gardens were in bloom and filled the air with a sweet perfume.  There are many beautiful varieties, which are labelled for the convenience of visitors.  As a gardener, I always appreciate this educational detail, as I look forward to adding my favorites to our garden at home.

Fall Gardens at Filoli- www.gildedbloom.com

There are also extensive cutting gardens at Filoli and these were filled with zinnias, cosmos, strawflowers and a multitude of other fall-blooming beauties.

Fall Gardens at Filoli- www.gildedbloom.com

It was fascinating to see the rows of different flowers and autumn hued foliage plants which would surely look stunning in floral designs.

Fall Gardens at Filoli- www.gildedbloom.com

The dahlias were also blooming in gorgeous vibrant colors.   It was certainly a day filled with garden inspiration!

Fall Gardens at Filoli- www.gildedbloom.com

If you'd like to visit Filoli this season, the current "Golden Harvest" celebration features orchard tours, fall events, an art show, and a display of antique farm equipment through November 4th.  For more information please see the official website.




Savoring September....

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Savoring September- www.gildedbloom.com

This month was filled with so many beautiful moments.  As summer came to a close we escaped to the coast for a relaxing break and I brought my camera to capture the magic.  There is something about the ocean that always fosters such peace and serenity...

As we wandered I found these wild succulents growing near the water.   They possess such a unique form with leaves exploding like fireworks.  

Savoring September- www.gildedbloom.com

The beach was majestic and we had it all to ourselves, which was extraordinary, as sunset approached.

Savoring September- www.gildedbloom.com

The reflections of light on the ocean were dreamy and gorgeous...

Savoring September- www.gildedbloom.com

As the sun set behind the waves, disappearing into a shadow of orange on the water, I was reminded how vast and expansive the ocean is and that its cycles are infinite. 

Savoring September- www.gildedbloom.com

The invigorating winds and soft scent of ocean air left me totally refreshed and ready for a very busy October!

Savoring September- www.gildedbloom.com

Fall in the Wine Country...

Wednesday, November 2, 2016



Oh, what a busy season it has been so far!  We spent time in Napa Valley which is a magical place to take pictures now as the vineyards are washed with glowing autumn sunlight.


The view from our room in St Helena was spectacular in the mornings.  I loved waking up in this peaceful place.


Vibrant cabernet grapes were still on the vines at Clos Pegase Winery in Calistoga and caught my eye with their stunning color.   


We also visited Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga. The castle has a expansive view of the surrounding vineyards and opulent paintings that imitate the style of medieval Italian art.  Below is a picture of the dining hall with its colorful wall paintings.


Our time in the wine country was so inspiring and such a relaxing break from routine.  Now that we are home, I am busy catching up in the garden and decorating for Thanksgiving.  I hope you are all having a beautiful and enjoyable autumn! 

Bouquets to Art 2016

Monday, April 11, 2016

It is an annual treat to visit the de Young Museum's lovely Bouquets to Art show in San Francisco.  During this weeklong event, select floral designers create magnificent interpretations of works from the de Young's permanent collection using flowers and other organic materials.  The designs this year were stunning.  Below are a few photos of floral artistry from the 2016 exhibition.  

Bouquets to Art Exhibition, de Young Museum, San Francisco, 2016
Waterlily Pond Floral Design Studio, Natasha Lisitsa, Daniel Schultz (San Francisco)
Inspired by Helen Frankenthaler, Crusades, 1976.
Bouquets to Art Exhibition, de Young Museum, San Francisco, 2016
Anne Mendenhall Flowers, Anne Mendenhall; co-exibitor Darlene Wertz (Walnut Creek)
Inspired by Jasper Francis Cropsey, October, 1887.
The floral designs at the Bouquets to Art show vary each year, making this exhibition perpetually fascinating to view.  To see more captivating designs from a previous Bouquets to Art show, please visit this post.

Bouquets to Art Exhibition, de Young Museum, San Francisco, 2016
The Bud Shop, Cathy Boldt; co-exibitor Jessica Thorwart (San Francisco)
Inspired by Martin Johnson Heade, Orchid and Hummingbird, ca. 1885

Lake Tahoe in July

Friday, July 17, 2015


lupines

We just returned home from a lovely vacation to Lake Tahoe, California where the spectacular beauty of the lake, mountains and pine trees creates a rich impression of nature's grandeur.  Although I wouldn't consider Tahoe a flowery place, it was wonderful to discover the last blooms of these wild lupines on the shore.  One of the local residents recommended this site for its proliferation of flowers in the early summer when the bright purple lupine blooms fill the fields all the way to the water's edge.


Tahoe lupines

The clarity and beauty of Lake Tahoe is stunning, especially near sunset when the light is more diffuse and the mountains are shaded.  Below are images of the north shore where we stayed in Incline Village.  The calmer waters in this portion of the lake glisten in the evening light.

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe sunset

Pine trees fill the landscape here where the high elevation and cold weather make it a winter paradise for skiers.  In the summer, the trees are green and gorgeous with textural bark and pools of pinecones on the ground.  The scent is so fresh and memorable.

pine trees pinecones

In addition to the breathtaking naturescapes and fun summer activities, Tahoe also offers relaxation and great food.  We had a dinner at the Lone Eagle Grille in Incline Village overlooking the lake and were served this incredible pinecone-shaped dessert called a Baked Tahoe.  Although I usually don't blog about desserts, this one I must share- it is a chocolate buckwheat brownie with french vanilla toffee ice cream encircled with molasses and covered in fluffy torched meringue.  Heaven on a plate...

Baked Tahoe Lone Eagle Grille

Shopping at The San Francisco Flower and Garden Show

Saturday, March 21, 2015



There are so many fantastic vendors at the San Francisco Floral and Garden Show marketplace this year!  Thought I'd share just a few of my favorite stops...

A Silvestri Co. is a manufacturer of fine garden statuary.   They carry statues, fountains, birdbaths, planters, benches and pagodas and are located in San Francisco.  I discovered their booth and loved the variety of painted pots, statuary and beautiful fountains.  Although the large scale painted pieces are mesmerizing, I purchased this adorable bunny sculpture of solid cement- definitely my heaviest, but most charming, souvenir!  It will be the perfect addition to our outdoor table this Easter...


These stylish vases also caught my eye.  Made by Stems Vases, they are available in vertical, horizontal or single stem form.  Simple and elegant, they look stunning with just a few flowers or even a bunch of asparagus added.  A washable acrylic insert holds the contents and slides into the beveled glass and metal vase to create a simple, contemporary look.


PARI Designs creates these beautiful pressed flower notecards and boxes.  So many different varieties of preserved flowers in these artful products...


In the plant market, there are many nurseries and specialty vendors selling orchids, succulents, bulbs and tubers for every flower variety imaginable.  Succulent plants are becoming very popular, and these lovely wall gardens and wreaths from Succulent Gardens show off their variagated beauty.


Monrovia is also onsite with a display of their lovely landscaping plants.  These beautiful plants are available at private nurseries as well, and in my experience, are healthy, high quality plants.  The blue hydrangeas are exquisite!

Garden Design Magazine, a quarterly publication with stunning photography, insightful articles and an artistic book-like presentation is also at the show.  Although I already have a subscription (which I love), I stopped by the booth to take a few blog photos and was talked into posing for one!  So here I am standing by their sign...


The 2015 San Francisco Flower and Garden Show runs through this weekend.  Be sure to visit and see the exhibits if you're in the area!

The Gilded Bloom now has a companion website called The Gilded Bloom Studio and is now on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.  For more floral inspired ideas and updates,  please connect with me on these networks.  You can also follow The Gilded Bloom on Bloglovin' or via email using the subscription box near the top of this page. Hope to see you there!

The San Francisco Flower and Garden Show

Friday, March 20, 2015

The San Francisco Flower and Garden Show is a spectacular event that brings together floral and garden designers, urban homesteaders, nurseries, vendors, and other nature enthusiasts to celebrate the beauty of plants in many different contexts.   It features floral exhibits, showcase gardens, informative seminars, and a treasure trove of unique floral and garden-related products.  I spent a delightful day there yesterday browsing the exhibits, attending seminars, shopping and taking in many creative ideas.

The floral designs were dazzling and often incorporated fruits and vegetables, especially citrus, in the arrangements.  Below are some examples of the food and flower designs.




Another fascinating aspect of the event was the exhibition of showcase gardens.  These gardens are developed by leading Bay Area designers and feature many unique materials amid sustainable plants.  The focus on designing spaces that harmonize with current environmental conditions in California is certainly evident as is the creativity manifest in each project.



Many outstanding speakers are also scheduled throughout the show to present seminars in their areas of expertise.  These events are organized by GardenTribe, an online education site with video lessons on a variety of gardening topics.  Yesterday one I attended was "Living Centerpieces:  Arrangements that Outlive the Party" by Baylor Chapman of Lila B. Designs and author of The Plant Recipe Book.  It was an inspiring presentation that included several arrangement demonstrations.  A few examples of her imaginative and long-lasting designs are shown below.




The 2015 San Francisco Flower and Garden Show runs through this weekend.  Be sure to stop by and see the exhibits if you're in the area!

The Gilded Bloom now has a companion website called The Gilded Bloom Studio and is now on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.  For more floral inspired ideas and updates,  please connect with me on these networks.  You can also follow The Gilded Bloom on Bloglovin' or via email using the subscription box near the top of this page. Hope to see you there!

The French Laundry Culinary Garden

Tuesday, November 4, 2014


The exclusive French Laundry Restaurant in Yountville, California in the Napa Valley is one of the most highly regarded restaurants in the world.  Chef Thomas Keller is known far and wide for his French cuisine with contemporary American influence and for the dazzling nine course meals he concocts at The French Laundry. 


The restaurant is named after the old stone building it inhabits, once a French steam laundry.  The beautiful stone masonry is juxtaposed with a modern copper sign near the entrance.



Directly across the street is the celebrated French Laundry Culinary Garden where produce is grown to serve in the restaurant.  The three-acre plot of land is carefully divided into perfect rows of vegetables and herbs, all beautifully managed by culinary gardener Aaron Keefer.


A map of the garden is framed in a rustic case and displayed amidst the rows of plantings for visitors to peruse.  I found it particularly fascinating to see which varieties of vegetables and herbs were chosen to be included this season.


There is a chicken coop on site at the garden surrounded with rows of beautiful greens.


The French Laundry bees were buzzing away as we strolled through the garden...


This abundant and beautiful space is the source for many creative and inspiring meals served at The French Laundry along with Thomas Keller's other local restaurants, Ad Hoc, Bouchon Bistro and Bouchon Bakery.  If you plan to visit someday be sure to make your reservations early.  The French Laundry requires reservations at least two months in advance.  We stopped at the Bouchon Bakery and the bouchons were phenomenal!

Autumn in Napa Valley...

Monday, November 3, 2014


We just returned from a spectacular trip to St Helena in California's Napa Valley.  It was a lovely time of year to visit as the vineyards were golden and the trees were starting to turn beautiful fall colors...  


We stayed at the Harvest Inn by Charlie Palmer in St. Helena which had gorgeous grounds and stunning Tudor style architecture.  The lush gardens and artful details throughout the property were exquisite in the early morning light as we walked to breakfast.


Many brick walls and pathways throughout the landscape design created lovely garden vignettes for guests to enjoy.  The array of different trees, some redwoods and others bathed in fall colors, added to the natural beauty of the property.


Breakfast overlooking this beautiful vineyard edged with iceberg roses was another highlight of our stay.  As you might imagine, I was enchanted with all of the flowers and had my camera clicking most of the time.


Some of the most impressive views we encountered were found on the grounds of the magnificent Castello di Amorosa, a winery and castle near Calistoga that certainly dazzles visitors with its grandeur.  The castle, which was the project of Dario Sattui of V. Sattui Winery, is a majestic tribute to 13th century Tuscan style architecture.  


Chateau Montelena in Calistoga was another breathtaking site.  The vine covered walls and extensive gardens at this winery were unforgettable.  Below, is the lovely Chateau facade, covered with Boston ivy...


Another unique aspect of Chateau Montelena is the Asian garden that occupies a large portion of the property.  Beautiful trees and a serene pond featuring a bridge and pagoda are dramatic additions to the natural landscape and celebrate the beauty of the environment. 


The Gilded Bloom now has a companion website called The Gilded Bloom Studio.  Please stop by for more autumn images and inspiration!  I will be updating the studio site with fine art photographs from our journey soon...
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