this weekend i took a few days away from the office and drove up the coast to a town called timber cove, known mostly for its thick fog, biting winds and breathtaking views. the vacation rental i stayed in clung to the edge of a cliff overlooking a still-water cove filled during the day with abalone fishers and at night with glittering reflected moonlight.the weather those four days was practically a miracle: bright, sunny and without a breath of wind. perfect for wandering around coast sides and meadows and gardens. the plants that grow wild on the northern California coast are so different from what i plant in my own garden (lush, green tropicals), and i was amazed to see how many different colors and textures even just grass can be. but mostly i found myself focused on the flowers. tiny yellow, petal-less dainties tucked into sidewalks, spidery, lavender blooms crouched at the base of jumbled rocks, tall, ghostly yarrow standing strong above shimmering grass… it was as though they’d been invisible until that moment and suddenly there they were. and they were beautiful.
i don’t have many flowers in my garden, beyond those that precede fruit. with the exception of a single peony whose buds will never unfurl thanks to over water i haven’t planted a single one. i need to change that. i need to give the butterflies, bees, birds and other beneficials a reason to alight. and i need to give myself something simple and beautiful to enjoy.
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