The Voice of East Bay Living

"deep in their root,all flowers keep the light ."--Roethe Being a lover of nature  and Ikebana student, I always travel with my cutting scissors and accessories.  Having fond memories of an abundance of hortensias (hydrangea in English) filling the gardens of Le Guet de la Roche, I brought along powdered alum and gold Japanese ribbon. Flower tip-  if  you dip the ends of the flowers in alum they will last longer. The gold ribbon adds an elegant touch.  My French family loves to display my arrangements in various corners of their lovely chateau.

This University of California garden was formally established in 1890 in Strawberry Canyon. Within two years the collection of native trees shrubs and plants had 600 species.  The original garden was located near Haviland hall on the north side of the Berkeley campus and was centered around a large glass conservatory modeled after the London crystal palace. One viewer describes the gardens "It was gorgeous up here I mean straight up beautiful - it was freezing and on and off drizzling but the greenery was just breathtaking." In the following decade, it grew to 1500 species and began to expand its scope in collections to have plants from all continents and about 10,000 species. Check it out - it's worth the visit.

Berkeley Botanical Gardens ,  located i n Strawberry Canyon, Berkeley  :  This University of California garden was formally established in 1890.  The original garden was located near Haviland Hall on the north side of the Berkeley campus and was centered around a large glass conservatory modeled after the London crystal palace. Within two years the collection of native trees shrubs and plants had 600 species.  In the following decade it grow to 1500 species  but then bega n to expand its scope in collections to have plants from all continents and about 10,000 species. One viewer describes the gardens: "It was gorgeous up here I mean straight up beautiful - it was freezing and on and off drizzling but the greenery was just breathtaking." Check it out - it's worth the visit. UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA BOTANICAL GARDEN at BERKELEY 200 Centennial Drive Berkeley, CA 94720-5045 Open Daily 9 am – 5 pm (No admission after 4:30 pm) Closed 1st T...

Ixia - floral design (2331.Market, San Francisco) Their designs are somewhere between architecture and sculpture. Each unique piece is inspired by and used materials  that come from the earth, including many unusual flowers, barks, branches, and mosses.

When you have an empty front porch , you can create an interesting floral design on the wall with Curley willow and red Anthuriums. This fresh arrangement will last for weeks.

Castoffs from a garden join beautiful blooms to become a gorgeous flower centerpiece.

Every Spring, the de Young Museum presents the Bouquets to Art . This amazing exhibition presents the best floral designers in the Bay Area whose individual floral designs follow the themes of the paintings on exhibition. ^Sheila Sabine - Out and About - de Young Museum in San Francisco

Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve on the border of Oakland and Berkeley. Just a short drive from my new listing on Elverton.

Just a short skip and a jump over the ocean is Hawaii. I recent recently visited the vibrant city of Honolulu located on the island of Owahu. 20% of the population is Caucasian and the majority of the population are native Hawaiians as well as Asians from all over the world. It is a melting pot of cultures.  There are over 100  beaches that surround Honolulu, more than almost any other city in the world.The combination of natural beauty and diverse cultures make it a really terrific city.  The soft Island winds and the gentle tropical climate will give you the relaxation you have been craving. T he word Mahalo is used frequently by  the Hawaiians which means thank you  and I respect you.

Armstrong Redwood State Natural Reserve , a  great getaway   17 miles north of San Francisco in Guerneville. This amazing 800 acre grove of ancient redwoods is home to trees that are over 1,000 years old and stand 200-500 ft tall. This is a place of inspiration and peace. You can camp down the road at School House Canyon campground and feel at one with planet earth-shared campfires,food and friendship are all a part of this wonderful experience. The orange tent in the photo was my home away from home. Visit  GlassSabine.com Contact Team Glass Sabine at ssabine@grubbco.com