Our El Presidio Gardens

A new week and a new theme.  Today's theme is about "El Presidio".  These grounds were in poor shape when I arrived on the property 3 years ago.  Today they are becoming the El Presidio Gardens which I hope transforms into something special for the residents within the next couple years.  This is a very interesting word and one that applies to our grounds here.  The word "El Presidio" literally means a fort or establishment.  The above picture is just a piece from the entire garden.  There is more garden on the sides and in the front.  This is the Central Courtyard.

Tucson's El Presidio Park

Specifically it was a fortress established in the southwestern United States by the Spanish in order to protect their missions and other holdings.  When I look at El Presidio, my place and from my point of view, we are definitely a fort protected from the meth zombies, homeless and prostitutes who try and keep stealing and invading our "fort"!  We are a little gem hidden away in a bad neighborhood!

San Francisco's Presidio

The first time I encountered the word "Presidio" was in San Francisco where I lived for 2 years.  It was beautiful and a former military fort.  Now it's a recreational area and a nice walk!  Good views as well.  The purpose of the presidio was to protect the mission from Indians who were unfriendly, and to secure the Native Americans from escaping the mission. A presidio, in the case of the California missions, were homes for the soldiers. That was why so many presidios were near the missions...to guard the Priests living in the missions.  Nowadays, the presidio takes on a whole new meaning.  Missions, still trying to convert those "savage" Indians, have moved down to Central America, Asia, Africa, and South America.  The Native Americans here in Tucson now run casinos and some, but very few, still live like they used to back in the day.  It's actually sad how people feel the need to try and convert people. But that's another topic:)  Today  my "El Presidio" is a wall to wall fort that protects its' residents from bad people that surround our borders.  We don't always succeed and sometimes I think we should call our garden, "The Alamo".  But as I am putting in my army of cacti, things are changing.  That project is currently in works on the front walls for the upcoming months.  The last freeze damaged several of my "soldiers."  I'm just waiting a bit until the freeze danger lowers.  So there you have it...the meaning of El Presidio and a couple famous places with the same name including our garden here.:)

Labels: El Presidio, El Presidio Gardens, El Presidio Park, fort, meth zombies, San Francisco, Tucson

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Wow...it's amazing how a job will affect my blogging time:) It's hot and muggy here in Tucson. We had a bit of rain last night which was good and I'm hoping we'll have more because it's humid and I really hate being outside. I pretty much think anyone who lives in the lower deserts right now are all feeling the same way. Yes....it sucks. I water and rake fast....no planting trees, bushes, or plants....I just look at the plants from my window thinking....how can plants grow and flourish with this sun and heat??? A 110 degree day with humidity is no fun! I read on another blogger's site that they are feeling that same summer depression.....the one that happens this time of year when you just want the heat to go away.....so a non Sonoran desert person will ask....."When does the heat go away?" The oppressive heat leaves in Tucson around mid October and in November for the Phoenix and Yuma areas. October and November here are the last of our planting months to get trees and vines established before the overnight frosts and cold rains hit in December. This "rainy" period will last through the first weeks of March.

The Drum Bridge

One of the things I love about reading blogs is sharing information with each other. One of the magazines I read during the weekends is Phoenix Home and Garden. It's around 18 bucks a year and the magazine highlights our state from Phoenix down to Tucson beautifully. It also gives some nice gardening tips for people. If you want our entire state, check out Arizona Highways.  The pictures alone are amazing.

So on this hot and nasty day, I thought I'd share some thoughts and pics about a very cool and wonderful garden found in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park....the Japanese Tea Garden. Everyone and their mother goes to San Francisco at some point in their lives. I grew up in Wisconsin wondering what it would be like to live in California....so I did for two years. While I loved everything CA had to offer, I discovered that it wasn't for me.....and that what I wanted was a little bit of a quieter life....plus I missed the Sonoran Desert A LOT!! It's not Phoenix or Yuma or Flagstaff that I like....it's Tucson. We are a special city here with a beauty that can't be described. I am Tucson and this is my home. I travelled so much when I was younger and I never felt at peace in any place until I moved to the Old Pueblo and when I left her for the first time, I felt really sad. California taught me about good wine and times. To this day, I am still fascinated by how different this state is from the rest of the country. Talk about microclimate changes!! So there is a lot from this state that I'll write about down the road....today's focus....The Japanese Tea Garden. So let's begin with my wordy teacher introduction........

First, you have to enter Golden Gate Park before you get here and that in itself is a real treat. The city is cold and misty most of the year, but you'll find people with their shirts off playing frisbee in this park. Personally, I thought it was too cold to be doing that kind of activity without clothes.....but being in San Francisco, you'll soon discover that anything goes. Do bring a light jacket when you visit or you'll be purchasing an overpriced tourist sweater from one of the shops. However be aware, San Francisco is cool...the other cities around it will be warmer....and a lot warmer during the summer. It's seriously a microclimate.

So while you're in any part of California and with the limited time you have, make sure you see everything and I'm not talking about the rides and theme parks....I'm talking about the gardens!! And give yourself time...the traffic is terrible ANYWHERE in this state. My suggestion is plan ONE big thing.  In other states, like Arizona, you can cover more ground, but not in the high traffic areas like the Bay Area. In Golden Gate park, there are TWO places to explore...the trail/conservatory and the tea garden....and that's just in the park!!!

It was a cloudy gray day when we arrived and I didn't know what to expect. We walked in through the wooden gates and wow!!! Water, trees, blooms, buildings, and beauty. Here is some history on the garden from their site and for more current information, prices, etc... http://japaneseteagardensf.com/  I've been there twice and I'll go back again when up in the area.  Happy travels!!

"The Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco, California is a historical Japanese-style garden originally built as the Japanese Village for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition. Japanese immigrant and gardener Makoto Hagiwara designed the bulk of the garden and was officially appointed caretaker in 1894 until the hysteria surrounding World War II. In the years to follow, many Hagiwara family treasures were liquidated from the gardens, but new additions were also made. Today, the Tea Garden is one of the most popular attractions in San Francisco, featuring beautiful monuments, bridges, native Japanese plants and ponds. Guests can also enjoy the service at the tea house and gift shop."

PS. Note to self.  I give up on verbena.  It does not grow for me.  I see it in the sun and I plant it in the sun and it dies.  Do not buy anymore verbena....choose the purple trailing lantana instead.

Labels: Golden Gate Park, Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco, the conservatory

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