After leaving the LA region we gradually made our way up the coast as far as Monterey and visited some memorable coastal towns along the way.  We even managed to camp one night in a tent which I have not done for many years.  The campsite was right by the ocean at Pismo Beach and even though it was chilly at night, I loved being able to walk along the beach once the sun came up.  In Summerland near Montecito I discovered a quaint garden and home store called “It all began in the garden”  which had tasteful garden themed home decor items and an array of pots and potted succulents in the outside garden.  I also discovered a business that grows vegetables vertically in plastic cones with water being filtered through.  What a wonderful idea if you have lack of space for a vegetable garden.  It was called Aeroponics and I definitely want to research this a little further.  

 We were fortunate to stay one night in the Cannery Row area of Monterey; an area I visited many years ago.  What a unique place with boutique hotels and a great walkway along a converted old railway track.  Great area too for seafood and fresh fish.  

We finally arrived at the home of an old college friend of mine outside San Francisco in the Novato area.  When walking through their back garden we were greeted with many tubs of daffodils.  What a wonderful sight to see.  A glimpse of what is to come in my garden in the coming months.  

Overall I am still amazed at the combination of plants that I have seen along the way from the jasmine and rosemary hedge to a tub full of white geraniums and poinsettias and a pot of orchids growing happily outside.