My Light Purple Iris Finally Bloomed

Today I will share the favorite flower in my garden.  Taxes are finished and it's been hard to get time to take pictures outside my neighborhood while I've been working on them.

 I think this iris is indicative of all that's happening in Paso Robles gardens this week. Every thing is bursting into  bloom. It's hard to choose a favorite iris, but light purple is one of my favorites. White is also beautiful. They all are.

What Jesus said about the lily applies also to the iris - Not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed like one of these, even though they did not to work in order to grow more beautiful. Their Heavenly Father clothed them. So we should not be anxious about what we shall wear, either. We should trust our Heavenly Father who cares even more for us.

The flowers featured in the greeting cards below also came from my neighborhood. The lupine photo was taken near Rotta Winery in Templeton. The colorful garden is my neighbor's on the next block who always has beautiful flowers. All these flowers are in bloom here now. You can find just about any flower on any product at Zazzle -- from greeting cards to iPhone cases and teapots or mugs. I invite you to click through and look around.

 Inspirational card with lupine flowers Borage-and-Calendula, Beautiful Borage Greeting Card

A Walk Down Dover Canyon Road from Vineyard Drive

Dover Canyon Road is one of my favorite walks. I normally park by the cemetery on the corner of Dover Canyon Road and Vineyard Drive and walk to the bridge. That is one mile one way with a climb of 113 feet. The walk begins at the Willow Creek Cemetery. When you get past the cemetery, the road looks like this if there has been rain recently. If not, this part of the walk may be hot and dusty and the meadows brown.


The day I took these photos was March 28, 2011, and it was a year we had rainfall and there was water in the creek running along the road. You can enlarge any photo by clicking it.

Eventually the road curves and takes you into a more forested region where you will find more shade in summer.

This is where the trees begin to get really interesting. The Spanish moss on most of them can make you think you are in an enchanted forest. 

Finally after going through the forest and maybe past a horse farm, you will reach a small flat bridge. From it you can see the creek flowing through the forest. 

I have never gone past the bridge. The road does not go through. I believe it ends in private property. You can also find Dover Canyon Road going north off Highway 46 West. I have a friend that lives at that end, but the two parts of the road do not connect. This is a walk I really enjoy in the spring or winter when the weather is still cool and there is a chance the fields are green.

Related articles

• Jack Creek Road in West Templeton
• Exploring a Small County Road

Lynn Kishiyama Back in Residence at Studios On the Park

Lynn Kishiyama in Her Studio at Studios on the Park

When I was visiting at Studios on the Park yesterday, I was glad to see Lynn Kishiyama back in a studio again. She is staying six months before leaving on vacation for another six months. It would appear these vacations give her time to experiment with new media and ideas as she relaxes. In the past her work had a distinct Japanese flavor. But as you can see, it appears her latest projects have a more African influence. She was just finishing this piece as I walked in. For a closer look, just click on the photo.

When I asked Lynn to explain what she had made, which was as yet unnamed, she said that some tribal women in Africa like to adorn themselves with natural objects, even though the decorations might wilt by the end of the day. After all, there would be more to choose from the next day. She got her inspiration from this book, which she had prominently displayed in her studio.

 Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration from Africa

This photo of Lynn's studio wall shows more of this work, and you can see the book on the stand beneath it. She is calling this new series of totems  "Natural Fashions." Remember, you can enlarge the photo with a click. To see more of Lynn's work and what went into its creation, check out The Lynn Kashiyama Blog,  You will see some close-ups of these "girls" and learn their names.

If you happen to be in Paso Robles on a weekend, stop in at Studios on the Park and meet Lynn. You might even be able to watch her work.

A Visit to Studios on the Park: The Art Hub Of Paso Robles

Studios on the Park is the brain child of Anne Laddon, who had the vision for a home for a group of art studios open to the public where people could observe artists at work and interact with them, as well as buying what they had for sale.

Since I discovered it in 2009, I've been a frequent visitor and have gotten to know several of the artists. For the last few months my health issues kept me away most of the time. I did get there once on February 13, and yesterday I finally got a chance to drop in again. I saw immediately there had been a lot of   changes, though there were still some familiar faces around. One of them was Anne's. You can see her in the back, middle, talking to a visitor in the work area of the studio she now shares with Tamara Thornton. Please click on the photo to enlarge it.

Studios on the Park found a home in a former auto supply store right across from City Park on Pine Street. It is huge, and all the studios and galleries are entered from a large central area which houses the current exhibit. I will cover that in another post. The studio Anne and Tamara share is the first one to the left as you enter Studios on the Park. It is one of the larger studios, but like most, it has an exhibit area at the front near the entrance and a work area at the back. Tamara's paintings are featured on the left wall as you walk in, and Anne's are at the right. I took this photo of Anne and Tamara in the studio area in front of the back wall, each standing in front of her own painting.

Tamara specializes in painting dogs, and she might be willing to paint your dog as a special order. She also paints pigs. This is her wall in the studio. Remember, you can enlarge any of these photos by clicking on them.

Below is Anne's wall. You can see her style is much different, and her subjects are usually different, too. As Anne says, the two have agreed that Anne won't paint dogs (except she painted her own dog, Smudge, previously) and Tamara won't paint cows. But they will both paint pigs. Anne paints landscapes of our Central Coast, still life, and the animals found on farms, but she's not limited to that. All the artists here keep growing and evolving as they try new subjects and styles.

I will continue to introduce you to artists in the studios in future posts. There is no way one can more than scratch the surface in a single post. You can get some advice from Anne Laddon and other current and former resident artists at Studios on the Park on How Artists Actively Promote Their Work, as well as more information on the history of Studios on the Park. .

Related articles

• Meet Susanna Hoy, Landscape Artist

Why the Tent in the Park?

That's what I wondered when I walked to my car near the park this afternoon. City Park in Paso Robles does not usually have a tent in it unless some event is about to take place, but I wasn't aware of any major festivals happening this weekend. I decided to take pictures first and find out what was happening when I got back to my computer.

Once I got on my computer, I discovered that what will occur is Eroica California, an event which will bring cyclists from all over the world to ride one of three beautiful routes through our Central Coast Wine Country and along our coast. The rides will begin and end here in the park.

There will also be a vintage bike fair. Maybe that's what the tent is for.  There are also tents set up on the other side of the park. All the information about the events and the routes can be found on the Eroica California website. 

As you can see, they were still setting up the tents as I left. It should be a lovely ride for the participants, but motorists in wine country should be extra careful this weekend. 

A Castle on a Hill At Dusk

On my way home from Templeton to Paso Robles tonight, the sky was so beautiful and the field around the vineyards so green, I found a way to park and get some photos of those fields before they turn brown again.  I love the rural areas when they are so green. That only lasts as long as we get rain. This is usually the last month we get rain until fall or winter.

After I took the pictures here, I crossed the street to get some photos of the wineries. I want to share this one of Tooth and Nail Castle from a distance at dusk. When I'm at the castle or too close to it, I don't get the full effect of it being on top of the hill.

Tooth and Nail Winery used to be Eagle Castle, and although I have heard from some people that the wine wasn't much to rave about, the castle itself was something worth seeing. Not so much now. All the lovely antiques are gone, but you can still see them as they were in North San Luis Obispo County's Other Castle: A Pictorial Album. 

Day in the Shade Memories

One thing I love about my county is the opportunity to see local artists exhibiting their work in multiple places. One annual exhibit happens at Templeton City Park on the Saturday before Mother's Day every year. By that time the weather is nice and people are often looking for just the right Mother's Day gift. They know they will see many one-of-a kind items. The man in the picture to the left has probably seen a lot by now and is trying to decide if he should buy here or at another booth. This booth is Barry's Woodturning. To see more detail, click to enlarge a photo.

All kinds of artists come to exhibit. We see photographers and painters. People bring what they have created from glass,old flatware, old wine barrels, and any number of other inventive materials. There is always lots of handmade jewelry, as well. This booth features recycled metal objects. Things made from old flatware are very popular and were seen at more than one booth.

Besides the art exhibits, which I've barely introduced here, there is music on the stage and face painting and art activities for children. There is also wine tasting for the adults who want to relax and recover from all that "window" shopping. In the photo below you can see two of my winery neighbors exhibiting their wares.

These photos came from Day in the Shade 2012, but many of the same exhibitors come each year. If you'd like a more comprehensive tour of this event, I made one for Day in the Shade 2011 that give you a better idea of what there is to see, Besides the photos you will see a video of Dan Shattuck's very crowded booth of recycled flatware products, and an interview with glass artist Rachel Tamagni.