The Shuster Garden in Willits California

I've spent the last seven days in Santa Rosa, CA for work. Yucky! I am not going to go into any details, but must say I worked with a colleague who is brilliant with pop culture and movie trivia, this fellow manager made it bearable during my time in the Armpit of San Francisco. I so wish I had time to make it to the City. Such good memories of SF.

I am writing this blog from my aunt Kathy's estate, yes estate! Feels like one anyway. Automated gate and all. She and her husband Phil have created the most brilliant gardens. Mom just told me that Kathy wants to get on the Garden Tour, well I must say they are on their way. Jim would be jealous as am I. They live in Willits, CA, where my Mother and her siblings grew up. My Aunt Kathy is my mom's twin sister and after two years of living in Roseburg, OR moved back to Willits over thirty years ago. Of the two wicked little towns I would have chosen Willits over Roseburg, just because this area was touched by the hand of god. Well at least there are far more hippies down here. Willits, CA is the gateway to the Redwoods on HWY 101, 1.5 hours north of Santa Rosa, and the only thing that will make my drive home tomorrow tolerable is the scenery. I've spent many vacations down here as a kid and loved every minute. I would love to live in the midst of the Redwoods.

Here are the picture highlights. Above: Aunt Kathy and Uncle Phil. Below: The Pond, Newly planted Vineyard, a fish in one of the three ponds, Redwood Carving (in honor of my Grandpa an avid reader who made his living as a logger), water lily and the Redwood Root Ball fountain. Phil found this root ball in the woods and brought it home to create a fountain. Fantastic! I want a water feature in our South Garden.

I still can't seem to figure out how to arrange the pictures better. I did my best. Much love to you all. --Sean