One Person's Trash

So what do you do when one of your neighbors leaves a giant styrofoam container next to ('cause it's too big to fit into) the garbage can? And you have half a bag of Portland cement kicking around in the garage?

Yes, I know. Any thinking person would walk on by and stick that half bag of cement into the garbage can (not too big to fit) and then wash her hands. But no. I had to buy a bag of sand and raid the coconut coir/peat moss stash to make a hypertufa container.

My only excuse - well actually, I have two excuses - is that I already had that bit of glass mosaic ready for something, but I didn't have a "something". And somehow I acquired a few too many bee-friendly plants and so, something is becoming a home for Agastache 'Black Adder'.

I certainly hope those bees, butterfly and hummingbirds appreciate my foolishness!

Not Quite the Super Bloom

But it's still one of the best and least crowded hikes on Mt. Tam. For this, you have to start near the northern end of the Coastal Trail and then walk towards the crowds.

Take West Ridgecrest Blvd. to McKennan Gulch Trail.  Carefully walk south along the road  ~ 100 ft. to the trailhead, and you're off.

The trail follows the line of the hills - no big ups and downs unless you really want to - and the views out are spectacular. Plus, if you're not feeling particularly kind that day, you can look down on Bolinas and Stinson and tsk-tsk about how all those very expensive homes will soon be under water unless something changes. And changes fast.

 Mid-March was to early this year for the big displays of wildflowers on Mt. Tam. In the past, it has been quite the show, but this time there were only a few California poppies (like three), a patch of Douglas iris and two blooming Baby Blue Eyes. Maybe next week will be better?