Mt. Tamalpias Waterfall

Springtime in Marin is always a wonderful surprise. By mid-February the first daffodils and magnolias are blooming, and right now—helped by the weekly rains—Marin looks it’s best. Here are a few examples.

Magnolia tree on Magnolia Ave, Larkspur

Growing Tomatoes in Marin

Mom always said there was nothing to match a garden-grown New Jersey tomato. She was probably correct. However, the industrious home tomato growers in Marin have found ways to produce some fine tomatoes, despite the fog and cool summer nights.My friend Heidi Hornberger has mastered tomato growing in Mill Valley. Here is a summary of her tips, with the help of Rodale’s All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening.

Another friend and Fairfax tomato gardener, Paul Clark, has this good advice, “I am one of those in a hotter place that has to prune less, if at all, so that I don’t get sunscald. Any long period of direct sun on my fruit just cooks it!”

From visiting many homes for sale over the last 20 years, I can add that there are some varieties of cherry tomatoes that are very easy to grow and produce fruit late into the fall. Any of the Marin nurseies would advise you ion the varieties. Maybe a good way to start.

Makes me think about starting a tomato plant.

About Heidi, Bali, and YKIP

The same tomato grower, Heidi, is also a very good real estate agent and a world-class sculptor. She learned woodcarving from masters in Bali and returns there for several months a year to carve. The completed works are often cast in bronze here in California. It is worth visiting her website to see the work. I find her both her portraits and her abstract/naturalistic works remarkable.

During her visits in Bali, Heidi has found many ways to help local families. Her major effort has been the establishment of the Heidi Circle, which pays the public school fees for a large group of children. Heidi sponsors several children and inspires many of her friends to sponsor others. We have paid the school fees for several years for a boy, I Made Krishna, now entering junior high. I joined Heidi’s effort for two reasons: it is a good thing to do, and Heidi’s love for this program is infectious.

The Heidi Circle is administered by a Balinese organization, YKIP. You can read more about YKIP and the Heidi Circle.

Growing Geraniums in Marin

Photo by Robin Parer

Marin has a rare resource for gardeners, which I found many years ago on an organized garden tour: a geranium nursery in Kentfield. Though you can find great flower-box geraniums (Pelargoniums) there, the focus is on species geraniums with delicate leaves and small brilliantly colored flowers. The creator of this geranium wonderland is Robin Parer. She has passion for these plants, and they respond by growing so well in cheerful billows in the Marin climate.

Photo by Ted Kipping

Robin has a beautiful web site that can engage you for hours: www.geraniaceae.com. Each year I find a reason to add a few plants to my garden. I like to pick them up at the nursery so that I can hang out for a few minutes at her front gate to see the wonderful varieties that have spilled out onto the driveway. Definitely a Marin treasure!

Larkspur Walking Tour, May 1

There is still time to join a walking tour of Baltimore Canyon in Old Larkspur. On May 1, Sue Cummingham will lead a tour of the 1860s yard of the pioneer family of Baltimore Canyon in downtown Larkspur, plus other features of this charming canyon.  The tour, organized by the Larkspur Heritage Preservation Board, will begin at 10 am from the landmark oak tree at the intesection of Magnolia and West Baltimore Avenues. For more information, call (415) 924-6976.