Woodland Archives - Page 2 of 2

Delight Yourself at a Fairy Garden in Woodland

April 21, 2023Silvia

Remember the fairy garden in Fairy Glen, San Jose? Someone told me about one in Woodland. In this garden the fairies and gnomes live together. They enjoy gardening (of course!), but they also have a zip line that you can help them use. If you have a wish you can take one of the trinkets, turn around, close your eyes and throw it over your shoulder into the pond. Adults will find a penny jar to use for their wishes.

The garden itself is a gem on its own. I believe the grown up inhabitant is a landscape architect. There are various elements of Japanese garden design, like bonsai trees, and buddha statues. Another interactive feature is the gong and children are encouraged to ring it.

You can find the fairy garden on the corner lot of Rancho Way and Westway Drive in Woodland. Please supervise your children when they interact with the fairies and gnomes.

I hope your wishes will come true.

Do you know of other fairy garden in the Bay Area?

Hanna & Herbert Bauer Community Garden in Woodland

Plant a Community, Hanna & Herbert Bauer Community Garden

March 10, 2023Silvia

After all these extreme weather events it is finally time to plant your garden. If you don’t have a garden of your own you can ask for a community garden plot. The Hanna & Herbert Bauer Community Garden in Woodland is managed by the Health and Human Services department. The 32 plots are tended by residents, but they also offer classes that are open to the public. The garden was established in 2013 with the goal to increase access to fresh produce for the community.

It was great to see the different plots, some still with the winter vegetables, like chard and cabbage. The many benches promise an interaction on warmer days. Next to the garden area is a small orchard with about 10 different trees. Also the solar farm adjacent to it is harvesting hopes.

To apply for a 10 x 10 plot you can contact the Garden Coordinator: David Linebarger at david.linebarger@yolocounty.org. There is no fee for plot rental, just a commitment for giving 12 hours/year of maintenance service to the garden. With this amazing offer it is no surprise that the plots are usually taken. But turnover does happen.

The Hanna & Herbert Bauer Community Garden is located in the back of the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Bauer building in Woodland, 137 N Cottonwood St. If you are interested in classes check their facebook page for upcoming events: https://www.facebook.com/YoloCountyHHSA

Are you a member of a community garden?

A small pink tractor is parked next to some antique tractors

Count the Tractors at California AG Museum, Woodland

February 17, 2023Silvia

It is no surprise that Woodland has a museum for agriculture. Surrounded by fields and orchards, agriculture is ever present. But I did not expect to learn about the many different kinds of tractors.

The California AG Museum has over 100 tractors. All shapes and forms, from horse drawn, to steam, to fuel powered. The machines stem from a collection from Fred Heidrick Sr. and his brother Joe. Previously the Heidrick Ag History Center, it expanded in 2015 to the California Agriculture Museum.

The tractor’s history is fascinating. Beginning in the late nineteenth century tractors had metal wheels. It evolved with spikes then large rubber tires, and even tank-like tracks. One tractor built to tow artillery, the Hold “120” HP, was almost to France when World War I ended. Today, this is thought of as the only one of its kind. But with more than 100 antique tractors everyone can find their unique fascinating piece of farm equipment. Maybe it’s the white and red painted caterpillar? Clown-like made up for the county fair it stands out from its yellow family members in the rows ahead.

On our visit there was a huge party going on. The kids all got their own little tractors to zip around the museum. It definitely added to the fun!

Admission to the California AG Museum is $10 for adults, students, seniors and veterans $8, kids 6-12 $5, kids under 6 free. It is located in 1958 Hays Lane, in Woodland, CA. Opening hours are Wednesday – Sunday 10 am to 4 pm.

Do you have a favorite piece of farm equipment?

Roberta Monte James' creation called Seeker

Expand Your View on Textile Art, Woodland

December 23, 2022Silvia

Last week’s post about quilts showed traditional textile art in Woodland’s Gallery 625. But Yolo Arts also has an exhibit about contemporary fiber art titled: Off the Grid at the Barn Gallery in Woodland.

Here textiles are reconstructed, reshaped, and redefined with methods like stitching, weaving, and embroidery. The 19 artists showcase the contemporary usage of textile art.

One of the artists, Zen Du’s Biopoiesis is a great example of the innovative approach. She shows us felt objects that remind the viewer of underwater creatures. Another object I liked a lot is Roberta Monte James’ Seeker, an asymmetric quilt which invites the viewer to follow new lines and shapes.

As a contrast to the exhibit at the Barn you will also be invited to view Stitched Together: Quilts from the Yolo County Historical Collection at the Gibson House next door.

The Barn Gallery and the Gibson House are located at 512 Gibson Rd in Woodland are open Wednesdays and Thursdays 2:30 to 5 pm, and selected Saturdays.

Off the Grid will be shown until February 11th, 2023 and Stitched Together until February 3rd, 2023. Admissions to both exhibits are free.

Expressions in Cloth exhibit at Gallery 625, Woodland, CA.

Examine Expressions in Cloth, Quilt Art in Woodland

December 16, 2022Silvia

Quilting is such a beautiful tradition and a unique way to express yourself. The canvas of multiple swatches of cloth comes to life with a vision; stitches shape patterns for our eyes to follow.

Until January 31st, 2023 you can view precious examples of quilts at Gallery 625, in Woodland, titled: Expressions in Cloth. The quilting artists are: Bernadette Behrends, Kathy Donaldson, Lana Hanney, Carole Pirruccello, Jeanne Powell, Margo Shroeder, and Sherry Werum. All artists are members of the Flying Needles Quilt Guild in Yolo County.

Sherry Werum’s ‘The First Ferris Wheel 1893 Columbian Exposition Chicago Worlds Fair” was my personal favorite. It pops out with bright pink and blue rounds of ferris wheel expressions.

The gallery place itself is unusual. Gallery 625 is in the Erwin Meier Administration Building, a place where people, among other things, come to pay their property taxes. But don’t be put off by the surroundings, the quilts are first class and well-worth your time to admire.

If quilting helps you think of blankets, and you happen to have some to give away, you are welcome to leave donations for Friends of Yolo County Animal Services at the bins near the East entrance. Or you can pick up one of the donation requests by a specific pet from the Christmas tree.

Gallery 625 is located at 625 Court Street, (Erwin Meier Admin Building) in Woodland. Expressions in Cloth is open Monday – Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, until January 31st, 2023. Admission is free.

Other places to enjoy quilts in the Bay Area are Bay Quilts in Richmond and the Quilt and Textile Museum in San Jose.

Learn about the Paradox Walnut, Woodland

October 29, 2022Silvia

Last week I wrote about the UC Davis Arboretum. 15 minutes north of Davis is Woodland, named by Gertrude Freeman in 1861 for the “wooded country about”.

Two weeks ago we did the landmark trees bike tour that was part of the annual Stroll Through History. Each September Woodland offers tours about historic buildings and has open houses. This historic rich city started their architecture oriented tours in 1989.

The bike tour, a new addition to the event, began at 10 am at City Park on the corner of Oak and Walnut. This is when we got to meet the Paradox walnut and learned about Luther Burbank’s gift to the city on Arbor Day in 1925.

In the late nineteenth century Luther Burbank, the renowned horticulturist and botanist from Santa Rosa, began his controlled crosses between walnuts. The Paradox walnut is a cross between the northern California Black walnut and the Persian walnut. He named it Paradox “because of the extremely fast growth and other ‘anomalies.’” (https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=301125)

In Burbank’s own words:

“As compared with seedlings of either the California or the Persian walnut, they manifested an enormously enhanced capacity for growth. Indeed they sprang forward at such a rate as presently to dwarf their pure breed relatives. The phenomenal growth of these hybrid trees continued year after year. The tree so far out-stripped all competitors in the matter of growth that it might fairly be said to represent a new type of vegetation. On this account, and in recognition of sundry other anomalies, I named them Paradox.” (http://www.lutherburbankonline.com/V2-C5.html) Burbank noted further the curious apple-like fragrance. The wood of the Paradox walnut is extremely hard and close grained, which is a further anomaly since it is such a fast growing tree.

In further research I learned that the Paradox walnut is now the most popular rootstock in California.

Do you know about any landmark trees in your area?

Resources:

Stroll Through History

https://strollthroughhistory.com/about-us/history/

Woodland Tree Foundation

www.woodlandtree.org

USDA Luther Burbank’s contributions to walnuts

https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=301125

Luther Burbank Online – The Royal Walnut

http://www.lutherburbankonline.com/V2-C5.html