Oakland: We're More Than Just Violent Thugs!

 photo from nytimes.com and taken by Adithya Sambamurthy of the Bay Citizen

All of this talk of the Johannes Mesherle/Oscar Grant trial has got me down.  Setting aside opinions on the case itself, the national coverage warning of riots in the streets convey an image of Oakland that clearly does not define what Oakland really is.  Oakland is many things, some wondrous, some ordinary, some not so fun.  Let's list a few of our favorite non-stereotypical things around Oakland.

Oakland Chinatown:  This is the real Chinatown.  You won't find shops selling the same t-shirts and trolleycar toothpick holders here!  You will find, however cavernous shops filled with dangerously-stacked aisles of imaginative goodies.  Plum-flavored candy, paper parasols, pajamas in very small sizes and the best darn avocado milkshake you can imagine.  With pearls!  Get it at the Sweet Booth, which is located in the mall on Webster and 9th.  Have I even mentioned the dim sum around here?!  Nowhere else can you eat for $2.00 and be full.  It is a place for aimless exploration and little surprises.

The BBQ:  Need I say more?  Find yourself at Everett & Jones near Jack London Square.  Move on to Chef Edwards BBQ in Uptown.  Then amble over to the Brick Pig House (they are just the nicest folks!).  Extra credit for managing to also make it to Tastee's Fish & Chicken Market for a catfish sandwich and hush puppies!

The Farmer's Markets:  The Sunday Temescal Market is "my" market, although Oakland hosts a Friday market in Old Town and a Saturday market right next to the Grand Lake Theater.  I can't help but geek out and try out each one- they all seem to have their own flavor.  Temescal attracts the Blue Bottle Coffee crowd and winding past the endless line of pre-caffeinated zombies can be daunting, but apparently it's worth the wait!  However, a stop at Feel Good Bakery's booth for what we call "crack cookies" erases any stresses about the crowd.  They're more than chocolate.  They're an ascension to somewhere you never want to leave.  We'll forgive them for headquartering in Alameda.

The People:  I know of nowhere else in the Bay Area where I can smile at someone walking past me on the sidewalk and they will say "Good morning."  There's a few bad apples sneaking in from Berkeley, but this town is a friendly town.  It's part of the reason why I feel so passionately about my adopted city.  Despite our far-flung areas, we are all friendly neighbors. 

Joaquin Miller Park:  where else would an urban park be named after a man best known for being totally ridiculous?  Despite the fact that this poet was obsessed with planting invasive eucalyptus and acacia trees, the park provides a quiet respite from traffic noise, as well as amazing views of the city and bay below.  There's even an amphitheater!

So here's a few of my favorite things in Oakland.  What are yours?

Plant of the Week: Bleeding Heart

Bang!  Ka-pow!  Ooooooh!  Aaaaahhh!  What better way to usher in the holiday than with this firecracker of a plant?  Dicentra formosa, a California native for shade, at first glance seems more at home in the Japanese garden amongst Hostas or even Coleus, yet thrives in areas alongside Yarrow, Columbines, or Snowberry.  This particular plant, 'Burning Hearts' is a hybrid with blue-green, divided foliage and an incredible bright, candy scent.  Even better, it promises to bloom from March to September!

Sun:  Part shade to shade
Soil:  Well-drained
Plant:  Anytime, but Autumn is probably best- right before the Winter rains come
Buy it:  Hmmm, I got this from the wholesale nursery, so I can't honestly say.  Ask your local nursery if they can order this particular hybrid, but order the true-blood native from California Flora Nursery, Oaktown Native Nursery, or East Bay Wilds.
Good for:  Color!  In shade!  Japanese-style native gardens, tea party gardens, fragrant gardens, attracting hummingbirds, watercolor artists looking for new muses.

Summertime Experienced Indoors

Perusing the flower stand at the farmer's market yesterday, the weather was just too perfect to confine myself to just one handful of blooms.  The Delphinium I knew would open its winged buds throughout the week, but the sunny Coreopsis with their chocolate-stained faces could not be left behind either.  They weren't exactly compatible for a bouquet because their size and airiness seemed too similar to provide contrast, but I plotted my plan of attack on the walk home.  As I approached the house I giggled as I stumbled on the obvious solution.  Silly me!  I had forgotten about the flower stand in my own front garden!  A few pink Clarkias and it suddenly came together as a wild, Summertime prairie bouquet.     

Scenes From a Lingering Garden

 

 

This promises to be quite amazing and perhaps even a little magical.  A very rare opportunity to see this incredible garden in the middle of downtown Oakland.  Do you know there was a 3.5 acre private garden in Oakland?  I sure didn't! 

 

Here's a preview video of what you might expect.  Love the cuckoos!  The following was emailed to me by my friend Hugh Livingston, who is responsible for this wonderful craziness:

 

A 58-channel composition for a beautiful rooftop garden floating above downtown Oakland. Composed and produced by Livingston Sound with Brendan Aanes and Andrea Williams.

One day only, 5-8pm, Sunday June 27 2010. Admission $5.

What is a teatro di verdura and what does it sound like? Will the giant gong survive being mounted in the pond? Tomato cages as speakers, as well as birdcages, bowls from Smart & Final, acrylic pyramids, and of course, cymbals. The pine-lute pavilion (shokin-tei), the garden of questionable clockwork, the garden of frozen delights, and 3 vintage hand-cranked phonographs playing 78RPM recordings of 1940s birds.

Live performances by Kyle Bruckmann, Shayna Dunkelman, Matt Ingalls, Gretchen Jude (oboe, percussion, clarinet, koto). Field of Gongs by Matthew Goodheart.

Wines by eno wines and Ehrenberg Cellars, of Alameda. Light catering by Valerie Jackson Events and La Farine.

Remember these details to find the garden: it is not visible from the street, but is on the roof of the parking garage, which will be closed for the weekend. The entrance to the elevator that takes you to the roof is on Webster St between 20th and 21st, just between the 24 Hour Fitness and the CVS. More here: http://livingstonsound.com/

Funding from the City of Oakland, American Composers Forum, Open Circle Foundation.

Backyard Archaeology: One Dime

Planting a Ceanothus 'Tassajara Blue' in my wonderful neighbor's back garden, a small object turned up in the soil.  I had been finding all sorts of things the past few days, mostly bits of glass and terracotta.  This however...  ONE DIME.  Why, yes you are!  It looked so old that it seemed fake, so I instantly turned it over to find a date.  1901! 

I had been carrying on a phone conversation with my immensely talented friend Hugh, who instantly procured values via the magic of the internet.  A dime could have purchased a beer in 1901 at an Idora Park concession.  Well, today it remains likely I could still buy a beer with this dime- the going rate for a worn 1901 dime minted in Philadelphia as this one was is $2.  Maybe a Pabst at happy hour with no tip.

Either way, I'm thrilled to live out my Indiana Jones fantasies and find all sorts of "treasures" left behind.  

Plant of the Week: Farewell To Spring

Around February, my garden came under attack from little sprouts of Clarkia amoena.  Soon enough, a jungle of massive Clarkia plants created a new topography, towering over the Eriogonum grande rubescens, hiding the Dudleya hassei flowers and hey, wasn't there a Manzanita somewhere over there? 

The almost neon flowers stun passersby, except the new populations of bees busily darting about with pollen crumbs smattered all over them!  The flower color varies, but most commonly pink with magenta-brushed petals sets the stage.  Salmon in the first photo and white with bursts of pink blush add variety.

Thankfully, Clarkia amoena is an annual, which means they'll grace us with their presence for late Spring, early Summer and then fade away.  Besides using the fabulous dried seed heads in unusual floral arrangements, I had hoped that leaving them standing in the garden would also feed some local birds.  Obviously they weren't interested, judging by the number of plants I now have.  Oh well, more for me!

Many different Clarkias can be found throughout California and serve as a new wave of color after the Poppies and Lupines say their goodbyes for the season.  The Pink Ribbons Clarkia can be especially festive!.

Sun:  Full sun to part shade
Soil:  I guess anything in between the extremes, but I've successfully had plants grow out of adobe-like clay
Plant:  Sow seeds in the Autumn.  It might be too late to find plants, but try Annie's.  Put this one on your must-have list for next year!
Buy it:  I'll gladly give seeds to anyone who wants them!  I'll be up to my ears this year!  Larner's also has some lovely Clarkia seeds of many different varieties.
Good for:  Causing a riot in the garden!  Filling in space when plants are young, continuing the show when the Poppies have faded, pink gardens, bee and butterfly gardens.

Exclusive! Insect Paparazzi

 

I've been obsessed with the air traffic among the garden lately.  Check out the detail of the wings on this honeybee making a mess of himself in the Clarkia pollen!

 

 

The Carpenter bees have finally begun to collect pollen, too as they prepare their nurseries.  The exciting find of today, however...  the first Dragonfly sighting in my garden- ever!  (Yes, I realize I'm becoming a fanatic.)

 

It landed on my Dudleya hassei and even stayed long enough for me to dash inside to get the camera.  I think it's a Pastel Skimmer, or Sympetrum corruptum.  Those orange stripes are so fashionable!

 

Last and most certainly least, a Green Bottle Fly.  Not exactly what I'd like to attract to my garden, but I really do love the green metallic color, like the gas tank on a motorcycle.  What insects have you come across this season?