ARe we talking about the same Bakersfield? She said there was a water shortage and everyone was real environmentally concerned so they limited a small area of the yard to gardening. She also said that all the homes there were built by a builder in subdivisions and they just chose one.
I could be wrong about where she lived...........think I will call her and ask her if I am right about the water shortage.
anything blooming????? Part IV
Sally the pictures of your yard look so inviting..I can only dream of blooming flowers year round.Must be like Heaven! You southerners are so fortunate. I am going to check into that editing program you have..your av's are breathtaking alone but I just love the added touch of the names you can edit into your photos.....
Years ago when I was still working (mortgage office at a savings and loan) I remember a guy coming in one day to see one of the VP's in the commercial real estate lending office. He was in town from California for some real estate business. He told me that if you live in California and have a lawn your taxes were higher because of the water shortage out there! That was 16 years ago! My friends son brought his girlfriend to Florida a few months ago for a visit ... her first to Florida and she kept talking about how she couldn't get over how green Florida was! Just recently I heard someone else make that same comment. We go through droughts here too ... we are only about 3-4" below normal rainfall in my area right now but it gets pretty dry at times. Most of Florida has had strict water restrictions for years now. But, I guess it's the same everywhere anymore. One year you have so much rain there are floods and the next year it's so dry there are wild fires!
Is Bakersfield near L.A.? I know I've heard of it but just not sure if it's Southern Cal. My friends son is in San Diego.
Yes, we are talking about the same Bakersfield I guess. Two hours north of Los Angeles. We lived there 8 years. We have been back in Tx for 7 years now so maybe things have changed. My friends that are there have not told me about anything different.
Water was plentiful! There was record snowfall in the mts. Maybe the snow levels have not been good lately. There was plenty of water and lawns were all green and there were lots of wonderful yards and flowers. My friends all gardened.
People on the coast have more water problems. Carmel, etc.
Many yards in Bakers. were very large. If they have had snow problems in the last 7 years they might have less water. Like I said though, water was plentiful AND cheap. We ran the automatic water system just like I do in my yard. Every couple of days in summer. The winter there was nice, cold but not too cold. FOGGY though. They are in a bowl of mts. We loved it there.
Fred has gone back for work a few times and says it is much bigger, has grown. It was always growing and it really has gotten larger. Maybe that hurt the water?
We also had at least 4 hummer feeders in the back yard. SO many hummers, we had them all year. I had to make nectar for them every couple of days, large amounts! The birds were wonderful. Lots of interesting ones.
My cousin said she lived in Tahachapi (don't know if I am spelling that right).
She used Bakersfield for grocery shopping and any other things she needed to do. Everyone is so different about what they do like and don't like about parts of the country. She always called Bakersfield the arm pit of the world. But..........that is just her opinion and she grew up in south Texas right here where we get more than 30" of rain every year.
I think it is great that you have fond memories of Bakersfield!
Tachachapi is near Bakers. I have no idea where she went. Bakersfeild is really lovely. They really care about the streets, plants trees, etc. It was hard to move back here where the city is not so careful. Now Kingsport TN, was amazing! NO trash was thrown on the street, no signs allowed, really wonderful people.
My grandmother's favorite saying when I was growing up was: "Bloom Where You are Planted" so I guess it means that all of happiness comes from within ourselves.
I have always said that too. We were transferred every few years in Fred's job and we loved it all and learned so much! I really adored traveling and living in CA and TN too. Texas is home though.
I had to google Bakersfield! http://www.city-data.com/city/Bakersfield-California.html
My husband and I were in San Diego area for a very short 3 months when he first joined the military back in 1969. Nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there permanently. Traffic was bad back then, I can just imagine what it's like now! Really pretty area though. I have always wanted to visit San Francisco ... we were young and poor back when we were in Southern Cal and couldn't afford to go anywhere ... did make it to that fabulous zoo once though!
Sally: What part of Tennessee did you live in? I LOVE the Smokey Mountains ... my DH and I vacation there quite often. We fly into Knoxville and rent a car for the 45 min or so drive through the mountains to the Gatlinburg area. I'm not so fond of the Gatlinburg area much anymore ... it has really become so commercialized .... not anywhere as nice as it was 30 years ago. I love Maryville and Townsend ... we go for the beauty of those wonderful mountains!
Gail, I LOVE that saying........Bloom where you are planted.
I will have to remember that as it really touched me.
Thanks for sharing it with us 'ol wise one :)
XO
Kim
We lived in Kingsport, TN. Gorgeous state.
That is an old saying and one I have always loved too! I used to have it on a little sign and years ago I almost bought a T-shirt with a picture of sunflowers and that saying on it!
Yes Tennessee is a Gorgeous state! I love the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Smokey Mountains!
Gail has started us a much needed new thread, come on over ^_^ http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/837901/