Sunset's Gardens, Menlo Park. Thursday, May 21, 2015

This was probably Paintsite's last chance to visit Sunset's HQ & Gardens, a truly iconic Peninsula institution and Western voice before it closes its doors in July.    And although it was another unseasonably (and, I might add, unreasonably) cool and grey May day, we found plenty to see and paint.   If you're interested in visiting Sunset's gardens before they're gone forever, their final Celebration Weekend (Open House) is June 6th &7th.

For more information about Sunset, see their website at:
http://www.sunset.com/garden/flowers-plants/sunset-garden-tour
Note, the gardens are closed from late May until the Celebration Weekend.    After that the gardens are free and open to the public - for at least a short time.  

Upcoming Paintsites:

• Thursday, May 28, 2015:  Guadalupe Oak Grove Park, San Jose - short Hike & Sketch or Sit & Paint.
• Thursday, June 4, 2015:  Santa Teresa County Park  - long Sit & Paint or Hike & Sketch.  Meet for lunch.
• Thursday, June 11, 2015:  Los Altos Redwood Grove, Los Altos - we'll paint in the morning, eat lunch then drive to the Los Altos Hills Town Hall to view the current  "No Limits - Freedom to Create" exhibit.
• Thursday, June 18, 2015:  Agnews Historic Park, Santa Clara
• Saturday, June 20, 2015:  Santa Teresa County Park - no Hike & Sketch, just a Sit & Paint
• Thursday, June 25, 2015:  San Juan Bautista Mission, San Juan Bautista

For additional information and details, see the SCVWS website or the June Newsletter.

Many of the paintings shown are unfinished.   Check back again for the completed versions.   Also go back a few postings to see new images from the Stanford Cactus Garden. 

The main garden consists of a large central lawn dotted with a number of handsome old oaks, a perimeter path and interesting and varied border gardens based on the widely used Sunset Climate Zones.   Some of us chose to paint vistas across the lawn at one of  the Regional gardens.

Bonnie

Bonnie's painting looking across the lawn toward the Northern California garden.

Caroline, bundled up, working on her sketch, and looking happy

Caroline's painting of the Sunset Rose Garden

Elaine

Elaine's painting of the Sunset HQ building and some annual beds - up to the point where a Special Event Taco Truck came in and blocked her view.

Marilyn

Marilyn's unfinished painting of two of the grand oaks

Mary R.

Mary's painting

Janice S.

Janice's painting.

Nora - a new SCVWS member.   She braved the cold day at the Stanford Cactus Garden Weekend Paintsite and, undeterred, joined us for her first Thurday Paint Site.

Rich

Rich's painting of one of Sunset's mighty oaks.

While others worked on close-ups in one of the regional or micro  gardens ...

 

Leslie sketching the Central California garden

Leslie's Central California Garden sketch

I think I like my little sketches better, in general, than the  bigger ones....    Leslie

Leslie's painting of an old oak

Laurie spent her morning in the Editorial Test Garden where the chickens (not depicted) kept her company.

Marlene

Marlene didn't have time to finish this container garden before special event preparations required the space.

Candy in the Pacific Northwest Garden

Candy's rhododendrons in the Pacific Northwest Garden

 

Candy's chickens, (used to control snails), in the Test Garden

Cathy

Cathy's grasses looked like fireworks going off  - which they really did.  (Look like that is, not "go off".)

Melanie found a very small, very private, very lovely garden all her own.

Melanie's painting.

 Meanwhile, in the Southwest Desert garden, Matilija poppies in bloom always attract a crowd ...

Alan started out with just Helen (in blue) in his painting.   But then Jane arrived, then Lisha, then Liz, then Alan realized it was a lost cause.

 

Helen

Jane

Jane's painting of a Matilija poppy.

Lisha

Lisha's painting of  Matilija poppy.

Liz

Liz's Matilija poppy.