Arizona Inn .. Gracious Gardens

Stay tuned for features on my travels in Tucson.

Here's a sneak peek of the gardens at the historic property where I stayed for a couple nights: the Arizona Inn.

Forgive the iPhone photo - real photographs and trip details soon to follow!

Marilyn Monroe and .. Me

Datura wrightii - Photo Copyright Alice Joyce

All text and photos Copyright Alice Joyce

Desert Sojourn: Part 1

My trip to the desert was rained out, but not before one week of hiking and exploring. Once upon a time ... Marilyn Monroe, Raymond Burr and equally illustrious movie stars stayed at this Mid-Century Modern hotel in the desert. Although a fire ravaged the property and its charming casitas, new owners have restored the classic lobby, pool, eight unadorned rooms, and 2 remaining casitas for visitors to Borrego Springs. The restaurants - Krazy Coyote & Red Ocotillo - are popular spots for grazing.

Contemporary Design Shines Through

Artist, Richard Hestekind

Relentless rain could not dampen our spirits! The contemporary, 

environmentally-conscious architecture landscaping of Bardessono Hotel, Yountville: 

Click on Link below - redirect to:

Alice's Garden Travel Buzz

Noble Rot .. Hotel Monaco: Whirlwind Tour of Portland's Green Scene

Portland is on top of the Green movement!

PHOTOS COPYRIGHT © ALICE JOYCE

I stayed a few nights at the Kimpton Groups' Hotel Monaco -Green Seal/Silver Tier certified. Eco-attributes include a basket to recycle glass & paper (just like at home), and complimentary bicycles, so Tom could enjoy his usual mode of transport. A pet-friendly establishment, to be sure.

Hotel Monaco is located in Portland's TriMet fareless zone. I took full advantage of the city's streetcars and MAX light rail, an incredibly tourist-friendly mode of getting around when you don't feel like walking. I traveled from downtown to the Pearl District for lunch, went back to visit the Portland Art Museum, and hopped on a streetcar once again to go out for dinner. The convenience of light rail allowed me to arrive fresh for a morning appointment at the Classical Chinese Garden, and return downtown for an afternoon tour of the eco-roof of the Multnomah County Central Library.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

More on Portland's green roofs and living walls in the days ahead. I began my roof top touring with the productive kitchen garden at Noble Rot, where Chef/Co-owner Leather Storrs allowed me to nibble my way through the aisles! It's a 3000-square-foot roof top garden at this downtown Restaurant & Wine Bar. The Noble Rot web site states: Ask for a tour... and I say, go for it! Noble Rot moved to 1111 East Burnside in February, 2009, if I'm correct, where the restaurant occupies the 4th floor of an LEED platinum building with an underground aquifer for pure water. The eco-roof factors into the rating. The garden features 50 of these shallow kiddie pools, with 3 inches of soil and a layer of perlite on the bottom.

Among the savory edibles growing in a corner of the garden are tomatoes & Tromboncino squash, a delicately flavored zucchini with no seeds in the body of the vegetable. 3000-square-foot roof top garden at Noble Rot Restaurant & Wine Bar.

A lushly painted canvas, H. foetidus, adorns the restaurant's entryway.

Raised planters in Noble Rot's chemical-free garden.

Chef Leather grows peppers, horseradish, various basils,

as well as lettuces, herbs & flowers for his 'roof greens salad.'

Herbs and Mediterranean low-water plants grow in the eco-roof area.

Noble Rot's outdoor terrace is below this corner of the garden: a great view of downtown from here!

Hydroponic tubes - nasturtiums & parsley among the plants cultivated here.

Shiso (Perilla)

I sampled stawberries, sweet tender cucumbers, a lemony form of cilantro, nasturtium bloom, and the delectable Tromboncino squash, which I will have to grow next summer at Tom's allotment garden!

Link to more....

Portland Destinations