Thursday, March 25, 2010

Stearns Wharf is Santa Barbara's most visited landmark!

A visit to Stearns Wharf is a wonderful experience with several restaurants to choose from and numerous activities. From Ty Warner's Nature Center to a stop at one of the many specialty stores, including ice cream and candy stores.   Have your palm read at Madam Rosinka's,  sip a glass of wine at Coastal Winery or take a trip on Captain Don's Pirate Cruise. From breakfast to dinner there is a restaurant to meet your culinary tastes.



Santa Barbara Shellfish Co.
230 Stearns Wharf, SB
805 966-6676
open for lunch and dinner daily

A casual eatery located at the end of Stearns Wharf, this is a must visit.  Not only is it true Santa Barbara ambiance, the food is delightful...often locally caught.  Parking is available at the end of the wharf.  Locals love this casual spot, for a bowl of soup or a complete meal.

Moby Dick
805 965-0549
end of Stearns Wharf
open for breakfast, lunch & dinner
7 am until close

A large casual restaurant which is a great place to take the family, including small children.
This restaurant has recently re-established itself as a great place for good local food.  Lots of choice seafood, salads, steak, chicken and pasta.  Also available is an excellent Angus beef hamburger, along with a pretty good selection of local wines. Moby's is also a popular breakfast spot.

Harbor Restaurant
805 963-3311
Located in the middle of Stearn's Wharf
Open for lunch and dinner
valet parking available
A long time favorite, the original restaurant burned to the ground during a fire. Locally owned, this gorgeous spot offers fine dining overlooking the blue Pacific.  Come here for your special ocasions.

Long Board's Grill
805 963-3311
located above the Harbor Restaurant for casual dining and/or cocktails. 
Featuring an outdoor patio and indoor seating plus sports bar.  A great place to take the family and kids. 


visit http://www.stearnswharf.org/
 for detailed information on the restaurants, merchants and activities of Stearns Wharf located at the foot of State Street

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Huell Howser's Road Show at the 65th Santa Barbara International Orchid Show

Can Your Believe It??

Famous TV Personality Huell Howser came to our gorgeous Orchid Show to film it for his Television Program, "Road Trip".  

His show will also feature several of our local growers of orchids.  Our semi-tropical climate can grow and sustain many varieties of orchids. I  can just hear Huell exclaim, "amazing...!  And so it was a truly amazing and magical show! 

This year's theme:  Nature in Harmony
Here are some of my photos of the fantasy land created by our local Orchid Society and Societies from neighboring communities; as well as local and visiting professional growers.

Awards were earned by amateurs and professionals


a riot of Phalaenopsis also called 'moth' orchids 

a fantastic display of white Phalaenospsis with the longest sprays of blooms I've ever seen!

gorgeous easy to grow Cymbidiums..
my garden is full of them as I adopt them from my clients who are moving.

amazing Australian Dendrobiums are stunning and give out a deliciously exotic scent!


I couldn't resist taking home a couple of small pink versions


The central display was a Tea House surrounded by a small running brook and a waterfall cascading over the roof into the babbling brook which was lined with a stunning array of orchids and ferns of ever color and sort


display around Tea House


this side of the Tea House shows the large Staghorn ferns hanging over and against the walls
I have adopted several of these lovely plants also


Not sure, but this stunning orchid may be a Laelia


a view of the brook and a showing of a periwinkel colored Vandas

The redish/brown (or yellow Oncidums), also called Dancing Dolls, have a slight chocolate scent 



Beautiful pink Cattleya Orchids



Thank you Santa Barbara for putting on an amazing show!

Next Show July 9-11, 2010
The 30th Annual Santa Barbara Orchid Fair
over 30 Orchid vendors from around the owrld

Local growers

Cal-Orchid Inc
1251 Orchid Drive, Santa Barbara
winner of the Grand Champion and Best Orchid in Show 2009

Santa Barbara Orchid Estate
1250 Orchid Drive, Santa Barbara
1000 species and hybrids

Westerlay Orchids
3504 Via Real, Capinteria

Gallup and Stribling Orchids, Inc.
3450 Via Real, Carpinteria
805 684-9842

Orchid Society of Santa Barbara

These growers are open to the public