Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Santa Barbara Harbor and Seafood Festival

October 8th, 2011
10 am - 5 pm
Santa Barbara Harbor


presented by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
fun for the entire family
Admission:  FREE

Meet and swap stories with oceanic and marine-related organizations.  Tour the Tall Ship Spirit of Dana Point at reduced admission prices.  Experience a real "Working Harbor" featuring local fishing boats and crew offering the freshest seafood in th area.

Waterfront Activities from Ahi Cooking Demonstration, Mobile Reef Touch Tank by the UCSB Science Institute, SB Harbor Patrol  fire boat demonstrations, Music by The Ride, Spencer the Gardener, FISH and the Seaweeds and much more fun.
or call 962-8404, xt 115

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Favorite Horticulture Nursery

Beautiful Terra Sol Nursery
located off South Patterson

Terra Sol is a "Walk in the Park" any
time of the year
but there are some special times!

It is Succulent Season at Terra Sol!

this past weekend there were talks, displays
and classes on how to make the most
of succulents in your garden!

Take a walk with me through the garden...


beautiful displays
succulents are often drought tolerant and low maintenance
and some have exotic blooms

a fabulous grouping

statues and fountains...oh my!
the trellis climbing snakey plant behind the fountain is
amazing when in spring bloom with large trumpet shaped flowers

 
lots of creative ideas...
who'd have thought a broken pot could
look soooo "designer?"

a succulent  seahorse sculpture

a succulent Christmas tree

a succulent painting..

Questions about plants, gardening, ideas, or just want
a "Walk in the Park"...Terra Sol is the place to visit!

Terra Sol
5320 Overpass Road, Santa Barbara, 93111
805 964-7811
for more information, click here

Sunday, September 11, 2011

We Will Never Forget...

...Never Forget!

911 Remembered


Friday, September 9, 2011

An Epicurean Adventure in Santa Barbara

30th annual Taste of the Town
Sunday, September 11, 12 - 3 pm
Riviera Park Gardens

2030 Alameda Padre Serra
Santa Barbara


ABOUT THE EVENT


An epicurean adventure!
The Taste of the Town is Santa Barbara's original tasting event,
 featuring savory samples from many of Santa Barbara's
 finest restaurants and premiere wineries.
All proceeds benefit the Arthritis Foundation.

or contact Jeanne David at 805-563-4685

(information and photo from Taste of the Town website)

Monday, September 5, 2011

Hope Ranch


Hope Ranch is an exclusive community of single family residences (many with guest houses) located on over 1,800 acres of approximately 750+/- park-like properties tucked between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the blue Pacific Ocean. An unincorporated community in Santa Barbara County, located just minutes from downtown Santa Barbara.


The Hope Ranch lifestyle includes an outdoor recreation facility with tennis courts, a private sandy beach and over 20 miles of picturesque equestrian trails.  Although membership is separate from Hope Ranch residency,  the private La Cumbre Golf & Country Club offers pastoral views of the range to many of the residences surrounding the Club property, and beautiful Laguna Blanca Lake.

Laguna Blanca private School is also located in Hope Ranch.

Hope Ranch Beach is available only by private access to Hope Ranch residents and their guests.  A sandy beach protected by majestic bluffs and a natural beach approach with plenty of parking.  Enhanced with quaint 1920s Bath Houses, recently improved, the lockers, restrooms, kayak lock-ups, showers and beach board wash racks offer great convenience to HR beach bunnies.  Summertime brings a snack bar, shade cabanas, Lifeguards and a sand Volleyball Court.

The Picnic Grounds located to the right of the parking lot is nestled among native Oaks and offers seating for up to 200 in 3 party areas with built-in BBQ's, a children's playground and restrooms, all of which can be reserved year around form small and large parties at a nominal fee.

Hope Ranch was named after Irishman Thomas Hope who purchased the land in 1861 on which to raise sheep.  Following his death in 1876, his heirs sold the ranch to the Southern Pafic Railroad for $250,000.  It was not until Harold Chase purchased the land in 1923 that the area was developed into the residential area that exists today.

On the east Hope Ranch is bounded by the City of Santa Barbara, on the North by Modoc Road, Hollister Avenue, and Vieja Drive, on the west by a vacant tract of land known as More Mesa, and on the south by the Pacific Ocean.

The highest elevation is 691 feet.  Native vegitation is mostly California oak woodland and chaparral, and many of the homes have been constructed to blend in with the oaks.  The area retains much of its tree canopy.  Residential roads are narrow and winding and interweave with an eleborate network of dedicated equestrian trails.

The local homeowners' association, Hope Ranch Park Home Owners Association,  manages the properties of private roads, horse trails and access to the private beach. The only public road is Las Palmas which becomes .... Hope Ranch is policed by the Hope Ranch Patrol.

Water is serviced by a private water company:  La Cumbre Mutual Water Company. A handful of residences are on private wells. The residences are serviced by individual private septic systems.

Hope Ranch from 1/1/2011 to 8/22/2011
Price Range Statistics for Santa Barbara Real Estate


For Hope Ranch Real Estate for Home Estate/PUDs through
August 22 there are 27 properties available in the area
with an list price of about $4.569 million.
The most expensive listing is on the market for $24.5 million
while at the other end of the scale is one listed at $1.325 million
giving us a median list price for the area of about $2.995 million.
Right now there are 2 properties in escrow with an
average list price of $1,449,500
The most expensive home in escrow is listed for $7.2 million
while at the other end of the scale there’s a property
 listed for $1.399 million giving us a $1.399 million
median list price for homes currently in escrow.
Through August 22 there have been 18 homes
sold in Hope Ranch
with an average sales price of about $2.619 million.
The most expensive sale was for $7.2 million
while the least expensive sale was for $1.1 million
giving us a median sales price through August 22 of $1.95 million.

Photos & information:  Hope Ranch HOA. 
Stats thanks to my collegue Gary Woods

Blue Lotus First Thursdays

a wonderful opportunity to see
(and purchase)
the beautiful artistry of this amazing
family!