While fall foliage has returned across much of the country, it's reaching its peak in the East Bay. One of the best places to see fall colors is the University of California, Berkeley Hills Botanical Garden, where the entire tree line of eastern North America goes wild in November.
Autumn's visual appeal is one reason to visit this 34-acre garden in the fall. With more than 13,000 different plants from nine major regions of the world, the University of California Botanical Garden is always in bloom and showcasing the splendor of the earth. In fact, some plants are so rare that they carry a microchip, Dr. Lewis Feldman, Executive Director of Gardens.
"Think of it like a plant zoo," Feldman says, adding that the garden is not just a destination but an important resource staffed by 14 professional horticulturists.
In Asia, autumn rains keep camellias and hydrangeas hydrated along Strawberry Creek. Behind the clouds, a Japanese pool and waterfall echo the sounds of nature. The region of southern Africa has strange "living stones": pebble-like plants that go underground during the summer heat.
The highlands of South America are home to spectacular wild fuchsias and prickly pears. In the garden you can see everything from spring ponds to dwarf forests.
As the holidays approach, look for pop-up garden shops that sell unusual plants and fun gardening items. You might also consider a gift certificate for the garden lover or budding botanist on your list.
IN TOWN: Montclair resident Matt Horne is traveling to Oakland for the holidays with three restaurants from his hotel company, Horne Hospitality, AH2. The newest is Matt's Old Fashioned at 464 Eighth Street in the popular Old Oakland dining district.
Open since July, this Southern-style restaurant offers Horn's signature meat dishes like bologna and bratwurst. In fact, there is no better quality Bolognese sandwich than this one where the flavorful meat is deep fried and then loaded with honey mustard aioli and crispy onion rings.
Also popular is the Mattis Burger: two burgers with caramelized onions and aioli on a grilled brioche bun. Kudos to Culinary Director Kevin Schantz (formerly Michael Mina) for his creative approach to the delicious East Bay menu.
Crime News: Massive daylight robberies are common in Auckland these days and security guards can't seem to stop the robberies.
The latest retailer to publicly call for change is Marissa Bates, whose Ken Bates Chevron store on Redwood Road was burglarized and vandalized last month. Residents are asked to contact District 4 Council Member Janani Ramachandran at district4@oaklandca.gov for assistance.
Looking to the sky: Mountain residents react to low-flying military aircraft as they prepare for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco with President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Loud alarm sounds have alarmed some at a time of rising terror threats, but they hope flights will continue for the Nov. 11-17 summit.
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