Watershed
an old pond
a frog jumps in
the sound of water
Basho
In a narrow coastal valley nestled in the Marin headlands is the Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, also known as Green Dragon Temple (Soryu-ji). This Buddhist practice center in the Japanese Soto Zen tradition seeks to “awaken the bodhisattva spirit, the spirit of kindness and realistic helpfulness”. This approach is also applied to the stewardship of the land. On the site of what was a sprawling ranch, the Green Gulch tributary, the gentle creek that traverses this place of gardens and meditation, had become choked by invasive non-native plants.
The following images are of the restored habitat today, where many diverse native plant species thrive.
Overlooking the pond, the Zendo (meditation hall) is a refinished barn from the former ranch.
embraced by water;
hugging cedars, grasses, reeds:
brown spongy swamp mud
Sondra Ball
the single rivulet
how slowly a pond
lets go
Laurie W. Stoelting
Introduced as an ornamental houseplant from South Africa, Cape Ivy (Delairea odorata) is now considered a serious invasive pest along the California coast. Cape Ivy expands vegetatively as a vine through the spread of stolons. Fragments of the plant as short as one half inch, carried by runoff or landscape machinery, can take root and colonize new areas. In riparian corridors such at Green Gulch, choking mats of Cape Ivy have been removed. Other exotics such as nettles and poison hemlock have been removed as well and hauled to the compost yard to produce finished compost. The result of the restoration is a rich diversity of native grasses, annuals and aquatic plants.
tender willow
almost gold, almost amber,
almost light…
Jose Juan Tablada
In sheltered areas along the creek, young Coho Salmon have been spotted. The restored creek has been brought back into balance with the cycles of the seasons and the rythms of nature.
For more information, and to visit the Green Gulch Farm Zen Center:
http://www.sfzc.org
soldier ferns, soft moss
beside the slow moving creek
the sun’s rays are warm
Sondra Ball
Good evening, dear Philip! Green Gulch is one of my favorite places on the planet. I often fondly think of it and it is on my radar to visit in 2009 as it has been too long. Fortunately the sheer memory of meditating there endures and comforts regardless of time passing. Thank you for taking me there this night at the end of the year. As ever, you dig more deeply and uncover those things I might have taken for granted. Thank you. As ever, Kathryn xox
Comment by Kathry/plantwhateverbringsyoujoy.com — 31. December 2008 @ 04:09
Aw, I can almost see Basho’s frog in your lovely photos of a lovely place! The center’s harmony with its surroundings is magical. The layered thickets pull me in with their inviting mystery.
I found your comment on salmon now being found in the stream to be wonderfully reassuring. I was surprised to hear that my local San Diego River, now a concrete-lined shell for much of its lower run, hosted spawning salmon as late as the 1950s. Your post gives me hope that what we might have written off as lost might actually stand a chance of returning.
Thanks for a lovely post, and my best to you (in the plural!) for a fine 2009!
James
Comment by lostlandscape(James) — 31. December 2008 @ 06:09
What a lovely piece, poetry and all! I have always wanted to visit Green Gulch, drove by it many times on the way to Stinson Beach, read all about it, ate at Greens a million times, shopped at Ayala, etc so supported them in other ways but never made it to the center. Hadn’t known about their stewardship of the creek and native plants but it’s not surprising. Thanks for this!
Comment by Karen — 31. December 2008 @ 06:54
Philip, thanks for this very interesting post…interspersed with haiku made it like icing on a cake. Gosh, that Cape Ivy sounds almost as invasive as the kudzu here which climbs and smothers even tall trees. It is called the vine “that ate the South”.
Hope y’all have a Happy New Year and all the best in 2009!
Jon at Mississippi Garden
Comment by Jon — 31. December 2008 @ 10:02
That looks a wonderful place to visit. I bet it is full of wildlife. It also looks very peaceful.
Comment by Helen - patientgardener — 31. December 2008 @ 12:04
The greeny-yellow of the leaves in that top picture has to be one of my favourite-ever colours. I think it would be impossible to be in a place like that and not feel better about the world. Love the poetry too. I hope 2009 blooms especially well for you and yours. Happy new year, Victoria xxx
Comment by Victoria — 31. December 2008 @ 18:51
Hi Kathryn!
Yes, this is such a special place.I am hoping to post other parts of their incredible gardens soon. I thought that the land itself, and what has been done to restore it was the best place to start.
Have you been to Tassajara?
Very best wishes to you this new year!
Philip
Comment by admin — 31. December 2008 @ 19:05
Hi James and John!
Thank you so much for your wishes. I loved reading about your desert hike. It was beautiful, but spoke to the human condition, too.
Happy new year!
Philip
Comment by admin — 31. December 2008 @ 19:07
Hi Karen, You must visit the gardens. I purchased some plants from their wonderful nursery, too.
A visit here is something I look forward to.This place restores the spirit. I have never been here this time of year, and I found it has a special beauty in every season.
Best wishes to you and for the new year.
Philip
Comment by admin — 31. December 2008 @ 19:14
Hi Helen,
Yes, it is very peaceful. Green Gulch is surrounded by the protected lands of the Golden gate National Recreation Area. Thank you so much for your comment!
Happy new year,
Philip
Comment by admin — 31. December 2008 @ 19:17
Hi Jon!!!
Great to hear from you. I thought of kudzu when posting this.
Thank you for a real Southern happy new year wish!
I loved that!
I Hope y’all have a Happy New Year, too!
Philip
Comment by admin — 31. December 2008 @ 19:19
Hi Victoria!
It is great to get your comment this morning!
I have only visited Green Gulch in the spring and summer, so I was blown away by the colors this time of year. I am so pleased you liked that, as it was one of my favorite things, too. Yes, a visit here and the work people are doing to restore the watershed made me feel very hopeful. A perfect way to start the new Year!
Thank you so much for your wishes!
Happy New year!
Philip
Comment by admin — 31. December 2008 @ 19:31
Hi Philip, your posts are such a delight. I was away when you posted Meadowfoam, but enjoyed both of these looks at the real flora of Northern California and the gardens you remember from childhood. I admire your dream of recreating them and applaud the efforts you are making. I agree completely about seeding with natives, it is a lot of preparation, not just the scattering of seeds! The cleaning of the waterways is a blessing and the text you have chosen describes the feeling given by the photographs so well. You are such an artist, and a sweet sweet man! May your 2009 be the best year ever!
Frances
Comment by Frances — 31. December 2008 @ 23:36
Hi Frances!
I just loved reading about your garden year up to the Summer Solstice! The magic of the spring bulbs and the fairy gazebo so enchanted me! You have so much fun, and have such a plantspersons gift. It has been such a delight to meet you here on Blotanical. You are a wonderful friend to me, and so many people and all living things
Warm regards and a Happy New Year’s wish of blooms to you and yours. Yay!
Philip
Comment by admin — 1. January 2009 @ 01:30
What a wonderfully positive subject to blog about at the end of the year / start of the next and I enjoyed the poetry too.
Warm blessings for 2009 Phillip, and thanks for all the comments you leave over at my place (s)
Karen
Comment by Karen - An Artists Garden — 1. January 2009 @ 13:12
I can’t imagine how much work it was to restore it back to a habitat for the fish and other critters who will call it home again. I always think you must be very careful what you plant anywhere but especially near water. Water reflects back to nature what you give it in two ways. It reflects a photographic image and secondly mirrors it’s changes back to nature. If you harm the waters, they quickly affect everything around it. The pictures here are so peaceful and those who restored it have certainly met and exceeded their mission. It does reflect kindness.
Comment by Anna/Flowergardengirl — 1. January 2009 @ 23:07
Philip, I nearly want to apologize for missing these two marvelous posts of yours. I’ve been traveling for the holidays and sort of blissfully without a computer. Marshlands and Ryparian reclamations are the stuff we seem to do well. Who would have imagined? All over the Northwest, too, we see these reclaimed areas, reverting to Nature in ways that pay off incredibly well. Birds return, critters and fish and the stunning natural plants and flowers. In Herons alone, the Northwest has surpassed expectations in reclaiming previously spoiled lands. Watching them glide in to land on some still marsh lake is one of life’s highlights. Terrific stuff, man,
Comment by Steve — 2. January 2009 @ 06:36
Hi Karen,
I love visiting your blogs to see the beauty of Wales, and the artistic way you share it on your blogs. Visiting your blogs is a treat.
Happy 2009!
Philip
Comment by admin — 2. January 2009 @ 17:36
Anna, That is such a poetic way of describing it! You have done a post on water restoration in your part of the world that I loved. Thank you so much for your comment. I love seeing Copper Top Cottage under construction. Now for the Flowergarden girl truck!
Big hugs,
Philip
Comment by admin — 2. January 2009 @ 17:39
Hi Philip. What a beautiful post. It reminds me of a wonderful book: Highgrove- An Experiment in Organic Gardening and Farming - by Prince Charles. He has taken his estate in Gloucestershire, and turned it into a sustainable farm by paying attention to the appropriate plants and natural rhythms of time. His “experiment” has brought back insects, birds and mammals that had disappeared. How wonderful for any patch of land to be returned to its natural living breathing self. Thank you as always for reminding me of the beauty of the world.
Jerry
Comment by Jerry Burt — 2. January 2009 @ 17:45
Hi Steve,
I love that vision you describe of the herons at the marsh.
You holiday sounds wonderful!
Thank you so much for your comment!
Happy 2009!
Philip
Comment by admin — 2. January 2009 @ 17:46
Hi Jerry!
your comments…a “patch of land to be returned to its natural living breathing self” was so very thoughtful to read this morning. I so appreciate your comment!
Yay!
Philip
Comment by admin — 2. January 2009 @ 17:54
Dear Phillip,
As always you have written a beautiful and thought provoking post. It is horrifying when invasives can reproduce from the tiniest little piece of plant; it makes the ‘cleanup’ all more difficult and important. We have a sad little joke in our neck of the woods…’Invasives are us”. They are too successful at out competing our native plants in the south. I do love Basho’s haiku’s …his life story is quite interesting, too! Thank you…happiest New year! gail
Comment by Gail — 3. January 2009 @ 04:10
Hi Philip - a very Happy New Year to you!
I can’t believe we didn’t go there when I worked on that project! It looks a lovely place. And the poetry - aren’t they Haiku? If so, they’re even more appropriate
Comment by VP — 4. January 2009 @ 23:46
Hi Gail!
“invasives are us!” Yes, there is this new weed that has come into our garden. It loves getting under rocks where it is hard to remove. Also, it has a deep root, so you really have to dig it out. I had a big clean up of the garden this last weekend so I feel like I have won the battle, if not the war!
Philip
Comment by admin — 6. January 2009 @ 20:07
Hi VP!
I love haiku. I always tend to read it in the winter.
Regards,
Philip
Comment by admin — 6. January 2009 @ 20:08
Philip — what a lovely and inspirational blog you have. I’ve been scrolling through and each post is thoughtful, intelligent and filled with your beautiful photos. I bookmarked you the moment I saw the Basho haiku. Anyone who combines poetry and garden images with your skill is a must read!
Comment by LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD — 7. January 2009 @ 18:08
Linda!
I enjoyed looking at your blog. The burr oak is spectacular!
Thank you so much for your nice comments!
Philip
Comment by admin — 7. January 2009 @ 19:20
Green Gulch is such an amazing place, so glad you posted about it! Being so close to Pt. Reyes, with its hugely diverse bird population, I imagine the restored habitat will attract some wonderful bird life.
Comment by Anne — 7. January 2009 @ 19:59
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Comment by gardener — 2. May 2010 @ 16:19