Growing up in Connecticut there was always someplace close by where we could go on the weekends to enjoy long hikes in the woods. Living in Redondo Beach, it is a bit further of a drive to get to the wooded areas to hike. The beach is of course a great place for a stroll, a run, a bike ride (not to mention swimming, sunning, surfing, etc.), and we certainly are fortunate to have miles of that here in the South Bay. But when you want a quick getaway to be with other forms of nature, like trees, flowers and wildlife, the place to go is South Coast Botanic Garden on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Located 10 miles south of Los Angeles Airport, this 87 acre compound offers a variety of different scenes along their trails, such as the exquisite Rose Garden (call and see when roses are out in full bloom), a Cactus Garden, the Garden of the Senses (my personal favorite), an Herb Garden, a ‘Water-Wise’ Garden, a wonderful Children’s Garden that portrays many favorite childhood fairy tales, Fucshia and Dahlia Gardens, a Japanese Garden, a Mediterranean Garden, and a long stretch of palm trees, which happens to be the romantic place where my husband proposed!

You can take pleasure in a meditative walk, go bird watching (there are over 200 species sighted yearly), watch the ducks in the lake, set out a blanket and have a picnic (in designated areas), you can even hold an event there. This is an exceptional place for weddings, as they have plenty of room for guests, two Gazebos, and of course it offers the perfect settings for photographs.

They are opened 364 days a year, 9 to 5 daily, and offer plenty of free parking. Their admission fees are quite reasonable, and they offer discounts to seniors and children.

Visit their website for directions and further information at www.southcoastbotanicgarden.org

Happy Trails!

If you live in the Los Angeles area, you’re not too far from this breathtaking sanctuary located in Pacific Palisades.

As soon as you begin your journey along the path, you’ll not only appreciate its obvious beauty, but a certain lightness and joy will most likely overcome you. One feels deeply reverent when entering this retreat. Its almost as if the many souls who have shared this same path over the years are still present in the breeze amongst the leaves on the trees.

This magnificent 10 acre garden, complete with its own spring-fed lake and all the flora and fauna that go with it, is one of the many Self-Realization Fellowships that offer the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda.The environs also include a small museum with displays of this beautiful Yogi’s work; the Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial; a Court of Religions which honors the 5 major world religions, a gift shop, and a huge, glorious temple on the top of the hill.

For more information about the life and teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, or for directions to this retreat or a Self-Realization Center nearer to you, visit their website at www.yogananda-srf.org

So, one day I got in my car to go do some errands. As I was pulling out of the driveway, I decided to do an experiment as I made my way around the neighborhood to make my various stops. My plan was to see how many people I could get to smile at me as I passed them along the street. I wasn’t giving them one of those mild mannered smiles either, it was the full ear to ear variety. The response was fabulous. From people walking their dogs, to gardeners mowing lawns, to the UPS guy, even to a man on scaffolding stuccoing a house, they all literally stopped, and then smiled back, and hugely, not a mere obligatory grin. They seemed happily surprised. It was beautiful. Such warmth. I was uplifted for the rest of the day!

Thank you for joining me. Please click on the first couple of pages above to learn more about what we plan on offering, and then come back soon! You will surely find some interesting things to ponder in the very near future!