Thursday, May 5, 2011

The Garden at Carmel Mission

Mission San Carlos Borroméo del Rio Carmelo, or simply Carmel Mission, is my favorite of Northern California Spanish missions.



This mission is the most authentically restored of all. It is a National Historic Landmark, and its basilica is still an active Catholic church.



But this is not the main reason why we come here every year (click here to see my last year's post). The mission grounds are spectacular...



 ...with a profusion of blooms set against old stonework, and a variety of plants rarely seen in one place.


There are many drought-tolerant plants in the gardens but their placement and use of texture and colors creates a feeling of lushness, not often associated with desert landscaping.



Every year I seem to notice plants I have not seen before.



Did I mention there are lots of roses in the garden? Most of them are old roses (such as the one below), more appropriate for an old mission than modern hybrid teas.



I like this statue of St. Francis because of the gentleness that's so apparent in his sad face.


The statue below is of Junipero Serra, a Franciscan friar who founded Alta California's missions. He is buried in the basilica here.


Every time I stroll the mission grounds I am surprised at the apparent lack of color coordination in the garden plantings. I wonder if the first mission settlers were more concerned with cheerfulness and ease of care than with careful orchestrations of color.


I am already looking forward to strolling in the mission's garden next year and wonder what beauties will wait for me then.

32 comments:

  1. Fantastic place ! I love old churches and old gardens...Wonderful ! Thank you so much, for posting... you make me seeing all this beauty through your eyes.

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  2. what a stunning garden and one I will be putting on my list to hopefully visit sometime in my life...thx for capturing its beauty for us

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  3. Thank you, Dani, for your compliments. I love old gardens too!

    Thank you, Donna, I hope you will get to see it some day.

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  4. Wow, what a beautiful place. You did a great job of capturing the beauty and spirit. The restored architecture is as nice as the gardens. I would be so interested in seeing this place first hand. Thanks for the virtual tour.

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  5. Thank you, Donna. Maybe some day you will see it for yourself, too...

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  6. What great gardens...love the old world feel here.

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  7. Thank you, Darla. That's what I like about them too.

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  8. Very colorful! Absolutely gorgeous. I love all that color thrown together.

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  9. What a beautiful, magical place full of special energy- thank you very much for showing it through your eyes!

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  10. Wow, what a pretty place, plus you did a very good job on the photo compositions!

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  11. Thank you for these photo's Masha. I was there a couple of years ago, in July and a dull day, so my photo's did not come out well. Nevertheless, I remember it as a lovely peaceful place.

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  12. What a beautiful place: so many colors, a place with a real intensity and a lot of harmony.
    Wonderful!!!
    Sophie

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  13. Love the old mission look, stucco, Moorish architecture, colorful vines, arid and textural. It was a nice visit. Love the cornucopia of plants.
    Fine detailing on you photography. You must come to my blog and comment on what makes you say "That's cool...."

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  14. Thank you! I am so glad you enjoyed this post - I had fun taking those pictures and writing it up.

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  15. A beautiful garden and your photos just jump off the page.

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  16. I always love the combination of flowers with old buildings. This is lovely. My dream would be to travel from garden to garden!

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  17. Thank you, Phillip. It was easy to take pictures there - the garden was perfect!
    Yes, Jeannie, I would love to go on a long garden tour too, but for now virtual tours through the blogosphere will have to do...

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  18. Oh my goodness, how gorgeous! It's a beautiful description of the gardens and your combination of landscape and macro photos is enchanting!

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  19. Yummy. Love the closeups and the wider views. I don't think we ever visited the Carmel mission, but we went to several of them around North/Central Cal over the years.

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  20. Thank you, Beth, I really appreciate your compliments.

    Thank you, VW. I wonder which one was your favorite...

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  21. Thanks for showing some drought tolerant plants. I'm always looking for new ideas for plantings.

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  22. You are welcome, GirlSprout! It would be great if you could use some of them.

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  23. I adore the Mission too and cannot wait to see it again. It is by far one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen in California. Beautiful pictures!!!

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  24. This is one of my favorite places in Carmel. Several years ago, I had a dream to visit all 21 California missions. I've visited six or seven. Perhaps in the future, I will visit the rest of them.
    Beautiful post. I love the details in your photos.

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  25. You ar right, Ficurinia, it is one of the most beautiful places... I love it too.

    Thank you, Olga. Not all missions are active or even open to the public. The one in Carmel certainly has the best gardens :).

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  26. Beauty and tranquility both. You've outdone yourself, Masha.

    Re. St. Francis, my mother had a statue of St Francis in her garden, with the following inscription beneath it:

    The kiss of the sun for pardon,
    The song of the birds for mirth:
    One is nearer God's heart in a garden
    Than anywhere else on earth

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  27. Lovely quote, thibaud. Thanks for sharing.

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  28. What a great place ! Thanks for sharing, Masha !

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  29. Spectacular plantings and buildings! No wonder that is your favorite mission. The gardens are so beautiful. Who takes care of them?

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  30. More than 120 roses? I'm shocked! :)
    Your "Classic Woman" is absolutely beautiful...

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  31. What a lovely place to visit ! Wonderful gardens, they look fantastic all those colored flowers...

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I am so glad you have stopped by!