SMART Train, aka SoCoMaCo Akamai rail

☆New Scenery Visual☆ Driving home yesterday afternoon from Terra Linda and the new SMART train zipped by the parallel tracks along 101 near the Novato narrows. ~ l@@king forward to the train service later this year.

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SMART Train, aka SoCoMaCo Akamai rail is a voter-approved passenger rail and pathway project located in Marin & Sonoma counties. It will serve a 70-mile corridor from Larkspur to Cloverdale, with a first phase from San Rafael to Santa Rosa ~ transit service targeted for late 2016 launch date. The new train bridge in Petaluma is taking a lot of time and resources to finalize.
https://www.facebook.com/sonomamarintrain
@sonomamarintrain
http://main.sonomamarintrain.org

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Petaluma Pete ~ Tourism ambassador video promo for the SMART train! Love the new views of the countryside. http://youtu.be/nrAYGk6mghY

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Sonoma County spring blossom trail is underway at #Sonomahort

This week at #Sonomahort, the annual Sonoma County spring blossom trail is underway. The 8 acre nursery and garden is transforming into colorful varieties of fragrant daphne’s, white yellow & purple magnolia canopies, showcasing red, white, pink and yellow rhododendrons, azaleas, plus a full spectrum of camellia bushes and seedlings. If you’re in the area, I recommend dropping by for a visit, close up magnolia blossom viewing opportunities this weekend, don’t wait too long! Sonoma Horticultural Nursery — 3970 Azalea Lane, Sebastopol, CA http://www.facebook.com/sonomahort

2016 SoCo Blossom trail

2016 SoCo Blossom trail

Eileen azaleas

Eileen azaleas

Rh Grande rhododendron

Rh Grande rhododendron

Peacock camellia

Peacock camellia

Purple tulip magnolia

Purple tulip magnolia

White tulip magnolia

White tulip magnolia

Edgar Degas exhibit is coming to the Petaluma Arts Center!

Edgar Degas exhibit is coming to the Petaluma Arts Center June 20– July 26, 2015! An exhibit including 40+ drawings, prints, pastels and photographs by French artist Edgar Degas (1834-1917) from his early days. The show will also include works by other artists in Degas’ circle, including Mary Cassatt, Paul Cezanne and Henri de Toulouse-Latrec.

BY DAN TAYLOR – THE PRESS DEMOCRAT  March 19, 2015

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/entertainment/3686342-181/edgar-degas-exhibit-comes-to

Edgar Degas study for "Plough Horse"

Edgar Degas study for “Plough Horse,” ca. 1860-61

 

Scavenger hunt ~ Patrick Amiot & Brigitte Laurent’s amazing creations of recycled artwork

Sharing some local creative fun in Sebastopol. Finding and photographing these sculptures is like a scavenger hunt. I’ve added a new Pinterest board featuring 100+ Patrick Amiot & Brigitte Laurent’s amazing creations of recycled artwork. Patrick Amiot Junk Arts Sculptures, throughout Sebastopol, CA and Sonoma County.

http://www.patrickamiot.com

https://www.pinterest.com/mace707/patrick-amiot-brigitte-laurents-amazing-collection/

Patrick Amiot & Brigitte Laurent's amazing creations of recycled artwork #1

Patrick Amiot & Brigitte Laurent’s amazing creations of recycled artwork #1

Patrick Amiot & Brigitte Laurent's amazing creations of recycled artwork #2

Patrick Amiot & Brigitte Laurent’s amazing creations of recycled artwork #2

Van Gogh’s series of 4 Sunflower paintings, 1888

3,6,14 & 15 Van Gogh’s Sunflowers (series of 4 paintings)

3,6,14 & 15 Van Gogh’s Sunflowers (series of 4 paintings)

Inspired by the colorful sunflowers this summer in Sonoma County, I came across this article that peaked my interest combining both my passion for art and nature. A book published last year, The Sunflowers are Mine: The Story of Van Gogh’s Masterpiece by author and journalist Martin Bailey, one of Britain’s foremost arts investigators, sheds new information about Van Gogh’s series of 4 Sunflower paintings created in August 1888 in southern France.

Bailey’s book Reveals fresh details about van Gogh’s four sunflower paintings and new information about two of these sunflower paintings, now lost to public view. One has disappeared into a private collection in 1993, previously owned by Greek shipping tycoon George Embiricos and the other lost in Ashiya, Japan during World War II at Hiroshima. The remaining two are currently on display in European galleries and were under threat during WWII, liberated by the Monuments Men and saved from destruction.

Mystery of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers Unearthed (series of 4 paintings)
* Three Sunflowers – Vincent Van Gogh, Aug 1888. Private Collection.
* Six Sunflowers – Vincent Van Gogh, Aug 1888. destroyed by fire during WWII Ashiya, Japan.
* Fourteen Sunflowers – Vincent Van Gogh, Aug 1888. Neue Pinakothek, Munich Germany.
* Fifteen Sunflowers – Vincent Van Gogh, Aug 1888. National Gallery, London UK.

See more:

Three Sunflowers – Vincent Van Gogh, Aug 1888.

Three Sunflowers – Vincent Van Gogh, Aug 1888. Private Collection.

Six Sunflowers – Vincent Van Gogh, Aug 1888.

Six Sunflowers – Vincent Van Gogh, Aug 1888.

Fourteen Sunflowers – Vincent Van Gogh, Aug 1888

Fourteen Sunflowers – Vincent Van Gogh, Aug 1888.

Fifteen Sunflowers – Vincent Van Gogh, Aug 1888.

Fifteen Sunflowers – Vincent Van Gogh, Aug 1888.

August Summer Garden Moments

Captured a few garden moments this weekend. Featuring Buddleia butterfly bush extraordinaire & Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, Golden Sunflower, Hollyhock, Crocosmia ‘Rowallane Orange’, Hydrangea and Anemone blossoms.

August Garden moments

August Garden moments