Tanglewood
“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. It seemed to me I stood by the iron gate leading to the drive,
and for a while I could not enter, for the way was barred to me. There was a padlock and chain upon the gate.
I called in my dream to the Lodge-Keeper, and had no answer, and peering through the rusted spokes of the
gate I saw that the lodge was uninhabited.”
Exerpt: “Rebecca” by Daphne du Maurier
My brother Patrick used to live on the street located below Tanglewood, a large uninhabited estate
which revealed itself in tantalizing glimpses. One of the oldest homes in Sausalito, CA, Tanglewood was built in the
1870’s by a sea captain in a “Hong Kong Colonial” style. Pyramidal shaped roofs sheltered sweeping verandas which
took in heady views of the Sausalito harbor, Richardson Bay, and Belvedare island beyond. Exotic plantings collected
from the captain’s travels graced the property.
Neglected for years, In 1994 the estate was deeded to the University of Califonia Botanic Garden at Berkeley.
A kind of fantastic wilderness emerged with flowering shubs popular in the 19th century assuming mad
proportions and the whole cloaked in verdure; a romantic place of moonlight and shadows.
Tanglewood, now leased as a private property by the botanic garden, is beginning to be restored.
I visited the garden last weekend on a tour sponsered by the Sausalito Women’s Club.
In the entrance garden shaded by large California oaks (Quercus agrifolia), alum root or coral bells Heuchera sanguinea,
and the Channel Islands native heuchera maxima, are planted with Geranium pratense “Mrs. Kendall Clark”.
California oaks do not like to be overwatered, and the selection of these perennial species, some native, enables the
garden to be relatively drought tolerant.
All bloom in dappled shade and yet maintain that unique
atmosphere that is Tanglewood: a wild garden of secrets and enchantment.
love the first shot Tanglewood looks like my kinda place …. breathtaking.
Thank you for sharing.
Cherry
Comment by cherry — 30. April 2008 @ 15:25
Your post intrigued me cause I live by a park named Tanglewood. It is so easy to read your style of writing. I wanted to hear more. Thank you for telling it as you did and sharing it with us. Sure makes me feel good when people restore places like this. I would love to visit and lucky that you got to.
Comment by Anna — 1. May 2008 @ 06:10
I love that book - one of my favorites (the film too). An interesting garden, please keep us posted on the progress.
Comment by Phillip — 1. May 2008 @ 18:26
Hi Cherry! yes, I could just move right in.
Hi Anna, don’t you just love the name “Tanglewood”? conjures such an atmosphere in the name itself!
Hi Phillip! Have you read “Daphne du Maurier’s Cornwall”? She had a love affair with a ruin of a house she restored called “Menabilly”. The discovery in the buttress in the house of the skeleton of a cavelier inspired her novel,”Kings General”. A book which has a shocking “twist” to the story after the first chapter.nothing like Great houses set in romantic grounds in view of the sea!
Cheers all!
Philip
Comment by admin — 1. May 2008 @ 19:52
Oooooo! Now I’m going to have to put that house on my To Do list, and visit my old haunts. I think the locals still call The Banana Belt the Banana Belt, btw. (Not everything changes, thank goodness.) The house is beautiful and I’ve just discovered coral bells, so that might inspire me to actually buy some, knowing they can go in the shade. Thanks for the peek. Love the
opening piece…
Comment by Kathry/plantwhateverbringsyoujoy.com — 4. May 2008 @ 21:54
Hi Kathryn,
Good point! I removed the word “once” as too confusing. Thanks!
Coral bells are great for dappled shade. So many interesting ones to choose from.
Mine kind of hung around not doing much, but really bloomed this year. I have Heuchera maxima. That is a native to the Channel Islands, with pale flowers. Try the ones with bronze foliage for interest when not blooming.
Thanks for your comments!!!
Comment by admin — 5. May 2008 @ 22:53