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Sour Grass, Cold Springs Trail, Santa Barbara |
Santa Barbara had experienced quite a spell of rains just before we arrived, so the hills were green and lush and the streams were a~flowing!
Lining the trail were leggy hedges of fragrant, woody, wild lavender in bloom,
tree trunks, gorgeously intertwined,
and Madronas, healthier than I have ever seen. We have Madrona trees in the PNW, particularly in the San Juan Islands.
But, when I see a Madrona tree up north, I always feel like I should be pleading with it to stay alive.
Our berries are more on the scale of woody red currants…
Fruits such as these are never seen on the PNW Madrona.
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La Cavita, Santa Barbara, CA |
We also found a refreshing carafe of sangria.
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Sangria, Cava Restaurant, Santa Barbara |
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Sangria, Cava Restaurant, Santa Barbara |
We loved all of the healthy botany on the patio,
the halibut ceviche,
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Halibut Ceviche, Cava Restaurant, Santa Barbara |
and the best margaritas in town.
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Margarita Cava, Santa Barbara |

What a FABULOUS day!! Beautiful AND delicious. Must check out your soup some time! Have a wonderful weekend!