A strong memory from my childhood is of being beautifully dressed in a blue wool coat with a black velvet collar, black patent leather dress shoes with white bobby socks that all matched with my younger sister. We were in San Francisco with our beautifully dressed mother, Pat Welsh, in a turban hat that matched her chic blue ensemble and our handsome father in his elegant suit. We were in front of a large flower stand kitty-corner from the St. Francis Hotel. Daddy walked up to a lady and bought us each a beautiful gardenia to pin on our coats.
We, who love gardening and gardens never cease to appreciate and enjoy the beauty inspiration, knowledge, love and pure joy that our gardens or a friend’s garden or a public garden, such as the San Diego Botanic Garden, gives back to us.
In the time of climate change, at present, we are back in a drought and having a La Niña year. The last couple of days have brought a smattering of rain to San Diego North County.
All my life I have had a “love affair” with wisteria, passed down from Mum, Pat Welsh, who has written numerous books and articles and also given hundreds of talks and presented dozens of TV shows relaying the tales; known by many, as the “Wisteria Stories”.
To the weather bureau.La Nina’s usually mean less rain in southern CA.But we have had some years with large storms that did a lot of damage.
As I was sitting outside having my breakfast in the garden I was thinking how fortunate we all are, especially during a pandemic to have the passion of gardening and being in nature.
When I first moved to this property five plus years ago, I knew I wanted to make large changes in the garden. I started right away building a pergola to extend out the front walk and I bought Cooke’s Chinese Wisteria, Wisteria sinensis ‘Cooke’s Purple’, to climb up and cover the pergola.
I also knew I wanted to make a romantic garden in front; all that it was then was a mass of lawn stretching all the way to the street and around the property. I also knew I wanted to make privacy for myself, family and guests.
I knew that my grandchildren would love to play in a garden full of paths, sweet smelling flowers and plants.
I could imagine the girls giggling and running along; stopping here and there to have a private moment with a bluebelly lizard or stopping to be in awe of nature as they admired butterflies and dragonflies sailing to and fro from flower to flower and birds taking baths in bird baths and fountains.
All of my envisioning has come true. I eat most of my meals outside in good weather. And during this pandemic the garden has taken on another source of delight and comfort for me with neighbors taking walks past the property.
All these things give me great joy, happiness and comfort. We are all so fortunate to have the passion of plants, gardening and gardens!
Two years ago at this time I was getting ready, preparing for a two and a half month trip around the world. The trip was inspired by dear friends who were sailing around the world on their 47’ ocean going yacht.
I knew that my grandchildren would love to play in a garden full of paths, sweet smelling flowers and plants.
“Francie come meet us in Auckland, NZ and we will travel together through New Zealand where our boat will be for the summer months”.
So I left on February 21 for the adventure of a lifetime.
After exploring the north and south islands for three weeks with my dear friends. I bade them goodbye and traveled on to Australia, visiting six countries in all.
I commissioned, Clark, a builder, to build low walls around the property that would work as terraces and while I was on my trip this project continued. Clark also built a brick patio area on one of the terraces and a large pergola to cover the patio. Then, when I arrived home from the life changing experiences, we got right to work building the garden.
I had about 16 of my favorite garden books stretched out, opened to pages of gardens I love, on my dining room table for two months. I knew I wanted to have a garden that attracted birds and butterflies, so I planted lots of the flowering shrubs and trees that they love. I put in many water features for the birds to drink and take baths.
In the end, creating this garden has been a godsend with the pandemic. I am out in it every day.
In the end, creating this garden has been a godsend with the pandemic. I am out in it every day.
“Sea of Life” Fine Art Painting by garden inspired artist Francesca Filanc.
Normally I am given great freedom in what I write about each month for SDHS.As long as it has to do with plants and gardens.I had an idea for this January, but Karen gave me an assignment for January 2021.
Karen asked me if I would write about what Pat Welsh has been up to lately. I am delighted to write about my sweet mother and what she has been doing this year.
How Our Collective Passion of Gardening and Nature Helps Us and the World
‘It Is What It Is’ 48” x 48” Acrylic on Canvas
Today is November 29, 2020.This has been a difficult year for all of us in one way or another. In yet we are all so lucky to have the passion of gardening and nature, during this time especially.
It has been said that 85 percent of the world is stressed right now because of the Corona Virus. In yet, we who have the passion for plants, gardening, farming anything to do with nature are able to, at times move free of our sadness, grief.
Feelings of loneliness into feelings of freedom and Joy. Pure JOY, as we dead head roses in November; or saver the fragrance of ‘Firefighter,’a red highly fragrant tree rose in my garden.
This Thanksgiving was different than any we have ever experienced in most of our lifetimes.We have not experienced a pandemic in over 100 years. It is also a time to be thankful for our many blessings.And as hard a time as this is for most people, harder for most people; We can still be Thankful for the Good in our individual lives. As hard as this is to see with many problems and troubles; Deepak Chopra, among many say that by being thankful we make space for good to come into our lives.This is so hard to do if our life seems to be falling apart.But getting our hands into the dirt, smelling the soil, tending to a garden, or walking in nature can change our focus completely and bring us into a space of light, love and joy, no matter what we have had to endure in this lifetime.
I found myself feeling sad the day after Thanksgiving, because normally I would be with children and grandchildren. This is not a biggy compared to other people’s sorrows, but I was feeling very sad none the less! I actually felt I was in a depression and I might have been, but certainly depressed.
One thing that helps me is routine of exercise.For me; it is in the form of swimming at the Boy’s and Girls’ Club; as many days a week as I can make an appointment on line, and if possible walking every day.
Painting Always brings me out of a slump!
The start of a new Series: Healing the world through higher consciousness of thought. This Painting’s name ‘Joy ‘ 48”x 48” Acrylic on canvas
I had not painted a painting since the beginning of this Pandemic, early March.
Last week All of a sudden I got the idea for a new Series of Paintings. The idea came from my passion of Gardening!
‘Healing The World Through Consciousness of Thought’ ‘JOY’.
As I write I hear a frog that has been living in my garden for months outside my office. Pure Joy is what I feel and smile as I hear his croak, perhaps looking for a mate? Many months ago I had one in my back garden,I have never seen him but I sure hope he finds a mate.Pure Joy wells up in my heart as I hear the Frog’s sweet voice in the garden!
In Conclusion We are coming into the Holiday Season. Actually We Are In It. It is normal to feel negative feelings at this time of year when we are all suppose to be filled with so much joy, but remember to go outside into your gardens and or nature and this might help you feel Joy, love, peace, contentment, and all other good. Our thoughts are a collective body of Truth. We can all help heal ourselves and the world mentally and physically by doing what we love to do! For me it is Painting!
Follow your passions,
Francesca
“Central Park” ArtSceneWest Gallery
Art Scene West 312 South Cedros Ave., Suite 130 Solana Beach, CA. Open 10:30-6:00 Tues-Sunday or by appointment. Gallery Director (213 700 1620)
The La Jolla Gallery 1274 Prospect Street, La Jolla, CA 92037
Happy New Year! My life has been consumed of late with my art shows; Art San Diego 2014 and Spectrum-Miami back to back and painting between them.But we also had Christmas during this time period and so I was cooking a lot too. I am thrilled to report that I am in a new gallery opening February 1st, La Jolla Gallery, curator/owner Elizabeth King, 1274 Prospect Street, La Jolla, California 92037.
Yellow Pop La Jolla Gallery 1274 Prospect Street La Jolla CA 92037
From the time I was a tiny tot I have memories of sitting in the back seat of my grandparent’s Jaguar, feet up on the seat, driving down to La Jolla and walking with Mimi and Grandbot through the streets of La Jolla. My step-grandfather, John Lloyd Wright, always wore a large 10 gallon Stetson. I could not say grandpa, instead I said grandbot. It is a thrill indeed to have my art in one of those shops that many years ago might have been a dress shop that I frequented with my grandmother. What does this have to do with lemons and lemon meringue pie? you ask. Absolutely nothing! But my art on Prospect Street reminds me of my dear grandparents and so now to Mimi’s delectable Lemon Meringue Pie!
Lemon Meringue Pie Ready To Eat
Several people saw my gluten-free lemon meringue post on Facebook in December and asked for the recipe. Now it is January! Time for New Years Resolutions. . . and heading back to the gym! But here is my grandmother’s delectable Lemon Meringue Pie Recipe for the next time you’re in the mood for a Lemon Meringue Pie.
When I got married my mother gave me Better Homes and Garden Cook Book. I was also given My Recipes, an empty volume to collect recipes in before I got married; an old fashioned idea! But at the time girls were to know how to cook. This was just before Women’s Lib. I had a visit with each of my grandmothers and they gave me recipes. One favorite that I have been making ever since was Mimi’s Lemon Meringue Pie. Many years later I made a change. My husband Peter said to me one day, “Fran, Why don’t you add lots more egg whites to make a really big meringue?” So now I put in 8 egg whites for the meringue instead of 3. The other change has been most recently to make the pie gluten-free. One of my daughters has celiac disease and we have many people in the family who can’t do gluten. My sister turned me on to the best gluten-free crust, so I no longer make my famous crust from scratch. A lot less work! And believe me, the crust is delicious and no one would know the difference. Whole Foods Market carries frozen Bakehouse Gluten-Free Pie Crusts. You will find them in the frozen foods section next to other gluten free products. Link to Gluten Free Post
Mimi’s Lemon Meringue Pie
Prepare pastry for one crust pie. In my case, gluten-free Whole Foods Frozen Pie Crust Follow instructions on gluten free pie crust package. Prick generously with fork. Bake in hot oven 450 degrees 10-12 minutes. Cool.
Combine 1 cup sugar, ¼ cup corn starch and ½ teaspoon salt. Blend in ¼ cup water, add 1 ¼ cups hot water. Cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Continue cooking over low heat until clear. (5 – 8 minutes) Stir occasionally. Add ¼ cup lemon juice and 1 tablespoon grated lemon rind. Cook 2 minutes. Blend hot mixtures slowly into three egg yolks slightly beaten. Return to pan and cook 2 minutes medium heat stirring constantly. Add 2 tablespoons butter and then cool. Turn into baked pie shell topped with meringue.
Meringue
Beat eight egg whites with rotary or electric beater until they form slight mounds with beaters are raised. Add 16 tablespoons sugar, a tablespoon at a time, beating until dissolved. Continue beating until meringues stands in luscious heavy points. Spread evenly over cooled pie filling. Brown in oven 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Apollo – Acrylic on Canvas 72 x 60
Enjoy getting back into shape and when you feel like an indulgence, treat yourself to Mimi’s delicious Lemon Meringue Pie. For me back to my art studio! Maybe I will paint one.
