The Court of Abundance
A super find in my neighborhood are the gardens in the Allied Arts Guild in a quiet part of Menlo Park, California. They are as beautiful as the Alhambra's Generalife gardens after which it they were planned. The Guild is an organization that raises funds to support the Lucille Packard Children's Hospital. All its profits from the shops, restaurant and private events held onsite go to the hospital.
Fresco Painting by Maxine Albro
Maxine Albro learned the art of fresco painting in Mexico with Paul O'Higgins, an assistant to Diego Rivera. Later she painted side by side with Rivera while working on some projects in San Francisco. Notice the woman carrying a heavy basket laden with fruit. It is reminiscent of Rivera's The Flower Vendor series where the vendor is carrying a basket of calla lilies on her back. The little girl to her left is holding white lilies which further alludes to The Flower Vendor. This mural with a Mexican motif complements this courtyard with its Spanish colonial style buildings and fountains.
Detail of a window with wrought iron bars and intricately carved door hearken back to Spanish colonial architecture and design.
The Rose Allee
The Rose Allee begins at the Archway Building and leads to The Barn which is the oldest structure in the property. Roses line the path on each side while tall trees lean to form an arch and provide welcome shade.
Lunch is served in the Café which overlooks the Garden of Delight (or the Blue Garden). The menu includes a selection of soups, salads and sandwiches and some hot entreés. I ordered the vegetable cannelloni (shown above) and it came with a generous serving of side salad. It's open Mondays to Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
For more information about Allied Arts Guild and its gardens, follow this link: http://www.alliedartsguild.org/.
75 Arbor Road at Cambridge
Menlo Park, CA
Phone: 650.322.2405
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Images by Charie