Healdsburg, California

After visiting Russian River Roses, we had lunch in downtown Healdsburg, enjoyed the plaza, and took a little walk.

As @AnnieInAustin tweeted, "Sounds lovely! Wikpdia says Healdsburg a foot-friendly mecca 4 local winetastng, fine dining, boutiques & art galleries. True?"

True!



We used the iWant free app on Guy's new iPhone to find food. We were not picky. There's a sandwich bar at the back of Copperfield's bookstore. I had the salami sandwich (home-made salami); it was amazing.







The also made coffee and gelato.



What are people reading in Healdsburg?







And they were selling t-shirts that said Support Local Food.





























Read about Healdsburg Plaza here:

"The Plaza evolved from the stiff formality of the Italianate period to a more relaxed, naturalistic style. Near the end of the last century businessmen and developers in southern California began to promote the state as a 'tropical' paradise. Healdsburg officials were probably emulating that movement in 1897 when they planted the Plaza with exotic Canary Island Date Palms, Washington Palms, orange and lemon trees, and a profusion of rose bushes."

The small tree in this picture is one of the many orange trees whose blossoms scented the whole plaza.













A tree whose reputation precedes it. My first encounter with Robinia pseudoacacia, and I had to ask the world what it was! Once upon a time (before my time), these were common street trees in San Francisco. (Thank you @annieinaustin, @gardenwiseguy, @xrisfg, @kiwigardener for the ID)



I never hear anything good about them anymore. Well, I think it's lovely.



Departing from the town square and meandering a bit... The old Carnegie Library is now a town museum.



Residential downtown Healdsburg = Beautiful old houses under beautiful old trees.

















The Camellia Inn. This picture does not do justice to its loveliness.