For more than 20 years, my husband Garrett and I have found solace in the NoCal Mendocino area, our ultimate retreat where we feel deeply connected to nature and to each other.
The last time we graced this area with our presence, we had a whole entourage of tiny humans (3 of them, to be exact) in tow back in 2016. After welcoming one more child in 2018 and navigating through Covid lockdowns, it became evident that a well-deserved adults-only long weekend getaway was long overdue.
Without any little heavy loaders tagging along, I decided to bring my other precious bundle of joy...my camera! The lands in Mendocino County are exceptionally unique and impressive. The plants also seem to thrive in the coastal conditions of the area. Many of these images were taken at the Mendocino Botanical Gardens. The Gardens are a living museum dedicated to conserving plants in harmony with Northern California coastal ecosystems and preserving public access to the coast. Â If you ever get a chance to go, I highly recommend it.
I genuinely need to start creating photo books of my past trips. It has always been a "dream" of mine for when I have more free time. It's becoming apparent that time will not spontaneously become more abundant, so I may need to be proactive and allocate some time to bring them together.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this (mostly nature) Mendocino 2024 personal gallery.
