This place has been the home of many buildings over the years.  It was once the site of the Manzanita club, the main social gathering place in Carmel from 1916-1926.

It was the site of ‘Doc’ Becks’s Drug store built by Hugh Comstock.

The drug store was later demolished and M.J.Murphy built the Doud Building as an altered Spanish Colonial Revival for commercial shops. 

A covered arcade, it is a cozy spot to spend time on a cool, rainy Carmel day.

At the Ocean Ave. Entrance is A.W. Shucks oyster bar.

Home of great Bloody Mary’s and Margaritas . Bill and I like to sit at the counter and visit with the cook while we eat steamed artichokes and peel-and-eat prawns. 

Lets go in the arcade and do a little shopping.

First up is Kris Kringle of Carmel

Where it has been Christmas every day for over 20 years.

Next is Wicks and Wax

A candle store

Sockshop

Where socks are an art.

Fashion Street 

With its unique inventory and reasonable prices gets rave reviews on Yelp.

The Carmel Hat Company is one of my favorites. 

 the carmel hat company | carmel, CA 93923

They carry hats for everyone and Bill and I have hats to prove it.

I love these hats which have a tie (see above the bow) so that I can adjust it to fit my head.

Amelia’s Gifts has just opened. The service is outstanding.

One of the most colorful shops is Nasar Turkish Imports:

Nazar Turkish Imports, Turkish Glass Mosaic Lamps, Turkish Ceramics

I covet the brass and copper for my Carmel kitchen,

Admire the mosaic chandeliers ,

And am intrigued by the Evil Eye Jewelry

The evil eye bead is an amulet that Turkish people believe protects against the evil eye which is a kind of negative power or bad energy.  The idea is to protect yourself, your house, business or loved ones. If you want to use it in your house, you should hang it by the front door so visitors can see it.

But my favorite shop is Robin’s Jewelry. Home Page

Robin, with the help of her apprentice Keeza Starr, creates a constant stream of beautiful jewelry using sterling silver, semi-precious gemstones, shells and other natural materials. 

These are screenshots of my two favorite pieces. Note that they are reversible. Two for the price of one.

As we talk, Robin 

Under the direction of her sidekick

Fashions a magic wand for me!!!

It takes all my self-restraint to keep from waving it at everyone I see on the way home.  When my self-restraint fails ,I wave it at customers in Lloyd’s Shoes. Oh dear.

At the back of the Arcade is Artemis Boots

http://www.artemisboots.com/ 

Erkin Demir  is an expert on antique carpets and folk arts of the orient and has been in business for twenty years as owner of Sultan House in Istanbul, Turkey. He has worked with the Seattle Design Center and is now opening satellite shops throughout the United States and Europe.

Everyone admires these Suzani’s boots 

And shoes

Named for the Persian word referring to embroidery, Suzani’s are made of velvet, colorfully embroidered by skilled artisans. He converts these beautiful handmade textiles into boots and shoes. His boots are fully lined with goatskin, with a full length zipper for easy wear.

Around the corner is Blackbird with it’s great choice of cards, art, and jewelry.

I love these laundry bags. Send your daughter off to the dorm with one of these.

And at the heart of the Arcade is Carmel Belle

Carmel Belle

It is a popular spot for breakfast and lunch. 

On the way out the side door, admire the carpets.

The Douds are an old Carmel family. Francis Doud was a native of Ireland who came to Monterey in 1845. His son, James, was a prominent Monterey Peninsula real estate developer.

True, I once designed gardens in Kansas City but here the plant palette is completely different. Most of the gardens I designed were on spacious suburban lots or country gardens on acreage.

So I enlist the help of Kathleen Coss Kathleen Coss Landscape Design.

I have seen her work in a friend’s garden and am impressed.

We start the process by e-mail and photos. 

Kathleen lives near me so she visits the cottage, sends me an extensive questionnaire to fill out and we start.

We come to Carmel for several weeks so I can join in the fun of creating.

Kathleen takes me to the cottage garden she has designed at Primrose Cottage.

It is April and spring is here. I peek over the garden gate. Oh my, this is what I have in mind for my cottage.

Sweet peas climb the picket fence.

Roses climb the arbor.

We open the gate and walk up to the front door to get permission to take pictures.

The little cottage is trimmed in blue

and the plantings, 

Tuteur,

And shutters echo the color. 

The owner is having coffee with a friend inside the cozy dining room that overlooks the garden. She gives us permission so back down the path we go.

Kathleen leaves and I take my time roaming around.

Flower boxes overflow with ferns, cyclamen,and fuchsia.

Behind the brilliant, purple blooms of Senecio, this sign bids me welcome.

I admire the bird house.

Beside the bench 

is a small vignette composed of a bird bath

and the Buddha.

California poppies cheer me.

These garden lights will help one find the path at night.

The hose is neatly tucked away in a hose pot.

I round the circular planting bed in the center of the garden. Boxwood lines the path.

Foxglove bloom.

Staked Delphinium will bloom almost all summer in Carmel’s cool climate.

The tuteur is another great focal point

It’s height emphasized by the Calla Lilly planted nearby.

Hellebore

Ranunculus

And Myosotis add to the mix.

The small back yard is charming. Why have I not put oilcloth on my table? What an easy way to add color.

Kathleen has designed a raised bed around the space and filled it with shade loving plants.

Time to go. I make my  way down the garden path,

close the gate and give a backward glance to Primrose Cottage garden.

“The cottage garden; most for use designed, Yet not of beauty destitute.”

Charlotte Smith

Bill and I discover it while driving around Cannery Row in Monterey. We now make it a regular stop when we are in Carmel.

It is 21,000 sq. ft., has two floors and over 150 dealers who are ready to sell and bargain. 

We find a drop leaf table and a book shelf  for very reasonable prices. The sales staff makes sure the deal works. They load and they even deliver. 

Come shopping with me. I bet you will see something you love. 

First make sure you have quarters to feed the meters. We got a ticket while buying our table.

You can see from the exterior that this mall was once The Carmel Canning Company warehouse #2 and is one of the few remaining authentic and unchanged Cannery Row structures from the Steinbeck era. From 1927 until the end of the sardine fishing era, it served to house canning supplies and the finished products on 2 floors.

As you walk in the door

Look to your left and you can still see remnants of the great old conveyer belt that was used for moving crates from one floor to another. The original integrity of the structure is visible with its exposed posts, beams and trusses.“Historic Structure” status was granted in 1994.

It is hard to know where to begin browsing.

To the left

To the right

On the second floor

Or down the middle aisle. 

Bill and I separate.

He heads for this woodworking booth

And this booth of nautical items. 

I head out for furniture 

Such as the blue hutch.

And this one with 

With a case of Toby Mugs.

I am drawn to displays of pottery ( my mother-in-law once owned this Franciscan apple pattern).

And cookware.

As I try to decide whether to buy this ceramic covered apple pie saver for $19.00

I am reassured by this sign.

Snoopy phone,

Antique lights

And furniture

All appeal.

As does this vintage Atlas sewing machine in pink circa 1950’s.

Too bad our grandsons are too old for these toys.

Bill and I arrive at the back of the store at the same time ( a miracle). Carry a cell-phone here, lest you lose you spouse.

We are wowed by this Honduran Mahogany file cabinet built around 1900.

It was owned by Alexander Anderson Jr. who created the cartoon characters of Bullwinkle, Dudley-Do- Wright, Rocky the Flying Squirrel and Crusader Rabbit. What a blast from our past.

But we do not have $7,000.00 or room for this in our tiny bungalow so we are saved from ourselves.

You can be sure we will visit again.

…Cannery Row Antique Mall

Click here to take your own tour.

See inside

Later I read it was designed by Grant Wallace a noted writer and naturalist.  In 1927,he had Jess Nichols build it across the street from Hugh Comstock’s home. It is a wonderfully charming, classic Carmel cottage with the wavy roof shingles.

Grant Wallace

worked as an artist and reporter for the San Francisco Examiner, an editorial and feature writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, and a war correspondent for the Evening Bulletin in Japan and China. He wrote short stories and screen plays, including for two black and white silent movies: the story for A Blowout at Santa Banana (1914), and the scenario for the movieThe Fuel of Life (1917). 

He also lectured on the occult.

After World War I, Wallace builds the small cabin in the forest near Carmel, California, which he uses as a laboratory for experimenting with telepathy, which he sometimes refers to as “mental radio.” He makes hundreds of drawings, charts, diagrams, and writings, attempting to reveal the patterns of life, including reincarnation, communication with intelligent life on other planets, and with dead spirits. 

He writes about messages from the dead, from ancient Greeks, ancient Egyptians,Vikings, and Atlanteans, to more recent dead, such as Thomas Jefferson and Charles Darwin, and transcribes messages from and draws pictures of extraterrestrial life, especially from the Pleiades star cluster.

After he dies August 12, 1954, in Berkeley, California, These images, and literally hundreds more, are discovered by a relative of Wallace’s in the abandoned cabin. They are the result of Wallace’s private research (circa 1920s) into the worlds of philosophy, metaphysics and cosmology.

Via Wikipedia

ಠ_ಠ Sci Art Mag – Science, Art & Entertainment: Grant Wallace Artwork

“His artistic approach to unraveling the mysteries of the world is very science-based, as if his graphs and charts were done to represent some kind of scientific research. Many of his works integrate the universe, human body and other dimensional qualities of existence such as ego, id, et al. Wallace also made a lot of side citations and notes all over his work, hinting at a secretive formulas and ciphers. Very fascinating work”

And why, you may ask, do I care?

Because I find that the home he built in Carmel is listed with vrbo.com , a “for rent by owners” sight.

I have watched many wonderful exterior improvements being made on this cottage. It was really coming along when I took the photo in January 2009.

Look at it now. The plantings have matured.

The following photos of the interior are provided by the owners.

Beautiful restoration of the living room , keeping the vintage details.

Dining room

Kitchen

Two Bedrooms

Two baths.

And a lovely private patio.

This cottage is now in the heart of Carmel, but at the time it was built it might have been the “cabin in the woods”.

Wouldn’t Grant Wallace be surprised by what his cottage looks like now? 

Rental rules are very strict in Carmel and they state:

“In order to preserve Carmel-by-the-Sea’s residential character, no home or subordinate unit may be rented for less than 30 consecutive days.”

$10,000-12,000/month

Carmel By the Sea Vacation Rental – VRBO 289145 – 2 BR Central Coast House in CA, Classic Carmel Cottage Prime Downtown Location, Walk to Beach

Much of the credit for this goes to the now deceased Enid Sales. 

Enid was already a legend when we moved to Carmel in 1997 . It was a prosperous time and many who had “struck gold” in the dot-com bubble were eager to build a second home in lovely Carmel, just down Highway One.  Homes were being torn down right and left and expanded and remodeled for the new owners. 

Enid settled in Carmel in 1988, but fought most of her battles to preserve the remnants of Carmel’s architectural beauties and historic past during the last ten years of her life-  from 1998 -2008. 

This quote from Roberta Miller sums it up ,“Enid was a woman of substance. An extraordinary woman. She cut a colorful swath. The first woman in the state to pass the test for a contractor’s license, a well-known preservationist and advocate, who helped characterize and shape the modern movement for historic preservation. Her career spanned more than 50 years. She was hard working, courageous, controversial, authentic, mysterious, independent, determined, resolute, tenacious, a cut above, a force to be reckoned with and never took her eye off the prize – the need to preserve the historic buildings of the past for future generations to enjoy and appreciate as part of their collective heritage.

The saying, ‘actions speak louder than words’, certainly applied to Enid Sales. In Carmel, Enid was known for her fierce advocacy for the preservation of arts and crafts cottages and her willingness to resort to lawsuits when all else failed. A warrior, ready to do battle and steadfast in her resolve.”

Sales was the first chairwoman of the city’s Historic Resources Board and undertook an analysis of what is historic in the city. 

I have no doubt that because of Enid’s battles, I am able to photograph many of the Comstock Cottages that I share with you.

And it is to the credit of the current owners of those Comstock treasures, that they are restoring the homes.

Abbey Baker Design Build helped the owners of The Comstock Home restore their home.

Curtain Call would surly have been demolished if its owner, Stephanie Kirz , had not asked that is be considered as a historical resource.

When it passed all the requirements, she painstakingly restored it with the help of Abbey Baker Design Build.

Dear little Hansel

was carefully restored by his owners with the help of Brian Congleton.

“Enid never had any problem telling people off if that’s what was needed to get it done. She told the city off; she told mayors off; she told me off,” said architect Brian Congleton , one of her friends. “She’d throw anyone necessary under the bus to get the job done.”

Roger and Kathy Sanger write “ We are the present owners of ‘Fables’. We bought it in 2010. It has had many owners over the years and was,regrettably, not well cared for.

We decided to renovate it without changing its historical character as a cottage”. One of Fables former  owners was Apple CEO,John Sculley.

And so Fables has restored,original windows, new roof, updated electrical , plumbing, and floors.

They continue, “ It is great to see so many Comstock owners restoring these treasures to their former glory. We appreciate the attention that people have paid to this part of Carmel history”.

Douglas Johnson writes of his Comstock home on Carmel Point, “Donna and I own this home and spent several years restoring it..”

I blogged about this home in June 2011 after I discovered it was indeed a Comstock. I find in The Pine Cone that it is again for sale. What a wonderful restoration the Johnson’s did while keeping the exterior look the same with all the charm of the 1930’s home.

For the last blog, I snuck around the house taking pictures. This is certainly a more restful way to show you the house.

Even though I was not sure, this charm spoke of Hugh Comstock.

Now there is a 2 car garage with guest house above.

Lets walk around the outside.

I love the patio.

Entering the house,

the living room is to the left.

The board and batten , beamed ceiling is lovely and look at the shape of the door openings.

Kitchen

Dining area

Then down the hall to the east wing

which has 2 bedrooms

And a bath.

The guest quarters also has 2 bedrooms

Bath

And kitchenette.

Walk around the corner to Carmel River State Beach 

And admire the view of Point Lobos.

Asking price: $3,295,000

Double lot.

Offered by

Carmel Realty Company | Real Estate Properties | Property Listings

Of course the “off leash” beach is a big draw

and the chance to mingle with friends.

Many dogs work in the shops.

Selling jewelry

Clothing

Or antiques

I see them everywhere

They stroll down Ocean Ave.

Or are even pushed by their owners in strollers

Sometimes they are required to attend social events so their owners can show them off.

Or have birthday parties 

Photo courtesy of 

Welcome Carmel Dog Parties

That is just plain tiring.

And some, gasp, are treated like dogs.

That could lead to a need for therapy

Others are tourists and are just there for the great shopping.

Which lead me to my main topic:

DIGGIDY DOG- a Dog and Cat Boutique

Diggidy Dog is proudly owned by Jeff and Napisa Pollock. Opened in May, 2003, the store has grown steadily, year after year. Prior to 2003, Napisa had worked at a pet boutique in downtown Carmel by the Sea, and learned not only what did and didn’t work within the boutique.

As I walk through the front door,

I see some great clocks

And posters. My favorite one is rated ARF.

Next up- treats- very important.

Dogs model clothing ( these were taken at Halloween)

It is here that Bill and I first see “Doggles”. All over town, dogs riding in cars with their heads out the window wear these to protect their eyes.

Carmel can be chilly so sweaters are “de rigueur”. 

“If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater… suggest that he wear a tail.” – Fran Lebowitz

This little guy listens to his owner’s instructions

And then shoots me a baleful look.

Later he is given a chew bone for his patience.

Need a collar or leash? Look no farther.

Perhaps some new china.

And as for the advertised “cats”, they are relegated to a small display cabinet in the back.

“We derive immeasurable good, uncounted pleasures, enormous security, and many critical lessons about life by owning dogs.”

Roger Caras, A Celebration of Dogs

The mistress of the house is almost always hard at work in the garden. She waves hello or we chat about some change she is making to the plantings or structure.

Today I decide to ring the bell and ask if I may take some photos. An ivy covered planter contains a “Bloom” stake and knowing just a little about her, I know this is not a request but a command to the plants.

She answers the door in her apron, beautiful white hair piled on top of her head,  busy cleaning house in preparation for company.

Graciously she steps outside and answers questions in her “English?” accent. She does not “do the internet” and does not feel her garden is at its best, but allows some photos.  I must wait until she brings out a cushion or two for the chairs.  

While I wait, I snap some shots of the seating area she has created at her front door. It filters the view of the house from the street and must offer a pretty sight from inside the living room.

She has cleverly created an island bed in  the center of the yard and so can offer four distinct vignettes. I know from my walks that her garden ornaments move around the garden as if they had legs of their own. 

At the heart of the island is a vine-covered trellis sheltering a bench.

Evidence of her work is everywhere. An hibiscus waiting to be planted. 

A watering can waits on the path.

She reappears and plops a dragonfly pillow into a chair.

As we chat , I get tentative approval to come back in the spring when her roses are in bloom.

I am snapping away as I leave. Lots of great details.

A sundial

Birdhouse

Scaveola filled planter

And hose guards.

The north side has a long covered porch.

I am planning my return trip, when I see KINGSCOTE is for sale. 

Broker: Sotheby’s International Realty

Listing Agent: Kirk Probasco

Price: $2,061,400

3 Bedroom(s)

2 Bathroom(s)

The listing agent has wonderful interior shots.

This room with the window seat appears to look out on the front garden. I love the oak plank flooring downstairs,the beamed cellings and the antique and period furniture and details.

This room

leads to the back yard with its wooden deck, topiary, 

And fountain. What a welcoming space.

The dining room has bay windows

And the Kitchen!!! Wow. Aga Range and Ovens, blue tiles and shining copper just steal my heart.

Dutch door, farm sink, plate rack. What impeccable taste.

There is a half bath down.

Upstairs,two bedrooms

And a bath.

Perfect order now reigns in the front garden.

The listing describes this home as an idyllic English country cottage exuding charm and character. I so agree.

At this point, most gardeners find all sorts of wonderful ,whimsical touches to make their garden unique.

We add ornaments such as an old ironwork screen

A mirror “window”

Small home for the garden fairies

Toad House

Butterfly House

Whimsical frogs

Unusual planters like this bench and

Bicycle Basket.

And my favorite 

Watering cans with character.

My latest ornament is a “thank you” from some guests who stay in our cottage. A loving “helping hand”

By definition, an ornament is extra. Its only function is to enhance the garden’s beauty, and most gardens are too small and crowded to be improved by more than two or three items like statues, gazing balls and rusted tractor seats.

So when you thrill to the way that one gazing ball looks tucked into the foliage

Source : Pinterest Repinned from lura cook

You may find yourself looking for more great gazing balls 

 Pinterest pottedstore.com

One way to deal with your new obsession is to group items together so that many items appear as one to the eye.

But when door to door salesmen come peddling more gazing balls

 Pinterest plowhearth.com

Pinned from plowhearth.com

Pinned from windandweather.com

Turn them away.

That prevents one perfect gnome

Pinned from google.com

From becoming a gnome brigade.

Pinned from 2.bp.blogspot.com

But in the end, it’s your garden and “Personal taste will be the last judge.”

Pinned from aagiftsandbaskets.com

Consider lighting the garden for evening. In Carmel, lights are low-wattage.

Now mix it all up and whether it is pastel

Or a jumble of bright colors proceed to Step 7.

Step 7.

Enjoy and remember a garden is never finished and that is one of its delights.

“There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments.” — Janet Kilburn Phillips

Can you imagine what this path at Biddlestone Garden would look like without the blue bloom of the  campanula poscharskyana?

Mixed with white bacopa, ferns 

and baby tears.

Over

and over 

Linda Floyd uses these tiny plants to weave her beautiful garden together. It is a “tour de force” of ground covers for a shady garden.

In the Monastery Garden of the Sisters of the Sea, the Sisters mix

Antirrhinum-Snapdragon

And petunia in their sunny spots. How cheerful.

Armeria is yet another versatile plant 

with great foliage after the flower have gone.

Baby Tears blanket the garden floor.

Bacopa holds the soil nicely

Santa Barbara Daisy is a hardworking native.

I have come to love it’s determination

Carmel Creeper

Catmint

Spilling over a path

Cranesbill

This creative gardener uses  Helichrysum petiolare in masses. How effective.

Ice Plant

Lobelia

Oxalis

Pansy   

Primula    

Succulents

and Sweet Alyssum

These plants can transform a dull space into a rich tapestry of leaf shapes, textures, and colors. They can spruce up challenging areas under trees, accent transitional locations along paths and foundations, and add visual interest.  

Add turf at your own risk and in small amounts. This gardener

has better luck with her turf than I do.

Next week we add some fun final touches. 

Anybody with a “daisy” face adds cheerful innocence.  

Alstroemeria- Chilean Lily   

Beard Tongue  

Bell flower

Begonia 

Dahlias  

Dietes iridiodes  

Fuchsia    

Gaillardia

Lavender  

Nicotiana

Pelargonium

Poppy  

Ranunculus

Sea Lavender

Sage  

And Zinnia  

If you believe in the language of flowers, as they did in Victorian times , you can plant a garden of wisdom, innocence, amiability,good taste and gratitude. What a lovely thought.

Again remember to plant in uneven numbers  – most likely threes, and fives.  Plant in drifts when possible. Unlike English borders which place tall in the back and small in the front , cottage gardens mix tall, medium and small plants with some abandon.

Next week we focus on ground covers and small plants.