A Sense of Place : Golden Bear Estates in Winters
September 21st, 2008 Categories: Country Property, Davis CA Real Estate, Davis Nature, Golden Bear Estates, Real Estate News, Winters Property
It’s pure nostalgia driving up into Golden Bear Estates - a land leftover from an era of simpler, agricultural times. Just 3 miles west of Winters, this enclave was formed in the 1960s by a couple of friends as a place where they could invite their friends to buy 5 - 40 acre parcels of land, build a dream house or what they could afford, and live in the beauty and serenity of rolling, tree studded hills. It is on the backside of the Napa hills - it has grapes, a couple of wineries, horses, views, a range of houses - but as my friend Jill says, Golden Bear is a place where the people “have their boots to the ground.” No Dean & DeLucca here, just silence, deer, coyotes and a few good friends.
Charms of Golden Bear are many, starting with the 6800 acre Audubon Bobcat Ranch - a wildlife restoration habitat that borders to the north. Or nearby Putah Creek - Creedence Clearwater’s “Green River” - for rafting or fishing. On hot summer days you can set your clock by the Berryessa Gap breeze that vigorously delivers a cool breeze early in the evening. The landscape is quintessential California golden hills studed with oaks, dry in the summer, lush in the early spring. An occasional orange grove, a pond here or there, a few horses grazing in a pasture….and an eclectic group of neighbors. The Golden Bear community is comprised of professors, retired veteranarians, poets, collectors, and equestrians, to name just a few of this private group.
Live here? It is rare that a home has come up for sale in Golden Bear, but this past year has seen several properties change hands. It stands to reason that those who built in the 1960s and 1970s are ready to move on. At the moment you can find a three very different properties for sale: a 5 acre parcel with a shop, 2-stall barn and a simple rustic house. Or an over-the-top gorgeous new 5000 sq ft + Italianate estate on 20 acres. Or a rare mid-century modern retreat that has been restored from floor to ceiling - a property that will call out to those who love the architecture of Cliff May.
Eat up! Winters is an agricultural center supplying the world with walnuts, almonds, apricots, plums and grapes. With the perfect micro-climate for citrus, chances are the organic blood oranges, mandarins or grapefruit you eat in your inspired San Francisco restaurant have been harvested from Golden Bear.
So remote but so close!
3 Minutes to: Buckhorn Restaurant, Palms Playhouse, Putah Creek Cafe
10 Minutes to: Lake Berryessa
20 Minutes to: UC Davis, Mondavi Food & Wine, and Performing Arts Center
28 Minutes to: Sacramento International Airport
45 Minutes to: Napa Valley
60 Minutes to: Berkeley
75 Minutes to: San Francisco
Call me if you wish to take a drive and have the Jamie-tour of one of the dearest places on earth! - Jamie Madison 530.574.0596
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Putah Creek Party - Celebrating 20 Years
June 3rd, 2008 Categories: Amusement, Davis Fun to Do, Davis Nature, Real Estate News
If you are new to Davis you may not know that it took a tremendous collaboration of lawmakers, attorneys, landowners, farmers, ecologists and citizens who cared to save one of the only natural riparian woodlands in Northern California - Putah Creek.
At least 100 people gathered at my house along the creek this weekend to celebrate and remember the past 20 years of the Putah Creek Council and the victory to adjudicate Federal law and keep water in the creek year round. The day was gorgeous, the wonderful local band Hardwater played, there was meat on the barbie, and wine poured freely. Energetic young members and revered old timers gathered to talk and remember. Most notably Steve Chainey, the founder of Putah Creek Council, shared his understanding that though not yet pristine, Putah Creek is so much cleaner than it was twenty years ago. The eco system is more complex and vibrant, with salmon spawning, mink, otters and more. We were inspired to consider what a difference citizens can make, and we all wondered where it was we got all that energy (and time) to see it through.
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Rare Visit to the Glide Ranch
May 21st, 2008 Categories: Amusement, Davis CA Real Estate, Davis Fun to Do, Davis Nature, Local Food, Photo Tours
This past sweltering Sunday afternoon the Ag Futures Alliance held “First Flavors” a fund raiser/tasting event at the famed Glide Ranch just west of Davis. (Sponsored in part by the Howard and Nancy Shapiro Foundation.)
Though my home is on property adjacent to the south side of the ranch and I have driven by its entrance for over 20 years, never have I actually seen this amazingly gorgeous place. Hills, swails and natural canals that transverse the ranch are unusual for this area. The main house - a classic grand valley home over 100 years old and recently restored - sits in the middle of the property surrounded by rose gardens, expansive lawns and palm trees. If you were dropped there and someone removed your blindfold, you would probably not guess that you were in Davis, but you would know that you were somewhere magical.
I will write more about the wonderful trust created by the Glides for the protection of animals, wildlife and agriculture of Yolo County in a future post, but for now, enjoy a few pictures I snapped at Sunday’s event.
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Charismatic Megafauna on Putah Creek
April 21st, 2008 Categories: Amusement, Davis Nature, Photo Tours
Feast your eyes on these amazing recent photographs of bird life along the creek near Davis. Credit goes to Manfred Kusch for his amazing patience and abilities…
Great Horned Owl
Rufous Hummingbird
Two hummingbird babies outgrowing the nest.
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Up Putah Creek: My Kind of Hummer
March 13th, 2008 Categories: Davis Nature, Photo Tours
Who has the patience/time to sit still enough to see the many amazing little lives around us? Fortunately I live with one who has both time and know-how, and this spring my husband Manfred Kusch has been watching hummingbirds build nests and raise a family, minks swimming in the creek, sacramento suckers (fish, not a baseball team) spawn and more. Enjoy these photographs of spring life along the creek…
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