Join us in the Osmosis meditation garden for an unforgettable summer evening with fine wine, music, inspired poetry, and an artisan dinner.
Masks are required at this outdoor event to maximize safety.
The evening will begin with a premiere wine and hors d’oeuvre reception followed by a gourmet dinner created by food artist Isa.
The evening will be highlighted by Rumi’s Caravan, a Sonoma County tradition that invites guests to be lulled and inspired by ecstatic verse — some ancient, some contemporary – learned by heart, spoken with passion, and accompanied with improvisational music. Poet Kay Crista says, “What we want to do is welcome people to this oasis, it’s a place to slip out of the weariness of everyday living and just be nourished by the reminder of the deeper aspects of what is to be human and alive. We want to rekindle the wildness of the heart in a world culture where nature has been beaten into submission.”
And to top it all off, the evening will benefit The Climate Center, a nonprofit whose mission is to inspire, align, and mobilize action in response to the climate crisis. Working with business, government, youth, and the broader community to advance practical, science-based solutions for significant greenhouse gas emission reductions, The Climate Center makes it easier for people to address climate change and ensure that future generations can continue to live, work, play, and thrive on this extraordinary planet. They provided the impetus for Sonoma Clean Power which has grown to provide Community Choice Energy to over 5 million people in California, reduced greenhouse gas in Sonoma County by 11%, and save $62 million in local consumer electricity rates. All proceeds to benefit The Center For Climate Protection.
Caravan poets include Kay Crista, Larry Robinson, and Doug von Koss accompanied by guest poet Rebecca Evert. Accompanying musicians will be announced soon. Together they will celebrate the world’s cultural and spiritual traditions with the sublime power of performance poetry.
5 – 6 pm – Wine and hors d’oeuvre on the front lawn
Summer’s here in Sonoma County California and the rains have stopped. This means it’s time to water. Since water is increasingly precious it’s important to use it to best effect. My pruning mentor Dennis Makishima enlivened in me the love of growing trees in containers and it was he who said, “Watering is an art”. Those words changed me forever, remaking what might have been a mindless routine into a conscious relational act bordering on spiritual. As I came to understand it watering is a complex, intriguing aspect of plant care.
Over-Watering
Effective watering depends on a plant’s needs, soil composition, sun and wind exposure, and temperature. A recurring concern is how much water and how often. Over-watering is especially problematic since we generally don’t see the effects until it’s too late with no remedy short of re-potting. To avoid this dilemma we learn from bonsai artists to use soil mix that is virtually without organic matter consisting only of drainage material. Most bagged potting mixes have high levels of humus, compost, etc. which retain water in such varying and unknown quantities that accurate assessment of soil moisture is difficult. Using the high drainage formula allows excess water to drain immediately. While eliminating the fear of over-watering this mix also means we must guard against drying out. So a regular seasonal schedule of watering is required. To help gauge soil moisture an inexpensive hydrometer may be available at local hardware stores or nurseries. In the absence of a hydrometer, a quick check of water retention can be done by lifting the container (when possible) to judge weight. A light container likely means it’s time to water. A plant that has seriously dried out can be dunked in a bucket of water; holding the soil level below water will elicit bubbles as air spaces are filled with water. Remove the container and water runs out to proper level. Another aspect of humus-free mix is that fertilizing is up to us. Proper fertilizing is an art unto itself and too lengthy a discussion for the current effort. Stay tuned.
Hose-end hand watering is best with a gently showering nozzle. This implement avoids splash-out of soil while freshening foliage without damage.
In-Ground Plants
Most considerations for watering containers are applicable to watering in-ground plants. While clearly we are not responsible for overall soil conditions in our garden (e.g. loamy, clayey, sandy) amending that soil is critical. Adding humus-y composted material is almost always a good idea. It adds nutrients, aerates, and paradoxically improves both drainage and water retention. Hand-watering (holding a hose in hand) is generally ineffective for getting water to the roots of all but the slightest of bedding plants. For trees and shrubs a simple inexpensive sprinkler does the job nicely, especially when combined with a calendar and a standard household timer. For most trees, it’s best to water infrequently and deeply: every 3 to 4 weeks; 45 minutes; shrubs 20-30 minutes. Native plants may require less water, but please remember that drought “tolerant” plants may actually do somewhat better with slightly more water. Careful experimentation is the key. Established trees and shrubs should be watered out to the drip line (foliage circumference) as this is where the feeder roots grow. Watering at the trunk is largely ineffective. Newly planted specimens should be watered so as to encourage roots to spread out.
Drip Irrigation
Regarding drip irrigation, there are pros and cons with both containers and in-ground gardens. On the plus side, drip allows us to water without being present and it can be automated. It helps sustain life, especially with initial planting. On the other hand, while seemingly carefree drip irrigation requires regular attention. We must examine emitters for location and potential clogging due to soil and bugs. Tubing should be checked for leaks, disconnects and kinks. Also, dissemination of water is limited by emitters (narrow gravity-driven trajectory) and sprayers rarely get deep enough. In addition emitters are rated at gallons per hour and it’s unusual to see a system set for more than 15 to 20 minutes. This might be ok for bedding plants but has little effect on trees and shrubs. Just as we water the newly planted increasingly toward the drip line, drip emitters must be periodically moved outward to accommodate spreading roots.
For me the biggest drawback to drip is that it separates us from actually tending to and interacting with our plants in an essential way. Hand-watering, when done consciously, affords an opportunity to inspect our trees forinsects, disease and general well-being. We become familiar with a healthy look and are therefore more aware of changes that indicate stress or threat. Perhaps the most profound benefit is the intimacy it brings – a chance to say hello to each plant and to bask in the silence of its reply.
If you’re like many of us, it can be difficult to break away from the daily grind and give yourself the attention you deserve. We are all familiar with what happens when life gets busy — we see our friends a little less, maybe drop that extra yoga class we love so much. Often one of the most intimate and enjoyable ways to reconnect with one’s self and good friends is through a relaxing spa day experience. This is where we come in.
Tea for two (and you and you)
Begin the morning with the girls by slipping into an authentic cotton Japanese robe, and settling into a private room overlooking the Japanese Tea Garden. Take some time to chat with your friends about setting intentions for the day. Hoping to reconnect with your bestie? Let her know! Enjoy some light conversation over a cup of tea crafted to work in tandem with your warming cedar enzyme bath.
Fermenting with Friends
Why experience our warming cedar enzyme bath in good company? Because it is just that — an experience! As the only day spa in North America with such a service, our cedar enzyme bath is quite unique and many agree is best enjoyed in pairs or with friends. Enjoy yet another curated garden view from the cedar baths, and settle into the warmth around you. Because it is a heat treatment, this service lasts 20 minutes with cooling lavender towels and cold water refreshments periodically in between. Chat with friends or ease into the moment and take some time for you.
Organic Facials
After your cedar baths, enjoy an electrolyte drink and carry on with the transformative journey by heading to your organic facials. Getting a facial with friends often feels like the ultimate self-care and treat yourself experience. Why? A little less intimate than a massage, our organic facials, in tandem with the cedar enzyme bath leaves you feeling as if your body just got a bit of a makeover. Smooth and glowing, your skin (and friends) will thank you for arranging a full day of self-love at the spa, in the loving hands of Osmosis.
Sound Therapy
After your services have completed and if the weather is fair, head to the Field of Hammocks with your flock for some Hemi-Sync® sound therapy. These unique recordings, based on research into how sound waves influence the mind, help optimize your brain’s activity and promote deep relaxation and creativity. A perfect reset for active minds!
Meditation Gardens
A favorite activity for many who find themselves at Osmosis for a spa day is the time spent in the meditation gardens. Walking the changing path, opening the gate and discovering the magic of the tranquility the gardens have is something special, especially with company. Enjoy a few moments of stillness on the meditation cushions overlooking the pond; notice the buzzing life abound.
One of the most wonderful parts about a spa day with the girls is that it is both beneficial to you as an individual as well as enjoyable with a small group. A spa day with others gives you a chance to reflect inward as well as a time to enjoy outwardly with the ones you love the most – choosing an environment that brings you closer will generate memories that can last a lifetime.
Join us as we bring our Cedar Enzyme Footbath to BottleRock Napa Valley. Relax and unwind in the spa area, take a break from the dancing and get your zen on!
While most people flock to Sonoma County for its world-class wines, low-key vibes, and exquisite natural backdrop – it encompasses more than 1,600 square miles, with seemingly endless lush, rolling hills and stretches of clear sky – there’s more to chilling out in wine country than, well, wine.
Plan in advance to score a reservation (especially during weekends) at this sparkling, 3,600 square-foot swimming pool, located at one of Sonoma’s most celebrated wineries. Why? For starters, it’s among the few truly family-friendly spots in the area. Plus, the European-inspired Cabines – there’s 28 available – offer private changing rooms and showers, towels, shaded lounge chairs, and 4 complimentary Sofia Mini singles. If you’re in the mood to burn some calories, try your hand at bocce ball at one of the adjacent regulation-sized courts. And when the pool closes in the evening, beeline to RUSTIC, Francis’s Favorites for dinner. The winery’s bustling restaurant features the celebrated director’s favorite dishes, including Habit-Forming Ribs, Marrakesh Lamb, and Mrs. Scorsese’s Lemon Chicken. If you can snag a table outdoors when the weather’s fine, you’ll be rewarded with some pretty breathtaking views, too.
This storied Sonoma property is practically faultless on all counts, and its spa and neighboring golf club are no exception. The Willow Stream is a spacious and airy oasis offering an extensive list of specialty treatments, which fall into three categories: relieve,restore, and results. No matter what you select, though, arrive at least an hour early to take advantage of the signature bathing ritual, which includes use of an exfoliating shower, mineral water soaking pools, herbal steam, dry sauna, and cool down showers. In a more active mood? Set up a tee time at the Sonoma Golf Club. The scenic course is lush and immaculately maintained, very walkable, offers water – so you don’t have to lug around your own bottle – at each hole, and plays fast. (It’s mostly local players who know the course well).
Understated yet luxurious, this spa is totally one of a kind. The space has a rustic design – think whitewashed wood, paintings of horses by artist Tina Wainwright, and sliding barn doors. Naturally, the treatments also draw inspiration from the farm, and many of the ingredients used are sourced from the inn’s gardens and neighboring purveyors. Seeking a custom-tailored experience? Try The Personal Apothecary, so you can select your favorite blend of oils for a wrap, scrub, or massage. I opted for the house best seller, Catherine’s Favorite. It’s a blissful duo combining a lavender-orange hair and scalp treatment with a lavender-tangerine body massage and foot treatment. I was lulled into such a deep state of relaxation, I snoozed off mid-session more than once.
Founded by Michael Stusser in 1985, Osmosis is so much more than a spa. Over the years, it’s evolved into a true haven of well-being, complete with meditation gardens, a Japanese tea garden, Field of Hammocks, and even pagodas – where you can experience bodywork in true privacy and peace. But Osmosis’ claim to fame is the Japanese-inspired Cedar Enzyme Bath Experience. Exclusive to the spa, it involves being submerged in a tub filled with a finely ground mixture of fermented evergreens and rice bran. An attendant periodically checks in with cool water and towels for your forehead – the fermentation process naturally creates heat, so you’ll start sweating quickly. After 20 minutes, you shower off and can continue with a massage, sound therapy (music intended to lower brain wave activity for a calming effect), or a light, healthful lunch.
They aren’t the first to pioneer the farm-to-spa movement, but the spa at Hotel Healdsburg is certainly raising the bar when it comes to using the natural bounty of Sonoma – like wine grapes, meyer lemon, lavender, and honey – to nourish your skin and soothe your soul. In the Meyer Lemon Massage, for example, your therapist works out even the toughest, most stubborn knots with a whipped, lightly fragranced body cream – as opposed to oil, which can leave you feeling uncomfortably slick. While the facilities themselves are fairly fuss-free and standard, the care and technique delivered is top notch. And when the weather’s warm, retreat to the charming courtyard to unwind even further post-treatment, or take a dip in the pool and jacuzzi.
Effective watering depends on a plant’s needs, soil composition, sun and wind exposure, and temperature. A recurring concern is how much water and how often. Over-watering is especially problematic since we generally don’t see the effects until it’s too late with no remedy short of re-potting. To avoid this dilemma we learn from bonsai artists to use soil mix that is virtually without organic matter consisting only of drainage material. Most bagged potting mixes have high levels of humus, compost, etc. which retain water in such varying and unknown quantities that accurate assessment of soil moisture is difficult. Using the high drainage formula allows excess water to drain immediately. While eliminating the fear of over-watering this mix also means we must guard against drying out. So a regular seasonal schedule of watering is required. To help gauge soil moisture an inexpensive hydrometer may be available at local hardware stores or nurseries. In the absence of a hydrometer, a quick check of water retention can be done by lifting the container (when possible) to judge weight. A light container likely means it’s time to water. A plant that has seriously dried out can be dunked in a bucket of water; holding the soil level below water will elicit bubbles as air spaces are filled with water. Remove the container and water runs out to proper level. Another aspect of humus-free mix is that fertilizing is up to us. Proper fertilizing is an art unto itself and too lengthy a discussion for the current effort. Stay tuned.
Fermenting with Friends
While most people flock to