Walking through the neighborhood is one of the nicest things about living downtown, especially in the South Main area. So much is going on these days that you never know what changes you’ll see.
The view catty-cornered from The Bernice Garden has changed dramatically with the recent rediscovery of a long-covered mosaic. Just another day in SoMa.
And you never know who you’ll run into. Things are happening.
One of our dogs’s favorite destinations (after Mt. Holly, where we often go to visit the “quiet” neighbors) is Bernice Garden, and not just when the farmers market is in session. They love the smells – they find plenty of good sniffing, especially around the sculptures – and they love to poke around in general.
With their long German Shepherd coats, the girls especially appreciate a few minutes in the shade under the canopy and plopping down on the cool concrete.
The shade in Bernice Garden makes a nice resting spot for dogs – and their owners.
That can perk them up for the walk home on a hot summer day.
When Zuzu was a pup, she also loved to bark at the the giant frog prince (“Royalty,” by David Harris, one of the 2009 sculptures).
Our grandson also enjoys visiting the garden; when he was littler, he loved to sit on his majesty.
He’s a big first-grader now, but he can always find something to look at, perhaps an exciting detail about a sculpture that he hadn’t noticed before. He loves to run his sneaker toes through the gravel and especially through the glass mulch.
And he likes just sitting in the pavilion talking with his Pop. Something about the garden makes you feel like having a good, old-fashioned conversation.
We’re overdue for walking Jude to the garden – and the little granddaughters are big enough this year to get out of their double stroller and play. We’ll be headed that way soon.
You should too, even if you have to drive to get there. You’ll want to sit a spell. Chat a bit. Put your feet up.
And come back soon.