Blake Garden, North End of Ohlone Greenway Get Poll Praise

We asked readers this past week for , and two places were leading in the votes that had been cast as of Friday.

They are the Blake Garden, owned and maintained by the University of California in Kensington, and the north end of the Ohlone Greenway (BART path) around Baxter Creek Park, especially wildflowers planted and tended by community volunteer Gil Patchett.

"The Blake Estate in Kensington is beautiful right now," said reader Robin Winton in the comments. "There was pair of Red Tail Hawks in the Redwood grove who were quite agitated by my presence last week. I happened to come upon one drinking from one of the small side pools to the north of the large reflecting pool. We both were a little startled by the surprise encounter. The pair were fun to watch and one of them perched high above broke off twigs and dropped them down as if he/she was trying to intimidate me. It is a lovely stroll – rain or shine."

And reader William Coale commented, "Don't miss the wildflowers on the Ohlone Greenway north of Del Norte Place, given TLC by local resident Gil Patchett!"

For those who like to see wildflowers and gardens, two upcoming walks may be of interest:

• Tilden Botanic Garden (Native Plants and Wildflowers), April 16, sponsored by the El Cerrito Trail Trekkers; free; meet at 10:30 a.m. outside El Cerrito Peet's Coffee at Carlson Boulevard and San Pablo Avenue to carpool, or meet at 11:00 a.m. outside the Brazil Building, Shasta and Park roads in Tilden Park; 4.5 miles, return by 2:00 p.m.
• A History and Tour of Blake Garden, April 24, sponsored by the , presented by garden docents; free; 2:30 p.m., 70 Rincon Rd., Kensington; space is limited, so please RSVP to Dave Weinstein, 510-524-1737, davidsweinstein@yahoo.com.