What I Loved in San Francisco

I came home from San Francisco with a camera roll full of the usual sights, but also plenty of things that probably would not make it into a guidebook.

Flowers, beautiful houses, terracotta roofs, leaves, windows. I found myself noticing the city in much the same way I look at a garden, always looking at shapes, colours and textures.

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Those beautiful bay windows I could not stop looking at the houses, particularly their bay windows. Each one seemed to give the building its own personality. I definitely took far too many photographs of them.

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Brugmansia I had only ever seen these in photographs, so seeing one in real life was quite something. They are enormous, with those beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers making such a statement. Naturally, my first thought was: I need to make this. It is officially on my list.

Cable car and Waymo rides Touristy, yes, but for very good reason. Riding up and down those steep streets with glimpses of the bay was one of my favourite ways to see the city. And then there were the Waymos, which felt like something from the future. Being driven around San Francisco in a completely driverless car was such a strange and brilliant experience, and definitely something I could not resist trying.

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Zinnias and dahlias at the farmers' market Just casually sitting in buckets, abundant and full of colour. I wanted to take every bunch home.

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Clay roof tiles I loved the terracotta against the painted houses and greenery. I am rather predictable when it comes to terracotta and plants.

I came home with far more than photographs. A few new flower ideas, plenty of colour inspiration, and a very long list of things I want to make.