Summer bloomer: Placer County, despite all the new wineries, is not France. In fact, few people would confuse the two. Still, people are sometimes a bit disappointed when they show up at Charleston Lavender Farm, expecting the kind of scenery you may see on TV during the Tour de France, when the cycling peloton passes acres and acres of blooming lavender. "This is not Provence," said Renee Charleston, speaking of her half-acre in the woods near Colfax. She's planted six varieties of the aromatic lavender, but the varieties bloom at different times. "You never get that field-of-lavender look." Much of the year, Charleston travels around the world for work. Come June and July, she's busy at the little farm, cutting and processing the purple (and some white) flowers, and selling lavender and lavender products at farmers markets from Rocklin to Truckee. Markets are fun because the shoppers there care about what they're buying and are curious. "To me, that's kind of the high point," she said. The curious can learn more at her farm's open house June 29. For information or directions, call Charleston at (530) 637-4190. …
New-see-ums: There's a spray-painted sign along I-80 near Penryn: "Got Mud?" What does that mean? … Promoters of a Father's Day fun run from Quarry Ponds to Folsom Lake are asking, "What do four sparkling ponds, a former gold quarry, a popular European-style village marketplace and Folsom Lake all have in common?" Wait a sec. "Gold quarry?" We didn't think there was such a thing around here, and neither did Phoebe Astill of the Roseville Historical Society. Unless you know different, the only Granite Bay gold diggers are of a different sort. … Also, Astill tells us the historical society's Carnegie Museum will have a special weekend open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday It's usually only open during the week, so here's a chance to go see what Roseville has been up to in the last 100 years. …
If you drink, don't … : Roseville Planning Commission meetings usually don't go viral, but the online video for the May 22 gathering has folks talking – and not about zoning matters. The commission was discussing the Roseville Station on Orlando Avenue, which, staff said, had expanded in ways not allowed by its permit as a restaurant. Neighbors also complained about noise and, it seems, about patrons urinating outside. One hour and 47 minutes into the video, a fellow in shorts and a Hawaiian shirt walks to the podium and says he goes to the station "to look at the girls. … I do have to admit, I'm one of the guys who pees outside, but I haven't peed inside in 20 years, 30 years." At this point, he's told he's probably not helping the Roseville Station's appeal to keep its permit. "It's not against the law to pee outside," he responded to chuckles from those in the crowd. "And no one's caught me." … Roseville Pee Dee's Dee Dee Gunther said, yes, indeed, it is prohibited to answer nature's call outside, under municipal code 10.38.010. No, the violation is not known as PWI. …
Don't give your eyeteeth: Roseville is still collecting donations for its 2009 Tournament of Roses parade float. Officials don't know exactly what it'll cost – a contract may be approved in July – but it'll cost a pretty penny. Or lots of 'em. Residents are filling up penny jars. When the jar from Park Roseville Commons was emptied, however, it also contained an adult tooth with a filling. "We were hoping it had some gold in it," said Julia Burrows, deputy city manager. No such luck.
Call The Bee's Carlos Alcalá at (916) 773-6847. Back columns, www.sacbee.com/alcala.
