For gardeners and non-gardeners alike, the Monterey peninsula and Carmel, in particular, make for a great weekend trip as we enter the shoulder season between spring and summer. Crowds are light and flowers are overflowing from every yard and every street corner.

One place I wanted to highlight during my recent visit to that region, is Earthbound Farm in Carmel Valley which I had been meaning to visit for quite some time (note that this is not an advertisement and I get no kick-backs for any endorsement). What a charmer (see photos)! The grounds consist of a rustic farm stand and cafe, and thematic gardens located out back, which include an herb garden, a kitchen garden, a children's garden, a labyrinth (think Grace's Cathedral in SF but outdoors with chamomile underfoot), and a berry patch planted with heirloom raspberries (descended from one of Earthbound Farm's original crops at the company's inception), golden raspberries, orange raspberries and tayberries (a cross between a red raspberry and a blackberry). The kitchen and herb gardens aim to inspire what can be grown in a relatively small amount of space. Visitors can take a meditative walk in the labyrinth garden and inhale the scent of crushed chamomile as they make their way into the labyrinth's center. Children will adore the children's garden which consists of a life-size teepee for them to explore and boxes labeled with alphabet blocks and edible plants which correspond to each letter of the alphabet (e.g., "C" for Cilantro")--how clever and fun is that??

There is no cost to visit the gardens. Earthbound Farm is located at 7250 Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel, CA. For more information, please visit http://www.ebfarm.com/story/our-farm-stand.