Columns

When the dogwoods start to bloom, I’m torn between the flowering crabapples and cherries and wisteria and lilacs. But those huge dogwood flowers—or more precisely, bracts—get my attention every time I drive along the thoroughfares of San Lorenzo and Scotts Valley.  Most of us are...

Every drop of rain that hits bare soil is destructive. Over 3,000 years ago the Chinese protected their soil from erosion and increased fertility by planting cover crops. Early Nile Valley inhabitants also practiced this method of agriculture as did first century Romans. Lupines...

Although it’s a bit early around here to see fall colors it’s happening at the higher elevation. Or is it? Have the wildfires affected the changing of the leaves? And what about the effects of ongoing climate change? How is our planet changing?  Quaking aspen...

Having been raised by an order of nuns from France, eating lentils was as commonplace as eating potatoes for me, both as a child and as an adult today. I have no recollection of anyone I know that cooks with lentils, nor have I ever...

What happens if you don’t pay taxes? The IRS, or FTB, writes to say you owe and you concede the amount. To remind us all that taxes are compulsory and no say on expenditures, the IRS can prosecute for tax fraud, but courts and...

72/Rate of Return ≈ Years to Double Value Old as the Renaissance, this simplified rule should be shouted from rooftops, emblazoned on blimps and taught in every schoolroom. The consequences are profound: Save now for babes in arms. Indifferent to your future, let salespeople whimper....

Homeowners may gloat at long-term home price growth, but others struggle to enjoy the blessings of mountain home ownership. Redfin states: “In November 2023, Santa Cruz home prices were down 20.8% compared to last year, selling for a median price of $1.2M.” With interest rates...

They say you are what you eat, and what we eat plays an important role in our mental health—everything from how we sleep, to how we handle stress and our overall mood. It has even been shown that dietary improvement can reduce symptoms of...

I thought my plants were safe from deer. Because most of my sunny spots are in front, I planted lots of colorful annuals and perennials out there. Then a couple months ago, all my snapdragon flower spikes were eaten overnight. I was stymied. I...

I lost a dear “friend” sometime during the storms in January, which day or night I’ll never know…I wasn’t privy to its demise. I only know the evening during which I realized my friend Snag had disappeared from the horizon. My hubby Norm and I...