The Mountain Gardener | Gardening Tips for the Allergy Sufferer
Several of my friends suffer from allergies nearly year round starting in January. Most of us don’t notice the amount of pollen in the air even when it’s cold, but my friends sure do.
Everybody blames the Acacia tree for their allergies, but they are...
Hitting the Bullseye
While watching the documentary “This Changes Everything” on Netflix, I learned about the history of women in the film industry and their struggles for inclusion. One of the statistics included in the documentary about how films can influence us inspired this article.
In the Disney/Pixar...
A poem for gardeners
T’was the night before Christmas and all through the garden,
The creatures were stirring, the deer got a pardon.
The hummingbird feeders were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that the Anna’s soon would be there.
The flowering cherries were nestled all snug in their beds,
While...
California Natives for Fall Planting
Beautiful beginning-of-fall weather is here and you may be thinking of what plants you want to add to your garden this fall planting season. California native plants are well suited to planting at this time of year, acclimating to their new homes without much...
Plain Talk About Food | The Secret of Aunt Betty’s ‘Crust Dust’
Summer fruit season is upon us as those beautiful peaches, pears, plums and now apples are showing up at the local farmers markets. Sadly, I have had to turn down offers from neighbors to share in their bounty, as there is only myself now...
We must remain united
By Derek Timm, Scotts Valley Mayor
Our Scotts Valley Police Officers do so much for our community, and everyone in leadership agrees that we want to support them in every way we can. To say this year has been difficult is an understatement, not only...
A Thanksgiving poem
Once upon a time when our area was underwater
there were no parks or trails or trees or gardens.
I'm thankful that our mountains rose from an ancient ocean
so we could enjoy this beautiful place we call home.
I'm thankful for the Bigleaf maples
that shower me with...
There’s an Ornamental Grass for Every Garden
One of the most dramatic sights in a garden is an ornamental grass backlit by late afternoon sun. They seem to come alive as their tawny flowers spikes glow and sway in the breeze. Their gentle movement and soft whispering sounds can bring your...
The meaning of our holiday traditions
We all celebrate the holidays in a different way. Each family has its own traditions and warm memories from years gone by. Some of us celebrate Christmas, some Hanukkah, some Kwanzaa. Many of our traditional Christmas customs originate from Winter Solstice celebrations. The plants...
News Briefs | Published July 11, 2025
‘Veterans’ Voices with VTC’ debuts on Santa Cruz Voice
The Veterans Transition Center (VTC) and Santa Cruz Voice have partnered to launch “Veterans’ Voices with...
