Columns

I don’t have a dog of my own now. But I do get to pet sit for Winston, a French bulldog who is always into mischief. Since I have a lot of plants, I have to be aware if any are toxic to dogs. Gardens...

I lived with my aunt and uncle during my early years, who, to this day, I am not sure they believed in the existence of the Almighty. However, every Saturday night I had a bath, whether I thought I needed it or not, and every...

In our fast-paced world, productivity often takes precedence, meaning sleep is often undervalued. However, sleep has a huge impact on our overall well-being and maintaining both our physical and mental health. This article explores the relationship between sleep and mental health and the importance of...

I’m embarrassed to confess that I don’t always take my own advice. Take my houseplants, for instance. Decades of research have shown that houseplants reduce stress and anxiety. They can sharpen our attention, make us more productive and give us a happier outlook. They...

I was such a little thing when Uncle picked me up and sat me down on a red leather stool that swiveled. Honestly, I remember clutching the counter in front of me because of any movement on my part, I would be going “down.” It...

September is a month that signals change in the garden. You can feel the weather shifting. Days are not always quite so hot and the nights are longer and cooler. Some plants are at their prime, while others are winding down for the season. I...

In the spirit of my annual New Year’s resolution to learn something new every day, I did some research on Calscape about adding butterfly friendly natives to my partly shady garden and did some reading on garden design trends for 2025. Turns out the...

A favorite survivor of the CZU fire is starting to bloom this week in my garden. Even though I had to remove the burned pot along with all the branches and roots, my red flowering currant (ribes sanguineum) recovered to the delight of the...

It was in 1955 when the Kingston Trio first sang “Where Have All the Young Men Gone,” written by Pete Seeger about all the soldiers lost in the past wars. “When will we ever learn, when will we ever learn,” Pete wrote. I have been...

I love the kind neighbors and towering cathedrals of redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains and will never willingly leave. The planner in me admits people can work here and then stretch retirement dollars further with cheaper houses in another state or country—but good...