Columns

We are all drawn to different colors in a garden. Some of us like soft, pastel shades while others like strong, jewel tones. They are all great in my book. This year Pantone has chosen Magenta as the 2023 Color of the Year and...

“A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.” —Thomas Keller “Are you free on Sunday?” this good-looking man I had just met asked, and then he said, “I’d like to invite you to my new home for a...

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...

How’s your balance? Having good balance isn’t just for seniors. Stability is necessary at any age, maintaining good balance is critical for preventing falls and maintaining your independence for years to come. Falls can have serious consequences for most, but especially for older adults. For...

Earlier this year I designed the new planting area in front of the Ben Lomond Fire Station. It hasn’t been planted yet, but I can picture the red, white and blue flowers that will bloom there in the future. Perfect for the Fourth of...

Trump tax contains more than the itemized deductions and child taxes I previously discussed; he sought votes from modest earners, donations from the rich and manufacturing growth from business. Missing after 2025 are environmental credits for solar power, thermal efficiency and Electric Vehicles. Tax...

If you have never buried your face in a pillowcase or pulled sheets over your head at night that have been drying in the morning sunshine, you have missed one of life’s greatest gifts. And to sit under a clothesline while drinking that first...

Every year when the Pantone Color of the Year is announced, I write a column about all the great plants that echo that color. Not this year, though. The 2025 Pantone Color of the Year is Mocha Mousse, and while this probably looks great...

Fall is a good time to design and plant a new garden. I love to read those articles in gardening magazines with titles like “How to Create a Complete Backyard in a Weekend” or “This Front Yard in Just One Year.” If you're like...

Living in an ordinary house with today’s average number of rooms, I spend the greater part of the day in my kitchen.   My kitchen has a view over my long dining room table to my garden outside, which is filled with a fountain for the...