Columns

“Adam did not want the apple for the apple’s sake; he wanted it because it was forbidden.” —Mark Twain Home for me in the 1940s was uncle and aunt’s eight-bedroom boarding house in Aberdeen, Wash. My mind is filled with only happy memories, memories that...

In today's fast-paced, ever-changing world, mental health is often overlooked in the pursuit of productivity, success and keeping up with life's demands. Just as regular physical check-ups are crucial for maintaining physical health, mental health check-ups are essential to ensure emotional well-being. Taking proactive steps...

Those words, “Ya gotta believe,” were brought to life by the New York Mets in 1973, when trailing badly in the baseball pennant race they passionately voiced that slogan. And it seemed to work, as they ultimately prevailed and won the National League pennant,...

I read the bulb catalogs the same as you do. They show oh so many bulbs that do well in the shade. As we know all too well, there are many degrees of shade in our gardens here in the Santa Cruz Mountains and...

I understand, not everyone enjoys or wants to workout, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do things each day to keep you strong, mobile and healthy. When you hear getting in better shape, you probably naturally think of the gym and another monthly expense...

If I were looking for cool Halloween decorations or inspiration for breathtaking combinations of plants that shout “Fall is here,” I couldn’t have gone to a better place than Scarborough Gardens, the Scotts Valley nursery extraordinaire. Every vignette of plants along with the Halloween...

I love Asparagus, whether fresh or canned, or green, purple or white. And I just recently discovered that asparagus seems to resonate with people and their likes and dislikes, much the same way as do brussels sprouts. Asparagus falls into the “love it or...

As my parents suffered lingering deaths from cancer and Alzheimer’s, they appreciated long-term care insurance, and their purchase enlarged my inheritance. I am a 62-year-old paraplegic planner receiving home care while working diligently—and subsidized retirement living terrifies me enough to save. After all, 70%...

You probably think of mums as boring. They’re everywhere at this time of year. Many consider them a bit of color on the front porch that you compost after they’ve finished flowering. But mums have a lot more to offer than that. Mums are in...

In last week’s edition, I highlighted how supporting Measure Q on the Nov. 5 ballot represents a historic opportunity to steward our precious and increasingly fragile environment, which is a value shared throughout Scotts Valley and the San Lorenzo Valley. The water and wildlife...