Columns

Many, many years ago my landscape designer group was fortunate to get a private tour by the head gardener at Filoli Gardens. One of the takeaways from this informative afternoon was the plants that have survived there since the early 1900s without any care....

Recently there have been many questions about new development in Scotts Valley. As has been widely reported, the City has worked to meet the requirements of recent State Housing mandates. Many of the new projects have taken advantage of new state law that overrides...

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...

Over the past few weeks, many neighbors have stopped me around the valley asking about the work happening at Mountain Community Resources (MCR) and what it means for the services provided there. Those conversations matter, because they reflect both how much this center is...

I’m ready for spring. These warm spells have given me spring fever. Many plants blooming now are fragrant. Mother Nature encourages pollinators to find sweet nectar thereby ensuring plant propagation. What makes flowers fragrant anyway? Fragrance in flowers is nature’s way of encouraging pollination. Just...

Remember when you started your own business? That quiet question that lingers in the background: Will I succeed … and what was I thinking? Most of my articles focus on one local business at a time. This one is a double take. Two women, two...

“Life…some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic, but I’ve had a good life all the way.” —Jimmy Buffett I was scrolling through the Nextdoor website, when I came across a woman looking for a bakery that was known for its Banana Cream Pies. I...

On Saturday, March 28, millions of Americans will assert their constitutional rights of free speech and peaceful assembly by participating in the third No Kings Day—a national day of nonviolent protest rallies in support of American democracy and the rule of law.  No Kings is...

On Friday, March 20, at 7:46am, the day and night will be almost equal. That’s why it’s called the Spring or Vernal Equinox. Some years it falls on March 19. It would occur on the same day every year if the Earth took exactly...

When it comes to strength, you generally hear people talk about legs, biceps, chest, glutes, the common and visibly noticeable areas, but no one really talks about strength in your grip. Grip strength is also just as important. Grip strength is a measure of how...