The Mountain Gardener | Growing Vegetables in Containers, Small Spaces or Shade
I have been gardening for a very long time. But even now I feel I know just a little bit about a whole lot of subjects. Every day I learn something new. Now that spring weather has finally arrived I’m anxious to start planting...
Summer pruning for beauty & health
Everything in the garden is full and lush in June. Your Japanese maple might be getting a little too full for your taste-outgrowing its space, crowding the neighbors, looking like a boring blob. Take the fear out of pruning with these easy steps.
Pruning any...
Vitamin B12
In 1885 an English physician and scientist, Thomas Addison discovered a disease with symptoms including pallor, shortness of breath, jaundice, weight loss and muscle spasms. The cause of the disease was unknown, and it was generally fatal. It became known as Addison's anemia (now...
The Mountain Gardener: Fire and renewal
I regularly visit my burned parcel in Bonny Doon to monitor the progress of the redwoods and understory plants. It will take 30-50 years for the forest to regenerate, but it’s trying.
Amazing how Mother Nature takes advantage of voids. Succession plants like native Yerba...
Recognizing Down Syndrome Awareness Month
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. This disorder has particular meaning to me because when I married my dear wife Beth, I gained not only a wonderful wife but also an equally incredible Down syndrome brother-in-law named Danny. Coincidentally, Danny had been a patient...
Opinion, September 18th
Driving over the Granite Creek Overpass is a wonderful, heartfelt, and mostly handmade display of thanks for all the responders and volunteers during the recent wildfires. Imagine the dismay of noting on both sides of the overpass, blatant advertising in the guise of thanks. In large letters is the business name and information, which is repeated and sandwiched in significantly smaller letters is a message of thanks. Advertising is advertising. I feel this significantly diminishes the value and passion we in Scotts Valley and all of
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...
Eggplant parmesan, please
Eggplant, that beautiful egg-shaped, purple and glossy fruit we order in a restaurant under the name of Eggplant Parmesan, so often comes to us overcooked, bitter and lackluster for want of proper preparation, we are sorry we had not ordered a different entrée.
Now that...
Opinions, October 9th
The CZU Lightning Fire has heightened awareness throughout the SLV of the critical role that our local Water District plays in providing us with safe and reliable access to water. The upcoming November election offers four qualified candidates to fill two Board of Director seats for the SLV Water District. All four candidates are fully capable of serving our community, but there are important differences between them that can’t be discerned purely by looking at campaign signs.
New Scotts Valley Council members look forward to making their mark
After first-place finisher Donna Lind, the incumbent for Scotts Valley City Council, local voters selected Steve Clark—a retired law enforcer, known for volunteering around...