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Under blue skies on a perfect spring day I sat recently with Colly Gruczelak, my friend, fellow columnist and gardening enthusiast, surrounded by roses, roses and more roses. Next to an old apple tree and a gnarled cherimoya we enjoyed a delicious picnic lunch Colly brought while she shared stories about this rose nursery we were visiting called Roses of Yesterday.

We have heard these words before: “Next time I travel, I will remember to (insert word here).” But life gets in the way. We are busy, and we forget.

Scotts Valley Host Lions

Driving through northern Canada and Alaska some years ago, I was struck by the amount of litter and trash I encountered. The striking terrain and natural beauty all around made such clueless disregard seem particularly onerous.

To the editor:

I’ve recently had a personal experience that punctuated the importance of background checks and that I thought worthy enough to share. The event occurred in June — the same month the now-infamous Bernie Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison. The timing is fitting.

Madison Avery Smith, a 7-pound baby girl, was born at 5:42 p.m. April 22, 2013, to Nichole Raschel Venturelli and Seren Jaro Smith of Scotts Valley. She was delivered at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz.