Archives

In our neck of the woods we could change the iconic saying inscribed on a New York Post Office that reads "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night…" to "neither drought nor freeze nor wind can stay the coming of spring."

The Scotts Valley High School boys cross country team defeated all comers, including a push by perennial powerhouse Aptos High School, to capture its first Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League title in school history.

I plan to turn over a new leaf next year. I'm talking about gardening. The rest of my New Year's resolutions are too numerous to list here! I wish I could tell you that I'll never put in another plant that might freeze during the winter. I wish I could tell you that I'll really start that compost pile this year and duke it out with the raccoons. I wish I could tell you I'll make more garden journal entries and not rely on sketchy memories. But the reality is gardening shouldn't be so much about regrets. It's about the delight we get from coaxing plants from the earth. A garden reflects our lives; there’s always room for growth as well as reflection.

In celebration of Native Plant Week earlier this month, let's talk about using California natives in the garden. How do you pick the best plants for your situation, and what do they need to grow in your garden?