For the last few years before the Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai club has its annual show I've been honored to visit one of the members for a tour of their personal bonsai collection. Last year, I viewed Marc Shaw's collection in Ben Lomond. Marc is currently serving as president of the club. The year before, I visited former president Ron Anderson's home in Boulder Creek. Both wowed me with their talent creating such amazing specimens.

Food, music and murder, oh my! All this is happening right now in Felton at The Trout Farm Inn, 7701 E. Zayante Rd., where Elf Empire Productions will present the final showing of its current Murder Mystery Dinner Theater.

As I looked out the window at the rain coming down, I thought of all the things I should be doing in the garden.

I have been happy to see rain lately. It may not be a wet year but any rain helps fish. On another positive “fish note,” the prospects for salmon season look very good.

The new year brought new beginnings. Whitney Ann Shettler and Shawn Michael Browning were married on New Year's Eve at the Sacramento Grand Ballroom. Although they currently reside in Sacramento, both graduated from San Lorenzo Valley High School in 2004 and from University of California at Davis. Both have parents and family living in SLV.