Community

Santa Cruz County might be a magnet for art-seekers and various aesthetic types, yet few in our mountain valleys are likely aware of a local pastime that is widespread across North America and has its roots in New England and Europe.

I have a nice Improved Meyer Lemon tree where I live. Because of water restrictions by the Big Basin Water Company, it doesn’t get as much irrigation as I’d like but it still looks pretty good and has quite a few ripening lemons on...

During the Dec. 4 regularly-scheduled Council meeting, Scotts Valley removed a major impediment to building affordable housing and constructing a multifaceted mixed-use downtown, by agreeing to purchase a parcel of land that was once part of the Skypark airstrip from the City of Santa...

If you read my column regularly or even once in a while you’ve probably heard me lament about the difficult growing conditions here in my garden. Between the sandy soil, 5 hours of intense sun but for only 6 months of the year, gophers, squirrels, moles, deer and chipmunks I’m happy if any plant thrives. So it is with pleasure that I report to you the small successes I’ve had lately and maybe give you hope that you might also grow plants that provide some color and fragrance in your garden along with attracting hummingbirds, songbirds, bees and butterflies.

Local pundits thought that the election of McKinley in November, 1896, foretold a good season for Ben Lomond’s dueling hotels. The Mountain Echo of Boulder Creek agreed, adding that, “Ben Lomond is fortunate in her two leading citizens and property holders,” praising the “enterprising spirit” of the rival developers “as they vie with each other in improvements.”

It seems like I “Google” something nearly every day. I can barely remember what life was like before the information superhighway. For subjects like gardening, however, information from your own neck of the woods is the best.