Hard to believe but true — the Memorial Day weekend is just a week away. Although most schools are still in session and it’s still officially spring, for many Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer.

We all want to do the right thing for the environment by reducing our carbon footprint and becoming good stewards of the land. So we should build our landscapes with green products and incorporate sustainable practices in the garden.

About five years ago. I was checking my credit card account when I noticed a purchase in Albany, New York, with a vendor I didn’t recognize. Since I haven’t been to Albany in about 40 years, I had a sneaky suspicion something was awry. It turned out to be a purchase at an adult bookstore.

You know that growing your own fruit and vegetables can supply your family with fresh-tasting and nutritious food. But what if you don’t have much space for a big garden or an orchard of fruit trees? Nowadays there are many dwarf and compact varieties available for smaller yards and containers. Here are some good ones to try.

The weathered sign that points to the hidden park stands unnoticed by the traffic moving up the mountain. In the small, dusty parking lot, tan oaks and poison oak surround the few cars.

The third Saturday in April has been a date that marks the spring opening for trout season for decades. But with more privately owned lakes, there is less water regulated by the state and more areas that do not rely on the traditional opening day. The communities that do rely on opening day have been anticipating the opener and have increased stocking programs and set up derbies to bring more visitors.

Swine influenza (aka swine flu) is most commonly a respiratory infection caused by a virus that up to now has been confined to pigs. There have previously been few reported cases of transmission of this disease to human beings.