“My two sisters and I always wanted to swim, but I never dreamed that one day I’d be standing on top of the Olympic podium with the gold medal around my neck,” said Linda McGuire of Santa Cruz. “I felt overwhelmed with gratitude for my teammates, friends and coach—but especially for my dad. What he gave me was far better than gold.”

He told me that his was a one-of-a-kind garden. Unique in such a small space. He asked if I would I be interested in visiting some time. I love being invited to tour all types of gardens, but I had an inkling that the garden of Rich Merrill, former Director of the Horticulture Dept. and Professor Emeritus at Cabrillo College, would be something special.

Golf tournament raises $5,500 for DARE

A wrong turn for several runners could not spoil a strong turnout and beautiful weather for the 45th annual Race Thru the Redwoods 10-kilometer run last weekend.

Maybe we can't improve on Mother Nature but can we learn from her to make our own gardens more beautiful. My late summer travels this year took me to Lake Mary in the Mammoth Lake area where I began to get ideas. This small Sierra lake formed in a depression in the glacial moraine below majestic Crystal Crag. Dozens of small streams keep the meadows blooming with wildflowers even in August. Huge granite slabs and obsidian domes create an impressive landscape. Everywhere I looked I saw how the plants, stone and water came together to make a combination that would look incredible in a regular garden.