The Mountain Gardener: Plant groundcover before hillsides wash away
Getting caught out in the rain last month was a timely reminder that the rainy season will soon be upon us. The “Farmer's Almanac” predicts our "winter will be much rainier and cooler than normal." Weather bloggers are posting an impressive number of charts and figures that predict a general dry trend, while the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says we have an equal chance of precipitation totals going either way.
The Mountain Gardener: Deer and poisonous plants
It’s July already, and plants are growing like there's no tomorrow. The hummingbirds are my constant companions in the garden, and the resident deer population comes by daily. There are two spotted fawns who now accompany their mother, along with a couple of her sisters. Life is good.
Datebook
- Submit Datebook items to [email protected] or drop off press releases or photos at 5215 Scotts Valley Drive, Ste. F, Scotts Valley 95066. Deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday. Entries are subject to editing, and publication is not guaranteed.
Cross country: Scotts Valley’s deep team has high hopes
After finishing 14thin the state last fall, the Scotts Valley boys cross country team has high hopes and expectations for 2013.
Your Health: A word on generic drugs
“Billions wasted on pricey drugs” was the headline in the newspaper this week. Medicare claims that the program is wasting hundreds of millions of dollars because doctors continue to prescribe and patients continue to ask for pricey name brand drugs when cheaper generic drugs are available.
Your Health: Symptomless diverticulosis a surprising diagnosis
Many people these days who are having routine colon screening exams, are being told that they have a condition called diverticulosis which is the presence of small pockets or pouches in the wall of the large bowel found just above the rectum. Risk factors for diverticulosis include inadequate intake of dietary fiber, lack of exercise, and aging. Diverticula are found in up to 60 percent of people by age 60, and the percentage keeps climbing with age.
Work on Graham Hill Road planned to start in March
Work on planned improvements on Graham Hill Road near Roaring Camp is officially scheduled to begin in March after Monterey Peninsula Engineering Inc. was awarded the contract for the project, valued at not quite $2.4 million, by the Board of Supervisors at its Dec. 14 meeting.
News Briefs | Published Sept. 12, 2025
Fun run, emergency preparedness fair set for Saturday
On Saturday, Sept. 13, the City of Santa Cruz will be hosting Race the Wave, a 3K...