Last winter's epic rainstorms have caused many of us to think about what we can do to mitigate the impact of heavy downpours on our communities. As it happens, the impervious surfaces that keep us dry and mud-free (our homes, patios, driveways, etc.
What is a lawn? For many of us, those traditional squares of lush, green turf grass have not only been a part of the landscape, but also an icon of our American culture for generations. A manicured lawn symbolized prosperity and respectability.
Last winter's storms were unprecedented. The volume and intensity of rainfall turned creeks and streams into rushing torrents that overflowed their banks and flooded nearby areas. Gutters and drains couldn't handle the flow and turned streets into virtual canals.
I think that I shall never see/ A poem as lovely as a tree, wrote the poet, Joyce Kilmer. The mere sight of a strong, graceful tree inspires poetry, offers peace for the soul, and provides welcome sanctuary.
Many parts of California sizzle in the summer heat, but living on the coast means spending most days under a thick marine layer blanket and being buffeted by chilly breezes.
This article was originally published in Coastside Magazine on May 26, 2023. Since 2016, Coastside Magazine has featured monthly articles written and edited by members of the San Mateo-San Francisco chapter of UC Master Gardeners.
If you want to enjoy your own fresh, homegrown tomatoes this summer, April is the time to get started. Unless you are a hardcore gardener and start your own from seeds, most likely you will be buying young tomato plants (seedlings) from a nursery or plant sale.
The late comedian George Carlin once posed the question: "Why is there no blue food? He speculated that the absence of blue food was due to the fact it was actually the secret to immortality and therefore not available to the rest of us.
