native plants – FIRST DATE, WORST DATE EVER!

Pyracantha and the Path to School

August 26, 2025August 25, 2025 Posted in California, deer, fences, gardeners, memoir, native plants, photinia, pyracantha, school, school district, shortcut, smoking, trash, weedLeave a comment

(re-run) When my kids were 14, 11 and 6, we moved into a house that bordered the school district’s property. The middle school sat to the right of our backyard, and the high school sat to the left. Only a chain-length fence and a hedge of Photinia separated its property from ours. I called the… Continue reading Pyracantha and the Path to School

Taking Stock of the Garden

March 12, 2025March 11, 2025 Posted in drought, drought-tolerant plants, Facebook, flowers, garden, Girl Scout camp, humor, memoir, native plants, porch, rats, rose, trees, wisteria, yardLeave a comment

(re-run) Four years ago today, my garden was in full bloom. I know this because Facebook showed me my garden photos from 2019. The plants are way behind this year from all the rain and wind storms. The roses aren’t blooming yet. The wisteria has just started to bloom. The potted plants either drowned in… Continue reading Taking Stock of the Garden

Coming Out of the Fog

February 23, 2024February 22, 2024 Posted in care giver, CC&Rs, curb appeal, grieving, HOA, landscaper, liens, grief, memoir, native plants, real estate, realtors, staging, retirement, Silicon Valley1 Comment

When a family member dies, you go on with living. But everything is affected by the loss of the family member. You don’t realize it at the time, but it is. A year and two months after losing my older sister, I am finally getting back to normal, or the new normal. It’s weird to… Continue reading Coming Out of the Fog

Taking Stock of the Garden

April 12, 2023April 12, 2023 Posted in drought, drought-tolerant plants, Facebook, flowers, garden, Girl Scout camp, humor, memoir, native plants, porch, rats, rose, trees, wisteria, yardLeave a comment

Four years ago today, my garden was in full bloom. I know this because Facebook showed me my garden photos from 2019. The plants are way behind this year from all the rain and wind storms. The roses aren’t blooming yet. The wisteria has just started to bloom. The potted plants either drowned in open… Continue reading Taking Stock of the Garden

Pyracantha and the Path to School

January 15, 2023January 15, 2023 Posted in California, deer, fences, gardeners, memoir, native plants, photinia, pyracantha, school, school district, shortcut, smoking, trash, weedLeave a comment

(re-run) When my kids were 14, 11 and 6, we moved into a huge house that bordered the school district’s property. The middle school sat to the right of our backyard, and the high school sat to the left. Only a chain-length fence and a hedge of Photinia separated its property from ours. I called… Continue reading Pyracantha and the Path to School

Pyracantha and the Path to School

May 30, 2022May 30, 2022 Posted in California, deer, fences, gardeners, memoir, native plants, photinia, pyracantha, school, school district, shortcut, smoking, trash, weedLeave a comment

Pyracantha and the Path to School

September 15, 2021September 13, 2021 Posted in California, deer, fences, gardeners, memoir, native plants, photinia, pyracantha, school, school district, shortcut, smoking, trash, weedLeave a comment

(rre-run) When my kids were 14, 11 and 6, we moved into a house that bordered the school district’s property. The middle school sat to the right of our backyard, and the high school sat to the left. Only a chain-length fence and a hedge of Photinia separated its property from ours. I called the… Continue reading Pyracantha and the Path to School

Pyracantha and the Path to School

July 23, 2021July 23, 2021 Posted in California, deer, fences, gardeners, native plants, photinia, pyracantha, school, school district, shortcut, smoking, trash, weedLeave a comment

(re-run) When my kids were 14, 11 and 6, we moved into a house that bordered the school district’s property. The middle school sat to the right of our backyard, and the high school sat to the left. Only a chain-length fence and a hedge of Photinia bushes separated its property from ours. I called… Continue reading Pyracantha and the Path to School

Pyracantha and the Path to School

March 18, 2021March 15, 2021 Posted in California, deer, fences, gardeners, native plants, photinia, pyracantha, school, school district, shortcut, smoking, trash, weedLeave a comment

When my kids were 14, 11 and 6, we moved into a house that bordered the school district’s property. The middle school sat to the right of our backyard, and the high school sat to the left. Only a chain-length fence and a hedge of photinia separated its property from ours. I called the school… Continue reading Pyracantha and the Path to School