Judging from the tone of your e-mails, you people are busy this summer. I’ve had a flurry of questions from people who are undertaking some large, impressive garden project or another. If you’ve got questions about your garden, send them to me, and at some point in the not too distant future you might open […]
Life + Outdoors
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Lady Bird
The passing of Lady Bird Johnson, the widow of President Lyndon B. Johnson, has garnered much press in the past week. A passionate conservationist and beautifier of America’s highways, Mrs. Johnson is better known locally for the grove that was dedicated in her name in August 1969 in Redwood National Park, a spot which Amy […]
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Grand Jury’s first day
The long, sterile hallway on the second floor of the Humboldt County Courthouse — the waiting space for those with a court hearing — isn’t exactly known for convivial gatherings of eager citizens, hungrily scanning dry documents and all a-chatter with getting-to-know-you. No, this place is tension’s haunt: compressed voices, eyes anchored to floors or […]
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Abalone, anyone?
After being invited to several abalone cookouts this June, I finally asked the embarrassing question: What the hell is an abalone? I went directly to the hosts of the cookouts, two local HSU seniors, Ben Hart and Brent Warner, who consider abalone diving one of the finest sports on the North Coast. Both scuba minors […]
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Trespassing 101
The West has long been characterized as a place with wide-open spaces. The “purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain” does not refer to the East Coast. Many of us delight in getting off the beaten path — standing on a mountain, ridge line, hill or even in a field and surveying the landscape for […]
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Bridgeville limbo
Air pushing upcanyon ruffles the bright leaves of dainty poison oak twining up tree trunks as you exit the green tunnel of foliage that is Hwy 36 onto a dubious spur promising to take you to Kneeland. Suddenly, you’re in a movie-set clearing flooded by evening sunlight. You stop the car to get out and […]
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My first time
Anticipating my first summer in Arcata is like waiting for the lottery lady to pick the winning numbers. In this case, I’m hoping to win more than a few warm, sunny days and some social gatherings that include people other than my husband and me. I’ve heard mixed reviews on Arcata summers — enough bad […]
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Flower filchers, redux — What drives the strange and scurrilous garden thief?
A few years ago, I wrote a tirade on the subject of flower theft. My front yard is full of flowers, and I understand what a temptation this can pose to people walking down the sidewalk. But some of the thieves in my neighborhood were particularly conniving, walking right up to my front door and […]
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Being prepared
"What’s the worst that could happen?" Alarm bells ring whenever I hear these words uttered. Yes, there are times when you find yourself in situations while exploring the wilds that you have no choice. Go for it! Do or die time! It’s a good day to die! I wouldn’t say I seek these moments out […]
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Ten gardens
The annual HBGF Tour makes a stop in Ferndale The Humboldt Botanical Garden Foundation’s annual garden tour is set for Sunday, June 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ten gardens in Ferndale, Fortuna and Eureka will be open for the day, and you’ll also be able to visit the botanical garden site itself at […]
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Press of ages
When Chad Helmonds entered Humboldt State University five years ago, he weighed 315 pounds — a football player, 6’2”, a big guy by any standard. He had lifted weights in high school as a part of his football training, so he took some notice of the weightlifting records on the wall the first time he […]
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Trees and flowers
Like most junior high and high school students in Humboldt County, the teenagers I work with as a tutor are scrambling to finish their homework during this, their final week of school — there are essays on American authors due, presentations about U.S. History to be made, tests to be taken. Unlike most junior high […]