Under the Solano Sun

I’ve always been fascinated by plants. As a young child, I wandered my neighborhood in Hayward, California, admiring colorful flowers and the insects that were attracted to them. As an older child in New Jersey, I played among the whimsical columbine and watched in wonder when the first crocus emerged in the…

I love being close to nature and will seek any place I can find that good-feeling connection.  I have felt great standing in a huge palatial forest or at a smaller nature preserve, or making a discovery in a small park surrounded by concrete in a large city; always in my backyard, or even…

My husband and I walk in the neighborhood by the fire road.  There are many trees in the area. Today, as I was walking, I noticed someone picking the fruit off one of the trees.  When asked what it tasted like, she stated it was a loquat tree, and she just peels off the skin and eats the fruit…

Accessible, Adaptive and Age-resilient Gardening, Part 1Gardening exercises body, mind and spirit. But what happens when an illness or trauma, a pre-existing or worsening pre-existing condition or age throws a wrench in gardening activities? Does gardening cease? Fortunately, the answer can be a resounding, …

There is no question that gardening improves the quality of life, as well as the physical and mental well-being of older adults. It is also true that some things get more challenging as we age. Many older adults have two or more chronic conditions. This could make gardening even more important and…