Life Style & Travel

UNITED STATES—Eco-tourism by the sea, overseas is a new phenomenon, especially forItaly.  The government has designated an archipelago of islands called Il Parco Nazionale dell’Archipelago de La Maddelena, or La Maddalena, as a National Park. The main island, Isola Maddalena is accessible by traggetto (a ferry that transports people and cars) from Olbia in Sardinia.  No reservations are necessary.  Traggetti...

UNITED STATES—Chrysanthemums, hydrangeas, azaleas, callas, kalanchoes and miniature roses can not really be as happy as they seem to be while in full bloom at the florist counter. Then there are all the seasonal blooming plants like Easter lilies and poinsettias. Wrapped in undraining mylar, often with ribbons and bows, they are actually quite humiliated.All are forced to bloom...

HOLLYWOOD—One of my favorite signs in Los Angeles is a funny attempt at visualizing the forbidden message contained in the words, No Gambling. It’s posted in a West Hollywood Park and makes no sense at all unless you know that Old Russian men play dominoes on picnic tables under the shade trees and that (reputedly) a lot of rubles...

UNITED STATES—In a region of so much nice sunny weather and minimal rain, sogginess should not often be a problem. Getting enough water to plants that want it is the more obvious concern. However, even here in California, many gardens have areas that are, for one reason or another, a bit soggier than they should be. Finding plants that...

UNITED STATES—The stores are overflowing with shelves of books providing advice for everything related to college preparation, including tips for excelling in entrance examinations, crafting a winning application, and scheduling campus tours.  But a void in these books exists when it comes to the needs of the parents.  Too few resources provide guidance on how parents can best cope...

UNITED STATES—Gardening on level ground is simply easier than gardening on a slope. Soil does not erode so much. Water does not flow away. Seeds stay where they are sown. Retaining walls are often used to level out sloped areas, or to add variations of elevation to areas that are already level. They can be made of redwood, brick, concrete...

LOS ANGELES—With interest rates at record lows and a rebounding real estate market may make it seem like it’s easier than ever to buy a home or rental property. The truth, however, is a little more complicated. Even those in the midst of a purchase sometimes see their deal fall right out of escrow and down the tubes for good....

HOLLYWOOD—Hey, if you want to check clean out of this world and taken on an adrenaline ride that grabs you by the throat and won’t let go, you couldn’t do better than “Angel Baby” by Richard Lange. Lange, an LA-based and nourished writer, with a following in France and a Guggenheim to his name, wallows in a doomed gritty...

UNITED STATES—Even though the weather can get uncomfortably warm at times through summer or a bit cool and damp in winter, this is still the best climate in the world. It does not get as warm for as long as warmer regions or Arizona do. Nor does it get nearly as cold as even the mildest climates of Alaska....

UNITED STATES—Parkstrips, those narrow spaces between curbs and sidewalks, are among the most awkward spaces in the garden. In urban areas with significant traffic, they are commonly paved over. Some neighborhoods, especially downtown neighborhoods, do not have parkstrips at all. Suburban neighborhoods though, often have wider parkstrips. The difficulty with parkstrips is that there is so much happening around them....