Houseplant Culture That Contradicts Gardening
UNITED STATES—Houseplant culture is a unique type of horticulture. It involves almost no gardening. Most houseplants live exclusively indoors. Many inhabit homes and offices that lack gardens. Only a few fortunate sorts get to occasionally enjoy mild weather in home gardens. Such indulgences are generally brief and sheltered. Most houseplants are innately vulnerable.
Of course, no houseplant is native to...
A Tribute To Michael St. John
HOLLYWOOD—Oh, devastating news struck the San Francisco News family last week when we learned our entertainment columnist Michael St. John passed away peacefully on Friday, July 23 in his sleep. Michael had been part of the San Francisco News family since our inception, delivering his witty, blunt, entertaining, and awesome columns each week for the column, St. John’s Confidential...
Mulch Is Lowly But Practical
UNITED STATES—Gardening is unnatural. Most popular plant species are not naturally native. Cultivars are products of unnatural selection and breeding. Most plants like unnatural watering. Some enjoy unnatural fertilizers. Removal of their detritus is unnatural. So is the replacement of their detritus with mulch. Actually, most of what happens in the garden is quite unnatural.
Ironically, gardening is how many...
Mary Reno
UNITED STATES—The hot wind blows through the stillness, already superheated before the sun peeks out from the east. The weeds are way overgrown, having their heyday in the cracks of a dusty lot that the market economy has jilted, even though they've got permits to build a new wing to the abandoned glass and brick office building.
It all looks...
Ground Cover Works Like Mulch
UNITED STATES—Weeding otherwise bare and unused ground is no fun. Nor is weed whacking. Mulching inhibits future weed growth, but requires occasional replenishment. For many situations, ground cover plants are more practical. Once established, many sorts effectively exclude most weeds. Even more contain dust, and inhibit erosion of the surface of the soil below.
As the terminology implies, ground cover...
The Laughing Keys (3)
UNITED STATES—There was a manly surrender in heading back on that freeway from the Westside. The phantom set of keys that would let Irma into her new quarters might be on the bed stand where she'd housesat near downtown. They might not. My job was to flush thoughts of defeat out of my head and drive.
We got through the...
NES Chronicles “Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest”
UNITED STATES—If there is anything people know about me as a game it is the fact that I have always and I mean always been a fan of the “Castlevania” franchise. I have played nearly every single game in the franchise with notable favorites. Some we’ve talked about, some we haven’t, hello, “Castlevania: Symphony of the Night” for the...
Deadhead To Promote Continued Bloom
UNITED STATES—Seed and fruiting structures develop immediately after bloom. Such processes consume valuable resources that could otherwise sustain subsequent bloom or vegetative growth. That is why it is helpful to deadhead some of the many blooming plants that do not need to produce fruit or seed. Deadheading diverts resources to more constructive application.
Deadheading is simply the removal of deteriorating...
3 Habits To Quit To Protect Your Eyesight
UNITED STATES—Your eyesight is so precious. Think of all the things you wouldn’t be able to do if you lost it, even partially. Yet, we do things every day that can damage our eyesight, and most of the time, we do these things without even thinking about it. This is why it’s good to know just what these bad...
NES Chronicles ‘Ninja Gaiden’
UNITED STATES—This was a videogame as a child that was a major challenge for me. I recall it being that one game that I would get frustrated with because I would ALWAYS find myself getting to a certain point at the game and then I would get stuck or for a sake of words lose. You have those games...