By Ron Allen, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa County Right now we are in the midst of extreme, widespread drought. One telltale indication is that oak trees in Mariposa County are dropping their leaves. What should one do? You don’t need to do much, but you should avoid basic mistakes. Here are some guidelines. Avoid disturbing the ground within 6 feet of ...

FROM THE EDITOR: Sal Maccarone will be taking a brief hiatus from article writing at SNO. In his absence, he has asked us to republish some of his more popular articles from the past. This week: Frank Lloyd Wright. Enjoy! Originally published February 13, 2021. By Sal Maccarone Historians study architectural style because it closely reflects the ideals and beliefs of ...

A message from FAM:  We are so grateful to you for helping us weather this past pandemic year! Your continued support of the Fresno Art Museum during this Annual Fund Drive is so important!  It will allow us to continue to enrich your lives, educate our children, and expose you to stories that impart truth and hope through art. Our new 2021/2022 fiscal ...

FROM THE EDITOR: Sal Maccarone will be taking a brief hiatus from article writing at SNO. In his absence, he has asked us to republish some of his more popular articles from the past. This week: Public Art. Enjoy! Originally published April 2, 2021.  By Sal Maccarone Art that is found residing in public places such as lobbies, civic centers, ...

By Bob Labozetta (UC Master Gardener, Mariposa) We are once again living through a drought year in the Sierra Nevada foothills. As such, it is a good idea to revisit and remind ourselves of the techniques of waterwise landscaping that is otherwise known as drought-tolerant landscaping or xeriscaping. There are basic principles of waterwise landscaping 1. Planning/Design requires making appropriate ...

By Debby Carter, Librarian, Sierra Historic Sites Association A well-known local figure in the mountain area from the early nineteen hundreds was Doc C. E. Wells. He grew up in the Visalia area, went to medical school in San Francisco, and worked in the hospital at the Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company for 17 years. In 1927, he married Liliane, ...

By Don & Sharon Grove Last week we received an email from Frank & Deb Sipes, also known as Good Medicine, a local singing group from North Fork, CA. The email announced the end of their inactivity caused by the pandemic. They were scheduled to sing on Saturday & Sunday, June 19 & 20, at the Dockside Too restaurant in ...

By Don Grove North Fork – The North Fork History Group and our five partners have now produced 100 History Mysteries. Each month we ask the Sierra News Online readers to provide information we lack. We use the information we gain to help give our museums and archives more to share with the communities we serve. Thanks to our partners: ...

By Sal Maccarone Technique, a French word, is loosely defined as “a procedure that is used to accomplish a task.” Now used as a noun, the word can apply to procedures specific to any profession, trade, or even to the many things that we all do in life. There is technique employed while cooking, driving, mountain climbing, bowling, and even ...

By Bob Labozetta (UC Master Gardener, Mariposa) Sweet melons are cucurbits, along with cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash. They similarly enjoy a long, warm summer — something we have plenty of in the Sierra foothills. Here, they can be directly seeded in fertile, loamy soil that has reached at least 65℉ – 70℉. You can plant 6 seeds in small hills, ...