OAKHURST – Poke your head under the sink, check your garage and peek into your storage shed. If you see empty cans of paint, old oil filters, solvents, needles or any of a host of hazardous materials and want to get rid of them, you’re in luck. You can shed much of your excess household toxic waste on Saturday, July ...

OAKHURST – Bring your earthy, leafy, and flowery questions to the experts as the Oakhurst Garden Club this weekend, as True Value presents a workshop on Bees, Birds and Butterfly Gardens, on Sunday, June 7 at 1 p.m. The program is free, and if you’ve never been to one of these events, do not delay.

AHWAHNEE – As residents prepare for what is sure to be a challenging fire season, knowing what firefighters need in order to defend their homes may prove invaluable. Over two days last week, the men and women tasked with that crucial job were put through their paces during training drills at Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park. Each year, crews are presented ...

MARIPOSA – The Master Gardeners of Mariposa County will hold their annual Plant and Garden Art Sale on Saturday, May 2, at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds, Amigo Picnic Area from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Special features include bonsai-style trees and shrubs planted by Jeff Nicholas, who will be present at the sale to discuss the plants and their care.

Not only do ladders add height and interest, but provides open storage like a set of funky shelves. See our best Flea Market Gardening ideas and some fun projects you can do! When ladders are too fragile to hold people, they can still hold plants! Besides going vertical in the garden, we love them for how rustic they are and ...

“Almost every successful person begins with two beliefs: the future can be better than the present, and I have the power to make it so.” David Brooks Here’s the conundrum: 1. I’m a conservation biologist. Therefore, I’m into sustainable living. 2. We are in a serious drought. And even when it’s not drought-y here, it’s a pretty darn hot and ...

MARIPOSA – Unable to produce its own food, the dodder vine must live entirely off a host plant. It finds its “prey” by “sniffing” out the chemical scents released by the leaves of nearby plants, and can sneak up on its favorites, even if there’s a less-desirable plant closer.

CATHEYS VALLEY – It’s time to sign up for the annual, free, home-orchard pruning demonstration presented by the Mariposa Master Gardeners. Maxwell Norton, Merced County Director and Farm Advisor, conducts the class, explaining why you need to do it, how to do it, and the right tools to use.

What’s blooming? What’s happening? A walk through my garden just before Winter begins. First off, the patio has been cleared of summer projects, tools, soil and extra containers! I’ve put three sugar cones in three pots to act as a winter centerpiece for the table and all the cushions are in the dry shed. Rain has been in the forecast ...

ANYTOWN, USA – This is the time of year we gather in America to express our gratitude and bond over turkey and football. Glossy magazines decorate the aisles of overflowing supermarkets, resplendent with cornucopia, while malls stock up on stocking stuffers as Black Friday looms and the season of consumption begins. The juggernaut is on us. All we really want ...