The rose dates back thousands of years and is the most popular flower in the world — and this is the time of year to prune existing roses and to plant bare-root roses.

© Jorge Salcedo | Dreamstime.com

Wet coastal climates can cause fungal diseases that can take the joy out of rose gardening. Start with a “disease-resistant” plant that can stand up to coastal growing conditions. Next, look for a rose that is grown on its own rootstock. The base of the plant should be smooth. A large knot indicates that the rose you want has been grafted, which may cause problems in the future.

Types of Roses

• Hybrid tea roses grow in a bush form, producing one flower per stem.

• Floribunda roses grow in bush form and produces clusters of flowers per stem.

• Landscape or groundcover roses are low growing and spreading. They generally require little pruning and are disease-resistant.

• Climbing roses produce flowers on long, flexible canes that typically grow to 8-12 feet, but in the case of ‘Cecile Brunner’ can reach 40 feet.

• Tree roses are generally 4 feet in height. Miniature tree roses grow to 2-3 feet in height.

Roses to Grow in Coastal Climates

Disease-Resistant Climbers

• ‘Sally Holmes’ will reach 15 feet in mild climates. The single flowers are white with a hint of pink.

• ‘William Allen Richardson’ can be grown as a shrub. As a climber it can reach 12 feet. It has large yellow blossoms with hints of orange and few thorns.

• ‘Shadow Dancer’ is a larger, modern climber with fragrant, two-tone striped pink blooms.

• ‘Climbing Iceberg’ has a long bloom period and large white fragrant flowers. It will reach 8-10 feet.

Rosa californica is a wild rose that is native to California. It is a good choice for woodland and wildlife gardens.

Rosa rugosa is a very thorny plant that is native to Asia. It is disease-resistant and will tolerate salt spray and grow in sand.

English Roses

If you are a fan of English roses, David Austin Roses recommends the following cultivars for coastal climates. Many of these are fragrant and repeat bloomers. Medium refers to roses in the 3-4 foot range, while large refers to 5-8 foot plants.

• ‘The Alexandra Rose’ – Medium shrub rose of single/semi-double coppery pink blooms

• ‘Thérèse Bugnet’ – Tall shrub of double pink roses, wind- and disease-resistant

• ‘Bonica’ – Medium-size Shrub with pale pink blooms

• ‘Carefree Beauty’ – Disease-resistant, medium shrub to low climbing rose, deep pink blooms

• ‘Hyde Hall’ – Large hardy shrub rose, double blooms in medium pink

• ‘Kew Gardens’ – Single form, white petals with yellow center, thornless, upright form

• ‘Knock Out’ – Cherry-red modern shrub rose with single blossoms. Hardy, disease-free and drought tolerant

• ‘Queen of Sweden’ – Soft pink English rose of full/double blooms. Disease-free, upright shrub

Design Tips

Roses want full sun so be sure to plant them in the sunniest part of your garden. They need excellent drainage and resent wet feet, so water early in the morning. Plant away from foundations to maximize air circulation and allow roots room to grow. Create visual impact by planting multiple roses of a single cultivar, and plant multiples of a single color. Pull the colors of your interior out into the garden and select roses in complimentary shades. Mixing plants and colors will diminish the overall impact.

Take time to understand how large each plant will get and plant larger varieties in the back of your beds. Site the more fragrant plants where they can be fully appreciated: near pathways, benches and the front of planting beds. Most importantly, take time to smell the roses!

Laurie Keit is a master composter and owner of Seasonal Celebrations, a garden, flower and event design company. Visit her website at www.seasonalcelebrations.com.

by Laurie Keit

Over 26 families in and around El Salitre depend on donations from the Rosario Zepeda Foundation for food and clothing. This photo was taken in December 2010 on a charity trip to El Salitre by Betty Acosta, founder of the Rosario Zepeda Foundation.

December 2011— This is the story of Rosario “Chayo” Zepeda — and the foundation created in her honor.

Zepeda was born in La Estansuela, Jalisco, Mexico and raised in El Salitre — population 864 — where she ran a grocery store. She was a single mother who managed to get her seven children through school, and five even went through college. She was involved in the community and with the church.

But as the Rosario Zepeda Foundationwebsite says, “In 2009, Rosario Zepeda passed away at the age of 88. While her family knew her as a kind and caring person, it wasn’t until after her passing that they learned the extent of her generosity.”

Rosario “Chayo” Zepeda All photos courtesy of the Rosario Zepeda Foundation.

Never wealthy, Rosariolived with her youngest daughter in her later years. She had food, shelter and health insurance, so she used her small pension to stock her grocery store. She then used those groceries to create care packages for needy families. As the need grew, her grandchildren sent modest monthly donations to her, which she also used to buy groceries for the 16 families she helped support. She gave everything she had to help others — and today, her family continues her work from our coastal community.

The Rosario Zepeda Foundation was founded in December 2010 by Half Moon Bay resident Betty Acosta, Rosario’s granddaughter. Sandy Diaz, Rosario’s great granddaughter, helps run the office. The organization is a newly formed 501(c)(3) non-profit that focuses on improving quality of life by providing assistance with food, shelter, clothing, education, toys and daily necessities to those living in poverty.

The Uribe family home after it was destroyed by lightning.

Here are some of the ways one woman’s compassion continues to make a difference in communities in both the United States and Mexico:

The Uribe Family

The Uribes are hard-working farm laborers in Fresno. When their home was destroyed by lightening, they lost everything they owned. They had no insurance. Donations from the Rosario Zepeda Foundation have provided them with food, shelter, clothing and a bed to sleep on.

Families of the El Salitre Area

Over 26 families in and around El Salitre depend on donations from the Rosario Zepeda Foundation for food and clothing.

Sy Matthew Sherman.

Sy Matthew Sherman

As the foundation’s website says: “Sy Matthew Sherman is 9 years old. He lives in Salinas and has been battling liver cancer for the past eight months. He has just finished his 10th round of chemotherapy and has endured more suffering than many of us have known in our lifetime.” The foundation is working to help raise money for Sy’s medical bills. His Aunt Rachael is keeping a blog

and you can help out by purchasing a Team Sy — Cancer Sucks bracelet or T-shirt, or by making a donation through the Rosario Zepeda Foundation. All donations are tax-deductible and 100 percent of donations go to the families, not to administrative overhead.

Matt Sherman, Sy’s father, wrote, “With the help of the Rosario Zepeda foundation we have been able to spread our story about Sy and his battle with cancer. Sandy and her family have helped us incredibly with donations and even created fundraisers like our Team Sy shirts. Having them help us through our tough times and struggles has been a blessing. I’m so glad they appeared out of the blue like angels. We could ask for nothing more than what they have done for us and Sy.”

Brenda Velazquez

Brenda Velazquez, who received an award for outstanding academic achievement from the state of Jalisco, is looking for a sponsor to help her continue her college education in Mexico.

Another story from the foundation’s website: “Brenda Velazquez has earned outstanding achievement awards for her studies. She dreams of continuing her education. Her parents can’t afford to help her. The Rosario Zepeda Foundation steps in to help raise money, so this young woman can achieve her dreams.”

Yoana Hernandez

In Mexico, medical services are available only to those who can pay for them. When Yoana Hernandez needed emergency gall bladder surgery, the foundation was able to raise $1,000 for her operation. Hernandez wrote, “With the help of Rosario Zepeda Foundation, not only could I afford my surgery, but I also had enough to pay for medication. I am grateful; now I am healthy and I feel good. I think we should all help the Rosario Zepeda Foundation so they can continue to help others that need it.”

The foundation’s website says that poor villages have an ongoing need for towels, clothing, toiletries, dry food, school supplies, toys and household supplies. And as the need for donations continues to grow, so does the need for volunteers. Each of us can make a difference by donating what we can: household items, money, or our time spent helping out.

This is a grassroots organization run by people who care about others less fortunate than themselves. We can all help. The question is, will we?

by Laurie Keit

Cutco collection of hand tools. Photos: Laurie Keit.

December 2011—How many hand tools have you bought only to discover they were badly made? Have you ever had the spring break on your pruners, or the head of your trowel bend back — or, worse still, snap off? Just a gentle reminder that the old “you get what you pay for” is as true today as when the phrase was coined.

In the late 1880s English immigrants from Sheffield’s famous cutlery industry settled in Olean, NY, forming the roots of what would one day become Cutco. Today, Cutco not only makes world-class knives, but garden tools as well. I’ve recently switched over, am delighted with the products and thought I would share this resource with you now.

The use of garden tools finds us holding our tools in a “power grip” position, where the fingers encircle the handle and the thumb extends over the back of the handle. The products in the Cutco collection — including a wide-scoop garden trowel, transplanting trowel, weeder, cultivator, and bypass pruners — all have handles that are thick enough for comfort and are contoured for a secure grip. There is a pre-drilled hole in each handle that can be used to hang up the tools on a pegboard. The orange markings on the handles help find tools in the garden.

Like Cutco’s cutlery, the bypass pruners are made in America, and like all of Cutco’s blade products they are backed with a guarantee that focuses on 100 percent customer satisfaction. The hand tools, like so many products today, are made in China, but unlike many of those products, these are also backed by Cutco’s “Forever Guarantee” program, which includes:

• A forever performance guarantee.

• A forever sharpness guarantee.

• A forever replacement service agreement for misuse or abuse.

• A 15-day unconditional money-back guarantee.

If you order the five-piece garden tools set, will also receive a free heavy-duty garden bag!

Other December gardening tips

December is the time to plant spring flower bulbs such as tulips and hyacinths. It is also planting time for cyclamen, camellias, roses and living Christmas trees. Once the camellias finish blooming, it will be time to prune them back. To avoid spreading disease or damaging plant tissues, always make sure your tools are clean and sharp.

For a complete list of what to plant, and what maintenance to perform on your December garden, please see the Resources page of my website under Gardens. Happy Holidays!

Laurie Keit is the owner of Seasonal Celebrations; Garden, Flower & Event Design. A master composter, freelance writer and public speaker, Keit can be contacted through her website, www.seasonalcelebrations.com.

by Laurie Keit

Lettuce, chard and squash are growing in water and mineral solution after four weeks without using soil. Staff photo.

Ask any experienced gardener about the secret to successful gardening, and sooner or later you will be hearing about the soil. The fertility of the soil, water holding capacity, porosity and structure are critical success factors to gardeners everywhere. Now take the soil out of the equation and what do you have? Hydroponic gardening: a method of growing plants — including fruits, flowers and vegetables — in water and mineral solutions without using soil.

Hydroponics has been around for hundreds of years, but recent breakthroughs in technology have yielded exciting new options for the home gardener. Home gardeners face a myriad of challenges ranging from busy home life, outside jobs and family commitments to outside influences such as weather and wildlife. The effects of gravity and aging also take their toll and what was once fun is now a backbreaking chore. There is nothing fun or easy about tilling soil by hand, digging holes and struggling daily to protect seedlings from birds, squirrels and marauding raccoons.

Enter a new age of gardening that anyone can do, virtually anywhere. I’ve written before on container gardening, and also on hydroponic gardening, but never before had I found the two combined into a single unit with such promise of success for the home gardener. Now I have.

Lettuce, spinach, chard and squash grow in foggy Half Moon Bay after only six weeks in the hydroponic garden. Staff photo.

The new unit is a portable growing environment that combines aeration technology with the flexibility and convenience of a container garden in a single unit. If you are tired of battling gophers and snails, digging in clay and hauling bags of compost and soil amendments into the garden only to have them break down over time and disappear, this advanced form of hydroponic gardening may be your new gardening passion!

Imagine a lightweight structure that assembles like a fountain with a reservoir and pump at the bottom and is small enough to sit on a deck or porch, with castors to facilitate easy movement to take advantage of changing sun patterns as the seasons change. A high-quality unit made of food-safe plastic with steel hardware for long-lasting durability, which uses closed-system technology to recycle 100 percent of water and nutrients. The use of this technology will not only save your back and pocketbook, but it will allow you to grow meals from seeds in half the time of conventional growing techniques.

Do you remember sprouting an avocado pit or lima beans in a glass of water as a child? Do you remember how exciting it was to see that first bit of root emerge, and then a tiny sprout? You can re-experience that wonder — that miracle of life emerging — through this unit in the form of lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, chard, herbs, onions, beans, berries and more. The units can be stacked to create taller structures to maximize crop yield in small areas, saving time and money while delivering a bountiful harvest.

Seedlings are started in a natural rock fiber cube before placing in tower. Staff photo.

As a garden designer, I spend much of my time designing custom vegetable gardens for my clients. These consist of raised beds with gopher-resistant wire mesh, lighting for moonlight snail hunts, built-in irrigation systems, cold frames for seed germination and other amenities. These growing environments are expensive to build and take considerable time and effort to maintain. The new hydroponic system provides an alternative to those who want to grow high-quality organic produce without investing the time and money needed for a full size in-ground garden.

I love going to the farmers markets and seeing and tasting the wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. I also love coming home with bags of delectable goodies, but what I don’t like is coming home with empty pockets. This system converts seeds to produce using water, nutrient solution and a modest amount of electricity to run the pump.

Mature chard and new lettuce starts. Staff photo.

Germinate seeds in a day or two, harden off seedlings in a week or two — the system makes it easy to be a successful grower. The roots of your seedlings are continually bathed in nutrient solution in a highly oxygenated environment — supported by the pump, which allows the plants to grow at an accelerated rate. Maintenance is simply checking the water level and nutrient/ph balance on a weekly basis, cleaning the pump filter and trimming excess roots.

The uses for this system are wide and varied. Use them in a greenhouse, on a roof or deck, for schools, food banks and shelters, restaurants, for commercial or for home use. You no longer need to be a farmer to grow enough fruits and vegetables to support the needs of your family.

These units will be available for purchase on a limited basis in February 2012 and more widely available beginning in April 2012.

Laurie Keit is a master composter and the owner of Seasonal Celebrations, a garden, flower and event design company. Visit her website at www.seasonalcelebrations.com.

by Laurie Keit

The leaves are falling, the air is crisp and thoughts are turning to decorating for Halloween!

Halloween décor can be dark and creepy, light and elegant, or cute and young-child appropriate. Here are a few ideas for giving your haunted house spook-tacular curb appeal this season.

For those of you with a dark side, and a penchant for parties, the sky is the limit. A graveyard is a front-yard must, with a fog machine for that extra-creepy ground fog effect. Don’t forget the sound effects. An inexpensive tape recorder with looping sound effects or a horror movie soundtrack can be very effective at setting the mood. If you have a large tree in the front, you can always hang a skeleton. If you don’t have a large tree, try a chalk outline and some cast-off blood and crime-scene tape across the driveway or near the entry. Replace the outside lights with colored lights or black lights, making sure to leave enough lighting for safety. Take a vacation this month from landscape maintenance and let it grow. The more overgrown, the better it will look.

If you want to use fake cobwebs over plants and around doorways, be sure to stretch it thin. Most people overuse the material and sacrifice authenticity in the process. A little goes a long way. You can also make your own ghosts using cheesecloth and fishing line and hang them from the eaves. A hidden fan will cause them to fly around even if the weather is calm.

For a more elegant look, consider making or buying a harvest wreath of dried materials or black feathers for the front door. If you have a large entry, try two pedestal urns as haunted topiaries to flank the door. You can put skulls on dowel rods and surround with plants to create these topiaries. Ivy is easy to work with and inexpensive. You can make more complex topiary shapes out of chicken wire, tomato cages or both.

For those with kids, animated figures, carved smiling pumpkins and oversized candy decorations up the walk can provide stimulation for their imaginations without causing fear. Make sure there is good lighting on the porch. Oversized candy and lollipops lining the walk to the front door are easily made out of poster board or scrap wood, and then painted. If you have a large area in front, this is where you can set hay bales in a circle or semicircle with a heat source in the center. It’s a great place to host the trick-or-treat festivities while socializing with friends. Wear costumes and you’ll have the kids lining up! Don’t forget the food and beverages for you and your friends. You can use dry ice for the bubbling cauldron effect. Be sure to put the dry ice in a liner, not in with your beverage!

Celebrate the harvest season on the coast with pumpkins. Our local farmers grow pumpkins and gourds in different shapes, colors, sizes and cultivars. Mix and match for a fabulous display. Carve them, light them and enjoy every moment. Floral lighting is available at party supply stores and includes colored LED lighting that can fit inside the smallest pumpkin or gourd. Underwater lighting is available in a rainbow of colors, including red, to turn a front yard water feature into a spectacular prop.

Happy Halloween!

Laurie Keit is a Master Composter and owner of Seasonal Celebrations, a garden, flower and event design company. Visit her website at www.seasonalcelebrations.com.

© Gavril Margittai | Dreamstime.com

by Laurie Keit

August 2011 — Coastal gardeners face extreme challenges that vary with soil type and are exacerbated by overcast skies and low heat, high winds and salt-laden air. To determine your soil type, conduct this simple experiment.

Get a clear glass jar with lid, and add two cups of water and two drops of dishwashing liquid. Dig a 4-inch hole, and extract ¼ cup of soil. Put the soil in the soapy water and shake for a couple minutes until all the particles have separated. Let it settle overnight and look at the layers in the morning.

The sand layer will be on the bottom with the silt on top of the sand, the clay will be on top of the silt or suspended in the water, and any organic materials will float on top. Ideal conditions are equal parts sand and silt, with a thin layer of clay. All soils will benefit from adding good-quality compost, regardless of their current type. You can also add coir to sandy soils to improve water retention.

Next do a visual assessment of your site. Identify your main entry and entertainment areas. Sit there at various times of day and notice where the winds are coming from. Do you have a wind break and heat source? Plexiglas panels are great additions to raised decks and other structures, while radiant heaters can be mounted on eaves and beams, heat instantly and take little energy to operate.

What is the rotation pattern of the sun? Use a compass, if necessary, to get your bearings. Number your beds and identify them by the amount of sun received. Full sun is an area that receives a minimum of four to six hours of sun a day.

East-facing gardens receive early morning sun. This exposure is considered partial sun. Good plant choices are bellflower, coral bells and cranesbill geranium.

South-facing gardens get the most sun, so reserve them for Mediterranean climate plants, and sun-loving vegetable and herb crops. Lavender, rosemary, sage and thyme are good choices.

North-facing exposures are great for shade-loving plants which also appreciate additional moisture, such as hosta, ferns, heuchera and hydrangea.They are also great places to place your rain barrels, compost bins, worm bins, recycle containers and other utility items.

West-facing exposures are great for shade-loving plants that can tolerate bright sun at the end of the day. Columbine, bleeding heart and primrose are examples of plants that will thrive in this position.

Select the plants based on their mature size to minimize ongoing maintenance. Measure the bed and mark off the space needed for each plant on grid paper or on site with marking paint, about $5 per can at hardware stores.

Plants for Coastal Conditions

Ground morning glory, rosemary, juniper, beach aster, seaside daisy, gazania, succulents, mallow, grasses, cape rush, common yarrow, sage, common thrift, Jupiter’s beard, rockrose, wild lilac, santolina, bachelor’s button, honeysuckle, marguerites, wild buckwheat, strawberry, phormium, wormwood, coast rosemary, Australian fuchsia, rugosa rose, sea buckthorn and daylily.

Plants for Sandy Soils

Tap root vegetables (carrots, radishes, beets, turnips, parsnips, etc.), many herbs, berries, California poppy, lavender, thrift, blanket flower, yarrow, gazania, rugosa rose, penstemon, crape myrtle, cosmos, aquilegia, alyssum, artemisia, armeria, campanula, cerastium, ceratostigma, flowering quince, chrysanthemum, coreopsis, succulents, dianthus, globe thistle, geranium, liriope, hollyhock, iberis, mallow, miscanthus, nepeta, phlox, sage, potentilla, primrose, rudbeckia, santolina, stachys, thymus and society garlic.

Enjoy your gardening!

Laurie Keit is a master composter and owner of Seasonal Celebrations, a garden, flower and event design company. Visit her website at www.seasonalcelebrations.com.

by Laurie Keit

© Ulrich Mueller | Dreamstime.com

June 2011 — Weeds are simply plants growing in the wrong place — in your garden!

Weeds are also messengers telling you that something is wrong in your Coastside garden. They thrive in low-oxygen, low-nutrient environments. Your typical desirable garden plants thrive in high-oxygen, fertile soils. Correct the situation by aerating and amending your soil with porous materials like shale, lava rock and finished compost to increase oxygen levels, porosity and fertility. Chemicals should be avoided due to the environmental damage they can cause.

Many weeds are simply native plants from other parts of the world that thrive in our climate. They threaten to choke out our native plants, earning them the classification of “noxious” (tree of heaven, Arundo, and pampas grass) or “invasive” (broom, yellow star thistle, jubata grass, cape ivy, fennel and gorse). There are also “watch list” weeds like English ivy.

As home gardeners we can assist in protecting our native habitats by avoiding the use of these plants, and by disposing of them in the garbage can, not the compost bin. Seeds can survive the commercial composting process and be re-distributed far and wide, according to the San Mateo County Weed Management Area.

Recently cleared or disturbed ground is a prime habitat for weeds, as are untended gardens. Even the most meticulous garden is subject to weeds from passing birds, winds, etc.

There is, however, a hidden gift inside this problem; I call this gift “the magic.” Weeds have hidden, beneficial uses in teas, lotions and home remedies long forgotten in our modern-day lives. Native Americans knew the power of these little plants and how to make the most of them. Now you can, too!

Blackberry leaves can be brewed into a tea to relieve the symptoms of cough, colds and flu. The bark of the willow tree can be chewed to alleviate headaches. Borage leaves can also be brewed into a tea to strengthen the adrenals and heart, stabilize one’s mood and suppress coughs. The flowers are edible. Nasturtium flowers are also edible. Burdock root can be used as a tea or as an external poultice for cold sores, eczema, cysts, rashes and burns. Dandelion, Bellis perennis (the common lawn daisy) and stinging nettle are plants that can be used as healing teas to aid in healing a wide variety of ailments.

Herbal remedies should be used with care, as they are as powerful as modern day drugs. Consult your physician for persistent conditions such as high fever, pain, difficulty breathing, etc.

If you are intrigued by this topic and wish to learn more, Wild About Weeds by Beryl Nozedar is an excellent resource for beginners.

Laurie Keit is the owner of Seasonal Celebrations — a garden, flower and event design company. Visit her website at www.seasonalcelebrations.com.

by Laurie Keit

“Heaven is a little closer in a house by the sea.” — unknown

What is it about the ocean that calls to us? Have you ever stopped to think about the small percentage of Americans who actually get to live by the ocean? Thanks to private home rentals, everyone can enjoy this magical experience. Pacifica has its share of these vacation beauties and they are loaded with luxuries.

Pacifica enjoys a prime coastal location, close to both downtown San Francisco and the San Francisco International Airport — just 15-20 minutes to each destination. Branching out, Pacifica also provides easy access to Marin and the wine country to the north, and to Half Moon Bay and then Santa Cruz to the south, along Highway 1. And don’t forget the Carmel and Monterey Bay areas!

Pacifica has great surfing and golf, a number of good restaurants, a fishing pier and lots of open space for picnicking, hiking and photography.

Each of the following homes is available for rent year-round. Each offers amenities such as satellite TV, DVD,

Vacation home overlooking Linda Mar Beach. Photo courtesy of VRBO.

fireplaces or wood stoves, linens, full kitchens with appliances and cooking utensils, on-site laundry facilities, WiFi, phone services and more. Major credit cards are accepted.

Our first vacation home has five bedrooms and three baths. Its seven levels span 4,000 square feet, and its four

decks offer exceptional views of Linda Mar Beach, the ocean and the surrounding woods. This home sleeps 10-16 across nine separate sleeping areas, offering ample privacy and luxury. It has an office, loft and playroom, making it a perfect retreat for vacations, special events and family reunions. It is located on Pedro Point at the southern end of Pacifica — at the top of the hill and the end of a cul-de-sac, perched overlooking the sea. It’s also less than five minutes from two shopping centers. Discounted rates are available for off-peak times and for extended rentals.

Beach Boulevard property located near the fishing pier. Photo courtesy of Vicky and Mel Peterson.

The second property is located on Beach Boulevard near the fishing pier in the Sharp Park district of Pacifica. This modern home has an unobstructed view of the ocean, which is literally across the street! The golf course is less than a five-minute drive away. The Promenade runs in front of the house leading along the jetty to Mori Point’s hiking trails.

This home has five bedrooms, four bathrooms, plus a loft and office. It sleeps 12. The oversized master suite features a California king bed and jetted tub. This home has recently been remodeled and has new furnishings and appliances.

A large great room sits behind the curved windows, which look out on a panoramic view of the ocean and the Farallon Islands. This house includes an upstairs game room where you can play darts, table hockey and Foosball. There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs and two master suites downstairs. There are washers and dryers on both levels — no carting laundry up and down stairs while on vacation!

One of the bedrooms in the third home, on Pedro Point. Photo courtesy of Margot Hartford Photography.

If you want to be “on the beach,” you can’t get any closer than this!

The third home is also on Pedro Point. This tri-level home features a gourmet kitchen with professional-grade

appliances. The kitchen, living room and dining rooms are on the top floor and face the ocean and views of the Golden Gate Bridge. If you enjoy music, you’ll appreciate that this home has stereo sound throughout and a grand piano in the living room. This property has a large hot tub and parking for up to three vehicles. The house can

Patio and view from the third home, also located on Pedro Point. Photo courtesy of Margot Hartford Photography.

accommodate 4-8 people in its four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, which are split between the two lower levels. The owner lives on-site in a small apartment.

We invite you to stay and explore our wonderful coastal community, living the local’s dream and loving every minute!

by Laurie Keit

Wall planting system. Photos courtesy of PlantOnWalls.

April 2011 — Vertical gardening is not a new concept. Fences, trellises and pole teepees have provided support for vertical gardening for decades.

Modern stainless steel trellis structures took their place in commercial applications and made their way into the high-end residential market in the past decade, but a hot topic for 2011 is affordable vertical gardening systems for residential gardeners. Indoor systems are available, but for this article we will focus on outdoor systems for residential use.

Although you can make your own vertical gardening system, there are good reasons to purchase a premade system. Food safety is first and foremost. The materials will not rot or leach carcinogens into a plant that you may end up ingesting or applying to your skin.

Vertical garden kits or “systems” are simple and easy to use. Systems can be combined to cover large spaces and you hang them on a vertical surface like you hang a painting on a wall. Systems range in size and shape, and can be used to create a living patchwork quilt of herbs, succulents, colorful annuals or a mix of plants.

Here are two types of herbs that can be used to create a vertical coastal herb garden.

Culinary Herb Garden

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

Mint (Mentha spp)

Tarragon, French (Artemisia

dracunulus)

Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Thyme (Thymus spp.)

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Marjoram (Origanum marjorana)

Medicinal Herb Garden

Lavender (Lavandula spp)

Catmint (Nepeta spp)

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia)

Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Thyme (Thymus spp.)

Violet (Viola odorata)

Other theme ideas for vertical herb gardens include an herbal tea garden, an aromatic herb garden, a cosmetic herb garden or an ornamental herb garden.

An important note to the reader: Space limitations prevent full descriptions and uses for each plant. The medicinal herbs listed should not be used as a substitute for medical care. In the event of serious illness, your physician should be consulted. Plant toxicity varies by plant and quantity. The reader is responsible for researching the various properties of each plant before using it for medicinal purposes. If you have an interest in herbs, a good herbal reference book, such as Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs, is highly recommended.

There are a variety of vertical gardening systems on the market, but my favorite is available from PlantsOnWalls.com.

If you are a do-it-yourself gardener and prefer to make your own system, you can find information online at DIY sites such as DIY Network, eHow and Do it Yourself.

Happy Gardening!

Laurie Keit is the owner of Seasonal Celebrations: a garden, flower and event design company. Visit her website at www.seasonalcelebrations.com.

by Laurie Keit

© Bryngelzon | iphoto

Campouts in the backyard make for exciting birthday parties and sleepovers — and a great way to spend family time teaching kids about nature, astronomy and biology. If you are fortunate enough to have lawn in the backyard, this is an area that can be used for any number of fun activities.

Sleeping

A tent is ideal, but if you don’t have a tent, you can use large tarps with grommets to make tents and teepees. You can use tent stakes or short pieces of rebar and zip ties to secure the tarp to the ground. Tarps can also be used as waterproof flooring. A backyard playhouse, tree house or fort is another place for kids to camp out in.

Once you have the shelter set up, furnish it with air mattresses and sleeping bags — or blankets, pillows and comforters from the house.

Cooking

A portable fire ring can’t be beat for cooking and warmth, but be sure to check your local fire codes and make sure an adult is present at all times. If you don’t have a fire ring or chiminea, a backyard grill can be used, or even some candles, a lantern or flashlights set in a ring of stones.

Choose foods that are easy for kids to make and ones they like. Traditional favorites include hot dogs cooked on sticks, and canned beans or chili heated on the edge of the fire. If you want to be more adventurous, you can pack a cooler of sliced meat, potatoes, vegetables and seasonings and let all the campers choose their own ingredients. Layer and wrap in foil packets and place on the edge of the fire to cook. S’mores or banana boat desserts are sure to be hit. Go online for recipes.

Trail bars and bottled water make for great snacks and the water will keep everyone hydrated. The mini bottles are great for kids and minimize waste.

If you plan to cook breakfast out, you can’t beat pancakes, eggs and sausage cooked over an open fire!

Activities

While it is still daylight, have kids collect leaves from various plants and teach them about the properties of those plants. Make sure there is no poison oak or stinging nettle in the back yard before you set the kids loose!

Have each person find something in the yard that can be “played” as a musical instrument. Percussion instruments are among the first known to man. Hands, feet, sticks, rocks, etc. are examples of percussion instruments. Use these backyard instruments in conjunction with your voice to create a musical experience.

If you are lucky enough to live away from city lights, and you have a clear night, you can look for the Big Dipper and Polaris, the North Star. You can find free information and basic stargazing maps online.

Old fashioned games and camp songs are fun. Storytelling can be mesmerizing by the light of a campfire and ghost stories are a natural. I remember participating in a séance to summon the ghost of Abraham Lincoln as a child and scaring myself silly. There are entire websites devoted to storytelling and camp songs.

A simple game of “telephone” or a continuous story is another form of entertainment — and either is sure to have everyone laughing. With a continuous story, one person starts the story and each person takes a turn picking up the storyline. A moderator or group leader can help spur the imagination and keep the story going.

Other Considerations

Our mild climate permits camping most of the year. Any dry night over 50 degrees will work.

Be sure to have a couple of flashlights on hand. If you plan to stargaze, use red cellophane to cover the lens of your flashlight. This will allow you to look at your stargazing map without adversely affecting your night vision. Weather reports and star maps can be consulted to ensure a clear night’s sky.

Make sure to set up camp and your campfire or grill — and collect any leaves or items for musical instruments — before nightfall.

Minimizing trips back to the house will enhance your camping experience. Record your trip in a photo journal and enjoy your camping experience!