Rebecca’s Monthly Gardening Tips
A hopefully helpful list of what to do in your garden this month – tried and true tips from the experts.
Rebecca in the Mercury News

Most Snakes are TRULY Good Guys!
Although you may not get the “warm & fuzzies” from those slithering creatures you encounter in your backyard or along your favorite trail – most are TRULY harmless & EVEN beneficial!
Sustainability We Can Live With

Using Sustainable Flooring
Using a sustainable flooring option won’t deplete our natural resources — there are many gorgeous options to choose from: If you’re under the impression that environmentally friendly flooring products, such as bamboo and cork, are nothing more than the latest fad that will soon disappear, then think again. Though very different from each other, both are high quality products that make beautiful and durable floors. In addition, bamboo and cork are easy to install and cost about the same as traditional hardwood. What Is Sustainable Flooring? Simply put, sustainable flooring is a material that doesn’t deplete natural resources when harvested. In fact, both bamboo and cork regenerate themselves and can be maintained indefinitely. Below is a comparison on how each is grown and harvested. Traditional Wood Flooring Sustainable: No Material: Wood (oak, pine, etc.) Maturity: 30-100 years How Harvested: Timber cutting When Harvested: Once at maturity then replanted Bamboo Sustainable: Yes Material: Grass Maturity: 5-7 years How Harvested: Cut at ground level When Harvested: Every 5-7 years, regrows from roots Cork Sustainable: Yes Material: Wood Bark Maturity: 25 years How Harvested: Bark is peeled away When Harvested: Every 9-12 years, tree remains alive while bark regenerates While sustainability is important, a product has to perform well to be a viable alternative. Fortunately, both bamboo and cork have a lot going for them. Click here for full article and...