March tips for your Peninsula garden: Soil prep, frost damage and growing carrots in heavy clay
Now is a good time to plant carrots. Carrots thrive in cool weather and can be planted before the final frost of spring. Early planting leads to sweeter, crisper harvests. If you have a light, fluffy soil, perhaps in a raised bed, you can grow those long beautiful carrots you see in the grocery store. Most of us on the Peninsula, however, have heavy clay soil, so it is best to grow the shorter varieties if you plant them in the ground.
Leaf bumps on your Midpeninsula oak? Here’s what to know
If you’ve noticed unusual bumps that look like tiny “horns” or brown spots on the leaves of your oak tree this winter, you’re not imagining it. Many residents in the region are seeing a higher population of tiny gall wasps, most notably the two-horned gall wasp (Dryocosmus dubiosus), affecting their oak trees.
In 1950, Palo Alto’s Lawrence Tract redefined who could live where
Lined with trees and modest one-story homes, Lawrence Lane in Midtown Palo Alto may look like a typical 1950s neighborhood today, but when construction on the first homes began on Feb. 23, 1950, the subdivision made headlines. The 6-acre, 25-home development was designed specifically as an experiment in interracial living — an idea considered radical…
San Mateo, Santa Clara counties top state’s priciest housing markets
While it became slightly easier to afford a home in California at the end of 2025, the state remains one of the nation’s toughest housing markets — especially in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, which again ranked as the priciest places to buy a home.
Home & garden
February tips for your Peninsula garden: Grafting basics, planting summer seeds, managing weeds
Did you know that most fruit trees are grafted? Grafting is a technique where tissues from two…
Neighborhoods
Exploring Kings Mountain: Redwood forests, ocean vistas – and glamping
This week, we’re highlighting Kings Mountain, an unincorporated community that stretches along Skyline Boulevard in the Santa Cruz Mountains about 5 miles above Woodside. Known…
Real Estate business
Mountain View in top 10 U.S. cities for highest property tax bills
Mountain View ranks No. 8 in the nation when it comes to median property taxes paid, according to a new analysis by Construction Coverage.
