One of the many joys of living in Northern Arizona is being surrounded by the beauty of ponderosa pines and aspens. Our forests offer peaceful trails, vibrant wildlife and a stunning landscape to call home. But living in the forest also means accepting the responsibility of wildfire risk. Although this year’s prediction is that Flagstaff will experience a normal monsoon season (which officially started June 15), we are coming off one of the driest winters on record. High temps, low moisture and … [Read more...] about A Firefighter’s Perspective on Firewise Gardening
gardening
Discovering the Perfect Garden Ambiance
In today’s fast-paced and stressful world, your outdoor space can provide a much-needed respite from the grind of daily life. Now, as we head into mid-summer and with your garden coming into full bloom, it’s time to consider how to create your perfect garden ambiance. If you are reading this column, it’s likely you have been spending the last few months weeding, planting, watering and nurturing your garden beds and veggie patches. You’ve pruned those shrubs, trimmed your trees and are … [Read more...] about Discovering the Perfect Garden Ambiance
Growing Trend: Houseplants for Your Home, Office
If you purchased an indoor plant recently, you are part of a growing trend that began several years ago and exploded during the pandemic. The popularity of houseplants was already on the rise before 2020. Young adults who couldn’t afford to rent or buy a house turned to indoor plants as a way to enjoy gardening in the limited space of an apartment. Many people of all ages turned to houseplants as a way to “unplug” from our high-tech world. And then COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown … [Read more...] about Growing Trend: Houseplants for Your Home, Office
Keeping the Buzz Going for Pollinators
There was an important week-long celebration last month that you might have missed. Tucked in between the new federal Juneteenth holiday and the 4th of July is Pollinator Week, an international event to spread the word about bees, birds and butterflies and their importance to all of us. How important are they? It’s estimated that more than 85% of Earth’s plant species require pollinators to exist. One out of every three bites of food you consume comes from plants made possible by honeybees … [Read more...] about Keeping the Buzz Going for Pollinators
