Tips and tricks about homes and gardens.
I went for a walk in the neighborhood this morning. I was just planning to listen to a podcast and enjoy the fresh air. Instead, I ended up taking a bunch of photos of the neighborhood in bloom. I’ve tried to identify the plants as best I can. If you know these plants better than…
Our trees are at risk of infestation and dying from the Invasive Shothole Borer (ISHB), a small beetle that when boring into a tree, introduces a fungus that can cause branch dieback and eventually death to the entire tree. There are many trees that are susceptible to infestation, but of particular interest to our neighborhood…
Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful, interesting and historic residences in Naglee Park is the Maybeck House at 62 South 13th Street. Fifty years ago it nearly disappeared, a victim of a combination of bad zoning, greed and extreme abuse. In the early 1970s it was marked as condemned by San Jose Code Enforcement,…
A friend who grew up in the neighborhood in the 500 block of South 14th reminisced that he was in awe of a house around the corner from his boyhood home. He said “I always thought the richest man in San Jose lived in that house”. He was talking about 555 South 13th (pictured above),…
Here are some of the DIY ant control techniques suggested by our neighbors. Kill Them Strategy This technique involves sprinkling dry Cream of Wheat, right out of the box, on the anthill or as close to it as possible. The theory is that ants eat it and it dehydrates them and kills them. Effectiveness: This…
