Memories of a fading summer: Shades of blue | Berkeleyside

This exotic plant is called Puya berteroniana and is actually a spring bloomer, but I couldn't resist. Large flower stalks rise out like asparagus spears that can reach 4'-6' tall, eventually bearing these bell-shaped turquoise metallic blue green blossoms. It is native to Chile and is in the Bromeliad family. This one is just off Tunnel Road. All photos: Robert Trachenberg

Pols look at state ban on intoxicating ‘bath salts’

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H er face red and hot with tears, Lindsey Semple described Thursday how bath salts - the name for a new, potent designer drug - had derailed her life, cost her two jobs, drained her savings and nearly killed her.

"At work, I would be shaky and pale from staying up up to 72 hours straight," she told lawmakers at a State House hearing. "I got suicidal and very paranoid."

Bath salts present new substance abuse challenge

Lance Cpl. Michelle S. Mattei Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

Following the imposed ban of "spice," service members are now being faced with another faux drug challenge.

A ban was recently enforced in December 2010 by Marine Corps Forces Pacific that prohibited the use of a synthetic drug known as "spice" and the hallucinogenic herb, salvia divinorum.

naturalmedicine.co.za

drug and her interactionsGIULIA CRISCUOLO, BPHARM, qualified as a pharmacist and has a diploma in homeopathy. Involved in education and training on all matters related to supplementation, health and wellness, she joined OTC Pharma in 2009. Giulia is passionate about exploring all dimensions of awareness and the flowering of the human spirit. She enjoys spending time in nature and loves dance and movement, Tantra, hiking, trail running, mountain biking, adventure racing and yoga.

How to keep oaks happy and thriving - Home and Garden - sacbee.com

Symbolic of the Sacramento Valley, oaks offer a lot to home landscapes, but they're not for every garden. Here are some pros and cons to consider, courtesy of the UC Davis Arboretum staff:

• Picturesque spreading branches add beauty to the garden. Mature trees increase property values.

• Many oaks are long-lived and drought tolerant, provide shade and require little maintenance.

Verizon Strikers Unite For Candlelight Vigil Outside Chairman's House - Nanuet, NY Patch

Members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), labor community, and clergy held a candlelight vigil in support of the CWA’s strike against Verizon Friday night in West Nyack.

The vigil, which started at Birchwood School and made its way to Verizon Chairman Ivan Seidenberg’s house a few blocks away, lasted for almost two hours.

Joshua Siskin: Attract butterflies to your garden with the right plants

Butterfly milkweed (Aesclepias currasavica) (Joshua Siskin/Special to the Daily News)

Q: Near downtown at the Zen Center, we are looking to begin a butterfly garden on our monastery grounds. Can you give us information and advice as to how to do this?

A: Establishing a butterfly garden is mainly a matter of selecting plant species that attract butterflies. Butterfly houses, easily located through an Internet search, are also useful tools for inviting butterflies to take up permanent residence in your garden. Butterfly houses come in a variety of styles and, like birdhouses, are artistic accoutrements to any outdoor space. In addition to appropriate plants and houses, butterflies need lots of sun and a steady water source to make

Henry Homeyer: Flower beds need a mid-August checkup | Garden | projo.com | The Providence Journal

August can be a tough month in the flower garden. Generally it’s hot and dry. Even the annual flowers that are supposed to bloom like the Energizer Bunny are tired and moody. I pulled some muscles in my back (foolishly moving big stones as if I were 25 instead of 65) so the weeds in my garden got ahead of me, too. But now I am back at it, and trying to perk up my gardens.

Gardeners create a park for wildlife

The Yard of the Month for August is located at 4535 Harrison St. in Leeds. The yard contains a variety of trees, bushes and flowers for wildlife.

The Yard of the Month honor for August goes to Tom and Gloria Widner, 4535 Harrison St. in Leeds.

A beautiful place

A WEEK last Friday, my fiancée and I were watching Gardeners World. It was amazing to see Newby Hall estate and gardens featured on the programme.

The double perennial borders looked wonderful and Jo Swift interviewed the head gardener who, to my amazement, said they were going to dig the borders up and replace a lot of plants this year.

Between seasons, branch out

Waning summer garden can spring back with some tending and new plantings

Revive your garden Deadhead (cut off the spent blooms). Give plants a slow, deep watering to revive them. Continue to deep water at least once a week. Fertilize with an organic material like fish emulsion or worm castings. Don’t use chemical fertilizers which can encourage too much rapid plant growth at this time of year, when plants don’t need to be pushed too hard. If you haven’t yet mulched your landscape, do it now or replenish existing mulch to retain water and keep plant roots cool. Replace worn-out spring annuals with colorful heat lovers like zinnias, lantana and echinacea.

Alimentar bien para crecer mejor

Organizaciones sociales y estatales recomiendan acciones políticas para superar el hambre, bajar la obesidad y diversificar los alimentos. Los números a revertir. La incidencia del gasto social en el país.

El acento de la propuesta es para mejorar la calidad de la asistencia en un país productor de alimentos para el mundo.

Prosciutto e melone cotto in padella

Roma - (Ign) - La proposta di Alessandro Circiello per il pranzo di Ferragosto

Roma, 13 ago. - (Ign) - Per il pranzo di Ferragosto lo chef Alessandro Circiello propone Prosciutto e melone cotto in padella. Ingredienti per 4 persone : meloni estivi n° 2; prosciutto crudo g. 400; salvia fresca q.b.; olio extra vergine d'oliva 3 cucchiai; aceto balsamico di Modena q.b.; insalata riccia g. 400; indivia belga g. 400; miele n° 2 cucchiai Procedimento : tagliare a cubi il melone, avvolgerlo a delle fettine di prosciutto crudo e salvia, dorarlo in padella antiaderente, a parte ridurre sul fuoco l'aceto balsamico e il miele, utilizzare come accompagnamento la riduzione di aceto, servire l’antipasto su letto di insalate tagliate a julienne, ultimare con olio extra vergine d'oliva. TEMPO DI PREPARAZIONE : 15 MINUTI DIFFICOLTA' : FACILE SUGGERIMENTO : dorare in padella ben calda il melone avvolto al prosciutto, in modo da renderlo croccante all’esterno in questo modo si creerà una crosta friabile all’esterno e preserverà il melone all’interno.

Livorno-Varese 0-0: Un tempo per parte = Un punto per parte

Giusto pareggio al “Picchi” tra Livorno e Varese; i biancorossi lombardi giocano meglio nella prima frazione mentre gli amaranto di casi fanno di più al rientro dalla pausa per il thè caldo. Alla fine arriva uno 0-0 sostanzialmente gradito a entrambe le squadre. Un punto che permette al Varese di mantenere il quarto posto dall'assalto della Reggina mentre il Livorno rimane a un tiro di schioppo dalla corsa playoff,  sarà probabilmente determinante la prossima trasferta all'“Olimpico” di Torino.

KIDNOCKER: What can be done in the garden during February? - Green Valley News & Sun: Lifestyle

It is the time of year when gardeners get a little tired of covering and uncovering their plants with frostcloth.

A number of cold-sensitive plants and trees are looking more than a little unhappy with their damaged, brown leaves.

The urge to cut away all the rolled, crinkled, bronzed leaves and branches can be overwhelming.

Honest talk about drugs, alcohol

Forum at Springfield Middle School will inform parents.

How often do you and your teenagers discuss the latest trends in drug and alcohol?

You might be surprised to learn how different the scene is from what you remember.

In an effort to keep parents informed, the Springfield Middle School PTA invites the community to its program, "A Frank Discussion of Drugs and Alcohol for Fort Mill Parents" on Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

Gardening for the birds, feeding them

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If gardening helps us get in touch with nature, then feeding the birds – be it passively or with intent – is about as close as we can get to ‘being one’ with the environment.

Sometimes the birds are so grateful that they actually touch back, which is just their way of saying thanks.

Celebrity Diagnosis Nominated for "Academy Award" as Best Medical Site

Celebrity Diagnosis Nominated for "Academy Award" as Best Medical Site

For the second year in a row, Celebrity Diagnosis® has been nominated for the Medical Weblog Award - the 'Oscar' for online health and wellness information - for its reporting on conditions of the sick and famous. The polls are open and you can vote for your favorite health and wellness site until midnight on Sunday.

Boys Basketball: Sutherland rallies to stun HF-L

Honeoye Falls-Lima's Dylan Swetman, center is surrounded by Pittsford Sutherland defenders Grant Heyman (top left), Brad Kaczka (lower left) and Trevor Blackwell (right) as he drives to the basket during the first quarter of Friday's game at HF-L. The Knights won 53-51.   

Another Texas city trying to ban K2

SAN MARCOS, Texas (AP) — The City Council in Kyle has taken an initial step to bar sales of the synthetic marijuana products "K2" and "Spice."

The council voted 6-1 earlier this week to make the purchase, sale or use of salvia divinorum a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $2,000. A final vote will come later.