A quiet revolution is unfolding across Bay Area suburbs. The meaning of a “nice yard” is being redefined—a wilder approach to home landscaping.

Whether teeming with koi or left fishless, ponds cast their spell through sound and movement. In Japan, Koi fish are called living jewels.

In Santa Cruz, where the bohemian spirit lives on in every mosaic mailbox and sun-dappled porch, home décor is more than a style—it's a story.

Headed up by local farmer Sam Earnshaw, a crew of workers recently spread out across the seven-acre Hikari Farm on Freedom Boulevard, where organic Fuji apples grow.

Gareth Shepherd was one of the 12 founding members who joined the Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai in late 1988 and helped organize their first annual bonsai exhibit.

Societies throughout history, including Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and Greece used crystals for their healing properties

Gardening is an art. And like any form of creative expression, the beginning can be a bit of a gamble. At the start of a garden project, one doesn’t know if they’ll end up with the green thumb equivalent of the Mona Lisa or perhaps more of a preschool finger painting.

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While being a woman in the trades is challenging, Landegger was hired by a variety of male contractors, who helped develop her into a highly skilled carpenter.

We are an antique capital and people come from all over to shop here for unusual items. It’s another of the things that makes Santa Cruz so great.