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Local Columns

New book examines frontier storyteller’s life

Born into a well-to-do Connecticut family, Juliette Magill wanted more from life than most girls got in the early 1800s. Young women then were expected to stay home rather than attend school, but Juliette wanted an education. Her parents agreed and sent her to the Troy Female Seminary, which was one of America’s first schools for girls.

‘How to Bake a Book’ invites kids to concoct tales of their own

Could it be true that lifelong readers and lifelong foodies both need to start early in their passions? I’ll bet it is – which is why “How to Bake a Book” could be a good addition to your (pretend) kitchen.

Although it’s warm now, cold weather still possible next month

This has not been unusual weather. It’s the norm. But watch out! February can be dangerous for plants. December 1990 was one of the coldest months on record, but February 1989 was much more damaging to plants.

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Celebrate the season with ‘Hanukkah in Alaska’

If your kids need something new to read every Hanukkah, then stop your search right here. For family or for fun, “Hanukkah in Alaska” is a book your 3- to 6-year-old will want to see.

Verde Canyon rich in history

Verde Canyon Railroad operates in north central Arizona, headquartered in the town of Clarkdale. The town itself is a National Historic Landmark. Founded in 1912, it’s named for William Andrews Clark, the same man who founded Las Vegas in 1905. This planned community was built to provide housing and support services to the booming copper mining town of Jerome, a few miles away. Jerome was once the fourth-largest city in the Arizona Territory, boasting a peak population of 15,000 people in the 1920s.

Development of Summerlin Centre heralds community’s future

The adage “shop ‘til you drop” is old and hackneyed. Still, that’s the way it’s going to be a year from now when more than 125 retail operations known as The Shops at Summerlin are expected to be open for business. More than likely, it will be in advance of Black Friday 2014, and as one might expect, Christmas shoppers will indeed be falling over one another.

Prune flowering shrubs just after a bloom

Question: When is it best to prune crape myrtle? I’ve heard before winter and again just before spring. The last two years, I trimmed back the branches (it is only about 5 feet tall) about one-third of the way in late February. What is right? We live in Aliante.

Girdling keeps plant roots from spreading properly

Q: We notice that some of our trees don’t seem to be rooting into the soil properly. We assume it’s because of improper root ball preparation or girdling roots. Our test to see if the tree has rooted after at least one growing season is to bend the tree trunk back and forth. If the root ball under the soil easily moves when the tree is pushed, we assume that the tree has poor or little rooting into the surrounding soil.

Garlic either soft or hard necked

Question: I’ve seen garlic at outdoor markets where the garlic is actually braided.

Rare, permanent Southwest waterfall offers refreshing view

Waterfalls are pretty rare in the Southwest, except for seasonal examples that appear after snow melt or briefly after a heavy rain. For that reason, we treasure the few that put on their show year-round, including Lower Calf Creek Falls.

Invasive plants can be controlled in desert environs

Question: I have a narrow area, and the Las Vegas nurseries have Japanese privet. However, I have read on various blogs that birds eat the berries, and they get dropped in other areas of the yard and gardens, sprouting up all over. They say it is considered an invasive species in many areas. Have you found this problem to be true, and if so, is there anything that can be done so that the plant will not produce berries?