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Clayton Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
December 7, 2018
Houseplants–what’s old is new again Senior Living
Houseplants are experiencing a resurgence of popularity at the nursery. Fiddle leaf figs, Chinese money plants, string of pearls, rubber plants, eternity plants, prayer plants and piggy back plants are all on trend this year. Houseplants have become social media darlings, and their pics can regularly be appreciated on Instagram feeds and Pinterest searches. The houseplant trend has brought a younger group of garden lovers into the nursery with a new regard for indoor gardening. As with any category of plants, folks want to know what they need to do to keep them alive. Indoor gardening is a new concept for many, and no one wants to make a mistake. There are three important elements to consider when thinking of adding houseplants to your home: lighting, temperature and hydration. Lighting is as important in the home as it is in the garden. Some plants need more light, while other tolerate less. Your houseplant growing success starts with finding the right location for your chosen plant. Philodendrons love lots of bright light. Their large leaves will stretch out toward the brightness, so this will be the type of plant you’ll rotate to
defoliation. Home tempera- stems. As this plant grows, it ture can also play a large part resembles a fountain style in your houseplant’s success. party centerpiece. The Many houseplants like a money plant is sought after home kept in the comfortand makes a great gift for able 60s during the winter. any houseplant lover. Keep your eye on houseThe string of pearls plant plants that might be exposed is a succulent that will grow to cool drafts or are near both indoors and out. Its large windows when outdoor tiny, pearl-shaped leaves pertemperatures are cold. fectly line fragile stems. NICOLE HACKETT Fiddle leaf fig plants are String of pearls cascades and members of the ficus family. looks fresh in a small conGARDEN GIRL They have a large rounded tainer on an end table or balance the exposure the plant leaf with heavy veining. Fid- positioned on a shelf. receives. Philodendrons are dle leaf fig plants will grow Houseplants add life and proud plants that look amazlike small trees and can be color to a home. If you have ing elevated on a stand for a pruned in the spring to con- a corner that you don’t know pronounced placement. trol height. This popular how to accessorize, consider Rubber plants also need a houseplant will defoliate a houseplant this year. bright spot in the home. This toward the bottom, exposing Nicole is the Garden Girl at plant family has come a long its trunks. Large specimens R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden. way since Frank Sinatra sang are very desirable but expenEmail questions or comments to about them in the ’40s. Now sive. Fiddle leaf figs like Gardengirl@claytonpioneer.com you can enjoy red leaves, near- medium to high light and ly pink variegated leaves and weekly watering. cream and green variegated Chinese money plants are leaves. very cute and easy to grow. The trailing pothos will Their pancake-shaped leaves thrive in medium light, as are held will Schefflera, commonly by tiny called dwarf umbrella trees. For those looking for a plant to enjoy in low light, you can’t beat a peace lily or snake plant. Both houseplants are easy to grow and tolerant of low to medium sun exposure. Houseplant watering is critical. Too much water and your houseplants will rot; too little and leaves can The Peace Lily loves low light, but won’t bloom in show stress patches and complete darkness.
Helping seniors ease into new living situations
The transition into late adulthood can carry with it both fear of the unknown and inevitable change. To help lessen the impact of leaving one’s home and moving into a community, people must understand the move itself. Then, we can learn to recognize the ways the senior must adapt. People can potentially encounter three phrases: the overwhelmed phase, the adjustment phase and the initial acceptance phase. The overwhelmed phase is categorized best as the feelings surrounding one’s self. During this phase, seniors often process the transition they are facing and realize the impact it will have on their lives. The majority of responses are emotionbased, which may include tears. The adjustment phase typically occurs when the individual has had a chance to process the move and adopt a sense of acceptance, usually positive. In the initial Have you ever noticed that fuzzy feeling of the snow flur- leather chairs with worn, acceptance phase, the resiyou feel right at home when ries outside while you’re inside antique nail heads and deep dents shift focus from themvisiting a mountain resort? enjoying a hot toddy. Perhaps tufting that feels like a big selves to their sense of wellIt could be the warm and it’s the generously sized bear hug or the rich colors JENNIFER LEISCHER being. At this time, the perfound in wool area rugs, with DESIGN & DÉCOR son is usually open to or sophisticated geometric or forming new social connecfree-form organic patterns. tions and can take control of low, magical dim light. All of Maybe it’s the warm infused their situation. these wonderful textures and lighting, heavy forged iron These phases are just a materials mixed together make accents topped with a whimsistructure for what could for an inviting living space. cal natural linen or glittery, happen. Some seniors may mineral mica drum shades. See Design, page B6 stay in a particular phase These design details are what makes mountain decor so comfortable and traditional, so approachable and, well, cozy. Lake Tahoe, Vail, Colo., Park City, Utah, Mt. Baker, Wash. … regardless of where DAL soccer got underway clude Feb. 22-23. The NorCal your favorite mountain resort this week and will complete playoffs run Feb. 26 – Mar. 5 is located, you’ll most definite- two games each this week and before the State champily find grand and elaborate next before taking a break onship games Mar. 8-9 at hotel lobbies and ski lodges until Jan. 9 when they have Golden 1 Center in Sacradecorated with amazing rustic Wednesday-Friday games until mento. accents, as well as quaint cofLast year, Carondelet on Feb 8. There is a new, single fee shops and restaurants 13-team schedule for boys and the girls side and Clayton filled with kitschy mountain girls soccer. Clayton Valley Valley Charter and De La decor and toasty, stone-clad Charter boys won their DAL Salle boys made it to NorCal fireplaces. division last year while the basketball tournament, but At its roots, mountain all made quick exits. CVCHS girls finished a close second. decor is a very collected, tradiNCS playoff games are on ended its historic season with tional aesthetic. Some of the Feb. 13-23. The second Nor- back-to-back losses in the antiques and eclectic pieces Cal soccer playoffs are Feb. CNS finals to Heritage and are from necessity – forged then at NorCals to Menlo 26-Mar. 2. iron racks holding firewood, School. DLS fell in its DiviDe La Salle won its 13th Bring that cozy mountain lodge feel right into your living animal hides that cover furni- NCS soccer crown last winter sion Norcal opener to Palo room with lots of wood, antiques and warm colors. ture and gas sconces with a and advanced to the inaugural Alto.
Bring home the high country with cozy mountain decor
Wu, from page B1
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NorCal tournament before losing in the first round. Carondelet was a loser for the third successive year in the NCS championship game and then advanced to the semifinals with an upset of unbeaten and nationallyranked Davis at NorCal before losing for a fourth time to league rival Monte Vista. Ygnacio Valley’s girls also got a NorCal tournament bid after reaching the semis of the NCS D-III playoffs.
HOOPS, MATS ON TAP DAL basketball league play is Jan. 8 – Feb. 8 while the EBAL schedule goes from Jan. 2 to Feb. 7. Clayton Valley Charter is in the Football Division for DAL basketball. NCS basketball playoffs begin Feb. 12-13 and con-
Carondelet concluded its first season as a semi-independent school with a second straight NCS Division I title but forfeited its NorCal game
longer. Or they may experience a variation of emotions related to the move and may struggle between socializing and isolating. A social model focused on resident care allows for each individual to be seen and their needs to be identified. The approach must fit them specifically. Whether you are a professional or a family member who assumed the role of caregiver, it is important to understand the benefits of maintaining social connections for seniors. The advantages range from improved mental well-being to overall physical health and everything in between. Socialization enhances mental health by giving them a sense of belonging in their connection with others. This allows them the opportunity to share many experiences and opinions, including their life story, what brought them to the community and what they hold important in life. By connecting in this way and sharing with others, seniors can improve or work to regain their self-esteem. Social engagement in a peer setting also supports cognitive functioning for seniors. It allows them to work together for an end goal and showcase their ability to collaborate efficiently.
See Seniors, page B5
due to an off-campus incident by the team. The school hired a new head coach, Mike Morris, this fall and his seniorladen team is expected to battle for post-season honors again this year. DAL double dual wrestling meets for the Valley Division schools begin next Wednesday with two more double duals on Jan. 9 and 16. Final dual meets are Jan. 30. The DAL Foothill squad’s double duals are Jan. 9 and 16 with final dual matches Jan. 30. The league championship meet at Campolindo is Feb.9 The NCS dual team championships featuring heavilyfavored DLS are Feb. 2 at Dublin High with the NCS Championships in Union City at James Logan High on Feb. 15-16 and CIF State Feb. 2223 at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
College, from page B2
Maryland Baltimore County) Kyle Parco (Wrestling, FresTorin Neal (Lacrosse, Robert no State) Morris University) Eric Reyzelman (Baseball, USF) Chris Santiago (Baseball, DE LA SALLE Jared Amigh (Baseball, Uni- Saint Mary’s College) Northgate versity of the Pacific) Carly Ortega (Soccer, San Cameron Cilley (Soccer, Francisco State) Stanford) Andrew Rodriguez (SwimJack Gardner (Golf, Buckming, Wyoming) nell) Robert Mitchell (Swimming, Nick Fusari (Baseball, LoyWyoming) ola Marymount) Delanie Gearing (SwimRyan Iannaccone (Swimming, Azusa Pacific) ming, Cal Poly SLO)
