South Valley Magazine August 21-27, 2020

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF MORGAN HILL, GILROY & SAN MARTIN

AUGUST 21, 2020

Gardening P4 Home of the Week P6 Real Estate P7

A supplement to the Gilroy Dispatch & Morgan Hill Times

Local stables offer outdoor reprieve from shelter-in-place P2

AUGUST 21, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

PICTURED, FROM LEFT

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This national champion thoroughbred is one of many horses residing at Mt. Madonna Stables.

A young horse named Lily is unbridled after a trail ride through Mt. Madonna County Park. Stables manager Tesi Pickett steadies a new foal. Pickett leads a ride through Mt. Madonna County Park.

TRAILS

THROUGH THE TREES Mt. Madonna Stables offering trail rides in county park

By JOHANNA MILLER

A

s people continue to follow federal, state and local shelter-in-place regulations during the Covid-19 pandemic, many have started looking for safe recreation in the great outdoors.

In early June, Gov. Gavin Newsom released updated guidelines that allowed certain outdoor recreational facilities to reopen. This included most horseback riding outfits—including Mt. Madonna Stables near Gilroy.

The 18-acre estate, nestled in the heart of Mt. Madonna County Park, is home to about 40 horses. In addition to trail riding, the facility offers lessons and training, therapy, day camps and more.

by appointment only, and staff asks for backgrounds and specifications of each participant before they arrive.

“We do things a bit different here,” Pickett said. “We don’t have a string of horses just sitting in a line, ready and saddled. Many of them do lessons and shows, too … there’s a lot going on here.”

Also unique to Mt. Madonna Stables is how it approaches teaching. Prior to a ride, an individual will learn proper techniques such as mounting, steering and stopping, weight distribution and more.

“We try and give people a good foundation,” Pickett said. “And as we ride, we continue to teach and help. That way, it’s a bit more than just putting

someone on a horse and letting them figure it out.”

Riding can turn into a challenging workout for the inexperienced. This is why most beginner rides last for about an hour. Pickett said that she recommends this, as riders’ legs can tire quickly and be unstable when they dismount.

Horses are given a thorough brushing, their hooves cleaned, a spritz of fly spray and saddled before taking off onto Mt. Madonna’s trail system, which winds back and forth through sandy meadows and dense redwood forests.

Wildlife is often spotted, from squirrels and deer to hawks and plenty of banana slugs.

Pickett said she enjoys meeting new people when leading rides, and seeing

them learn to communicate with their horses. Kids especially can benefit, she said.

“It’s empowering for them… to be in control and have a connection with such a large animal,” she said.

Pickett’s advice for newcomers? Relax, and know that you are in good hands.

“Don’t stress or overthink—we have enough of that right now,” she said. “Come here with an open mind, trust the staff and that they’re going to take care of you.”

Mt. Madonna Stables is located at 60 Summit Road and provides trail riding to customers in Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Watsonville, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Jose and beyond. For information and to book a visit, call 408.663.1665 or visit mtmadonnastables.com.

SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | AUGUST 21, 2020

Photos by Johanna Miller

“Horseback riding is a great way for people to get into nature,” said stable manager Tesi Pickett. “It also gives you a completely new perspective—I see things while I’m riding that I wouldn’t have noticed on foot.”

Mt. Madonna Stables, currently owned

by David and Michelle Mahoney, was forced to shut down most operations when the shelter-in-place ordinance went into effect in March. It opened again on June 8, and has since seen an influx of people interested in riding.

“People are vacationing at home… finding things to do near them,” Pickett said.

For safety during the pandemic, trail rides are reserved for one group (from the same household) at a time. They are

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GARDENING

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Kate Russell

AUGUST 21, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

Protecting fruit and nut trees

PEST CONTROL Netting around fruit and nut trees can be an effective way to keep birds,

rats and squirrels from stealing their crops.

Homemade cages can deter birds, squirrels

By KATE RUSSELL

J

ays, mockingbirds, rats, squirrels and even chickens can wreak havoc on your fruit and nut tree crops.

There’s nothing more frustrating than waiting for that moment of perfect ripeness, only to lose pears, nectarines, almonds and many other tree crops to local wildlife.

Scaring birds and other pests away is the most common method of control, with mixed results.

Some people hang old CDs in their trees. As the CDs move in the breeze, flashing sunlight may discourage birds for a time. Noisy plastic bags may be tied to trees with similar results.

You can buy giant floating eye balloons that are “guaranteed” to protect your fruit and nut crop from marauding birds. Supposedly, the eye shape and the balloon movement work together to discourage bird feeding. The problem with trying to frighten birds and other thieves away from your fruit and nut trees is that these methods do not work for long. Birds and animals quickly learn that there is no real danger and the method is ignored.

Professional orchardists use noise cannons, but your neighbors might not appreciate that method.

Motion-sensing sprinklers are another option, which may have the

added benefit of discouraging rats and squirrels at dusk and at night.

The problem with this method is that trees and leaves move, as well.

If the sprinkler is triggered by every breeze, birds and animals will learn to ignore it and your tree may develop fungal disease.

The only way to protect your fruit or nut crop from birds, rats and squirrels is by caging your trees. Store-bought tree cages can be astronomically expensive and most of the really nice ones are from the UK. The added shipping costs make it unrealistic for most of us. Luckily, it is surprisingly easy to make an affordable tree cage yourself.

You can create a box with PVC pipes and cover the whole thing with netting, or you can insert tall tree supports or other sturdy poles into the ground just outside of a tree’s dripline, top that with an X-shape made with two lightweight pieces of wood which are attached to the vertical poles, and the whole thing again covered with netting. Whichever method you use, be sure to make the netting taut, so that birds will bounce off rather than becoming entangled. If you have chickens, a chicken wire barrier around the base should do the trick.

The netting used over your tree cage will still allow pollinators easy access. It also allows codling moths and other flying insect pests to reach your fruit and nut trees, so be on the lookout.

Birds, rats and squirrels can take a big bite out of fruit and nut crops. Tree cages stop that damage before it starts. Plus, these cages can stay up, year-round, so there's no wrestling with netting every spring and fall.

Kate Russell is a UCCE Master Gardener in Santa Clara County.

For information, visit mgsantaclara. ucanr.edu or call 408.282.3105 between 9:30am-12:30pm, Monday through Friday.

WINE

Photo courtesy of Calerrain

RICH TASTE Calerrain’s Chardonnay from Paicines and Albarino from San Antonio Valley are the perfect wines for the summer.

A tale of many local vineyards

F

ew settings in the Santa Clara Valley offer such a feeling of respite from the craziness of Covid than Calerrain, out on Day Road.

On a pretty toasty afternoon, the breeze came off the western hills and kept things mighty pleasant as we tasted Geoff Mace’s new 2019 Albarino from Pierce Ranch in southern Monterey County. Peachy, slightly saline and with a squeeze of lime, this is precisely the mouthwatering wine you want in summer’s heat.

For Chardonnay and Pinot Noir fans, Mace makes two different styles of each from two very different vineyards: warm and given to ripeness Paicines in Tres Pinos, and the much cooler Santa Lucia Highlands. The 2018 Paicines Chardonnay delivers lots of mango vanilla bean custard, vanilla wafers and butterscotch biscotti: rich

and mouth-filling. The 2018 SLH Pinot Noir from the Pavo Real vineyard at the northern end of the bench surprised with its largesse, focusing on strawberry and sassafras tea, with plenty of earthy tannin and depth.

Everyone is asking about the Malbec. Club members can expect that in September. He’s been crushing at Eden Rift but may return to The Stomping Ground.

Janu and Jason Goelz intend to move their respective brands, Alara and Jason-Stephens, to the Sunsweet building on Third Street in downtown Morgan Hill, targeting an October opening.

Denise and James at Besson Vineyards invite the public to come taste their new Sauv Blanc and Chardonnay, along with James’ luscious limoncello.

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SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | AUGUST 21, 2020

Cool down from summer heat with local wine By LAURA NESS

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HOME OF THE WEEK

Submitted photo

AUGUST 21, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED This Morgan Hill home sits on a nearly 28,000-square-foot landscaped lot.

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Estate home with amenities Morgan Hill residence includes office, pool, garden, solar power and more

T

his home in northwest Morgan Hill is powered by a completely paid for solar energy system.

Located at 655 Eagle Springs Court, the 3,575-square-foot home includes four bedrooms, four bathrooms and an office.

The kitchen is outfitted with granite countertops, white cabinets, a built-in refrigerator and breakfast bar. The adjacent family room has a fireplace with built-in custom white cabinetry. There is a

formal dining room as well as a formal living room with a fireplace.

The first floor office has two built-in desks and cabinetry with a sliding glass door that looks out to the rear yard.

Outside amenities include a rear yard shed, pool, RV parking, vegetable garden and more.

The home, built in 1995, is listed at $1,900,000 by Intero Real Estate Services. For information, visit tinyurl.com/y2jhz2rr.

WINE

Located in Historic Downtown Gilroy

REAL ESTATE

Photo courtesy of Calerrain

RICH TASTE Calerrain’s Chardonnay from Paicines and Albarino from San Antonio Valley are the perfect wines for the summer.

A tale of many local vineyards

local wine By LAURA NESS

F

and information mouth-filling. The 2018 SLH ew settings in the SantaFor more Clara Valley offer such aContact Pinot Noir from the Pavo Real vine408.842.5066 feeling of respite from theor email yardclassifieds@newsvmedia.com at the northern end of the bench craziness of Covid than surprised with its largesse, focusing Calerrain, out on Day Road. on strawberry and sassafras tea, with On a pretty toasty afternoon, the plenty of earthy tannin and depth. breeze came off the western hills and Everyone is asking about the Malkept things mighty pleasant as we bec. Club members can expect that tasted Geoff Mace’s new 2019 Albain September. He’s been crushing rino from Pierce Ranch in southern at Eden Rift but may return to The HAULING Monterey County. Peachy, slightly MAGNOLIA Stomping Ground.LANDSCAPE AND CONCRETE, INC. intend saline andCounty with a squeeze of lime, this Janu and Jason Goelz South Cleanup, isDemo precisely the mouthwatering wine to move their respective brands, & Hauling you want in summer’ s heat.

Alara and Jason-Stephens, to the LOW RATES • FREE ESTIMATES For Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Sunsweet building on Third Street in CLEAN UP-Yards, homes, fans, Mace makes two different styles downtown Morgan Hill, targeting an properties, rentals & garages Specializing, Pavers, Concrete, ofDEMO-Bathrooms, each from two very different vineOctober opening. kitchens, Irrigation, Sod, Cleanups, All yards: to ripeness Denise and James at Besson VineLandscape Construction decks, warm patios, and smallgiven buildings Serving the Bay Area since 1992 taste Paicines in Tres Pinos, and the much yards invite the public to come HAULING-Garbage, yard waste, cooler Santa Lucia Highlands.

The their new Sauv Blanc and Chardonnay, Call for Free Estimates rock, sand & mulch Bonded & Insured 2018 Paicines Chardonnay delivers lots alongLicensed, with James’ luscious limoncello.

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SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | AUGUST 21, 2020

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