Home&Real Estate Home Front
Veronica Weber
DIRT BASICS ... Ryan Batjiaka, assistant garden manager at Ecology Action in Willits, Calif., will teach two classes on Saturday, Feb. 16, at Common Ground, 559 College Ave., Palo Alto. “Intro to Soil Science,” from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will deal with what makes soil productive and how to get a lab test and how to read the results. “Composting,” from 2 to 4 p.m., will involve carpooling to a local garden to build a compost pile. Bring a 5-gallon bucket of green material (could include grass, weeds and non-meat kitchen scraps). Each class is $31. Information: 650-493-6072 or www. commongroundinpaloalto.org
South OFMidtown
SOUPS, BROTHS ... Lisa Herndon of Lisa’s Counter Culture will teach a class, “Soups! Bone Broths and Stocks,” from noon to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16, at a private home in Palo Alto. Focus is on mineral-rich, healthy and economical broths. Cost is $70. Information: http://lisascounterculture.com or email lisa@lisascounterculture.com
Send notices of news and events related to real estate, interior design, home improvement and gardening to Home Front, Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA 94302, or email cblitzer@paweekly. com. Deadline is one week before publication.
Veronica Weber
QUIET, FRIENDLY AND A GOOD PLACE FOR FAMILIES
NEIGHBORHOOD SNAPSHOT by Rebecca Duran hings are changing in the South of Midtown neighborhood: Just take a look at the recently completed Miki’s Farm Fresh Market in Alma Plaza or the new houses under construction nearby. “There’s been numerous remodeling of homes and buildings,” said Paul Taylor, a resident since the early 1980s when he said he got a good deal on his house. He describes it as quiet, friendly and a good place for families. Maria Poloncheck, who moved to the neighborhood with her husband and three kids last April, described it as “busy and friendly.”
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Many of the original tract homes in the South of Midtown neighborhood have been torn down and rebuilt, including this one on Ramona Street.
Veronica Weber
NEW ZEALAND GARDENS ... Paul Anderson will talk about gardens in the Canterbury region of New Zealand at the next meeting of the De Anza Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20. The group meets in Room 12 of the Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. Information: www. deanza-ars.com N
Also online at PaloAltoOnline.com
Paul Taylor, left, stands outside his colorful home in the South of Midtown neighborhood; right, a home on Bryant street in the eclectic neighborhood.
CAMELLIA SHOW AND SALE ... The 52nd annual San Francisco Peninsula Camellia Society Flower Show & Plant Sale is set for 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17, at the Community Activities Building, 1400 Roosevelt Ave., Redwood City. Close to 1,000 camellia blooms will be featured, including newly introduced and hard-to-find plants. The free show also includes a display of ikebana (with camellias) and educational workshops. The show is co-sponsored by the Redwood City Parks and Recreation Department. Information: http://camelliasfpcs.org
FILOLI OPENS ... Filoli, at 86 Cañada Road, Woodside, will open for the season with a “Daffodil Daydreams” celebration from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22 and 23, and 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24. The event features three days of talks, demonstrations, garden walks, an art exhibit and activities for families. Cost is free for members; nonmember adults pay $15, seniors $12, students $5; children 4 years and younger free. Information: www.filoli. org or 650-364-8300
OPEN HOME GUIDE 42
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