House & Home: January 21, 2023

&HOUSE HOME

T H E U L T I M A T E C E N T R A L C O A S T R E A L E S T A T E S O U R C E

Cover home presented by Carey Kendall Village Properties

Breathtaking panoramic views and sophisticated charm combine to create this perfect piece of paradise in the serene Rancho Ynecita enclave of Los Olivos. With rolling hills and picturesque ranches on every side, this 20+/-acre property encapsulates the best parts of living in the Santa Ynez Valley. This timeless contemporary has been extensively renovated offering the premier indoor-outdoor lifestyle, with exposed beams, full-length sliding glass walls, expansive windows, and rich wood flooring throughout.

The property is perfectly suited for ranch life with rolling pastures and a large 4-stall Barn with tack room, vet room, bathroom, and a large workshop perfect for an artist’s studio, storage, or car collection.

Above the barn is a 1,200 sf 2-bdr 2nd residence for guests or caretakers. There is an equipment structure with 4 separate bays ; 3 of which have motorized garage doors for car storage.

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Views expressed in the articles of House & Home are the views of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Santa Barabara News-Press.

HOA Homefront New Year Resolutions for HOA Members (Part 2)

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL

[Secondarticle in a four-part series, with possible resolutions for the HOA owner. Next week’s installment will suggest ideas for managers.]

I, the HOA member, resolve to:

NUMBER ONE:

1) Follow the Golden Rule. (paraphrase: “Treat others as you would like to be treated”)

MY ATTITUDE:

2) I won’t refer to the HOA or board as “they,” since it is “us.” The directors are also members who pay assessments and spend their time working for free to benefit us all.

3) Be neighborly, because shared ownership fails without cooperation.

4) Assume our directors are doing their best as volunteers and give them the benefit of the doubt.

5) I won’t assume the board is incompetent or dishonest when I think it is overspending.

6) Avoid the “my home, my castle” attitude. We share the benefits of sharedownership, which means we also have agreed to share control of our property.

7) Ask questions before making statements, criticizing, or even accusing others.

8) Acknowledge the board may have more information than me. This doesn’t mean the board is always right, but it does mean my opinion might not be fully informed.

9) Take the long view of our association property, supporting growth of our capital reserve fund and maintaining our buildings.

BE KNOWLEDGEABLE:

10) Read the information the HOA sends to me.

11) Be familiar with the CC&Rs, bylaws, and rules. I will be a better neighbor by understanding the use restrictions and rules.

12) Read the association budget and reserve study. I will ask informed questions, particularly about deviations from the budget.

13) When asking to review financial documents, I will not ask for “everything,” and request only documents that I really need, acknowledging my manager is not a librarian.

HELP BOARD MEETINGS:

14) Insist our board follows transparency laws and only handles in closed session the limited items allowed by law. I will also do my part to foster orderly meetings.

15) Review the posted agenda before attendingboard meetings.

16) Organize my open forum remarks, and accept that the board may not immediately have answersor responsesto myquestions or suggestions

17) I will use my open forum time to inform the board, not to argue with them, and after the open forum, I will not interrupt board deliberations.

18) Encourage others attending board meetings to behave with decorum and respect, as we are all neighbors.

HELPING:

19) Join a committee, to help share the load.

20) If I disagree with the board, I will first provide suggestions and information before criticizing.

COMMUNITY BUILDING:

21) Find ways to enhance our community’s image.

22) Try to resolve disputes with a neighbor or the association before “going legal.” Legal disputes can fracture relationships for years. Neighborhood resolution is almost always more effective than lawyer action and court orders.

23) Participate in all member votes, even if only by mailing in my ballot.

24) Join a Community Associations Institute chapter, and suggest our HOA encourage directors also to be educated members and hire credentialed managers.

25) Find opportunities to thank our directors, committees, and manager for their service to our community.

26) Vote for directors who demonstrate an attitude of service and commitment to doing things the right way.

LASTLY:

23) Follow the Golden Rule.

By Todd Shea President of the Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS®

Meatloaf and Coaching

You are never too old or too experienced to learn something. I was reminded twice this past week and wanted to pass along both. The first is a story told by our Association Executive, Bob Hart. He runs the staff behind our local Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS®. Bob was running a new board of directors orientation and outlined a great story. It went like this...

A woman was teaching her daughter how to make meatloaf. She explained to her daughter that you make it, cut off both ends, and put it in the pan. The daughter asked, “Mom, why do you cut off both sides of the meatloaf?” The mother thought and then said I’m not sure, but that is how my mother made it, so I am passing that along to you. But she said, “Why don’t we ask my mom? I am curious now.” So the mom and daughter went to the child’s grandmother and asked. The grandmother thought back and said, “Well, you know what, I am not really sure. That was the way my mother made it for years and so taught you the way I knew how.” So now the Child, Mother, and Grandmother were so curious and luckily had their great-grandmother still living. They went and visited her and asked, “Great Grandmother, why do you cut off the end of the meatloaf before putting it in the pan.” She smiled and replied, “I did that because I had to cut the ends off to get it in the size pan I used.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHY YOU ALL STILL DO THAT!”

I love the example of this story, showing that unless you question ideas, work for new solutions or make changes, you may be making the same “mistakes” for years or doing things unnecessarily for years. What is your meatloaf?

The second, which had a similar thread for me last week, was in the

search to play better golf. I went to take a lesson at GOLFTEC on East Haley St. My dad told me years ago to either pick Tennis or Golf, lifelong sports that you can play for business and pleasure. He was right, and after trying tennis, I settled on golf and have enjoyed playing with clients, co-workers, friends, and family for years. That was about 25 years ago, and all that while, I had just been learning from input from those same friends, family, and other players on the course. Well, this year, I set a goal to shoot consistently in the low 80’s.

In comparison, professional golfers play in the low 70’s and 60’s and I am currently in the low 90’s most of the time. So as this is my goal, one of my action steps was to take a lesson or a couple of lessons, which brought me to GOLFTEC. Stephen Douglas, the owner, and I met for my first lesson. He watched my swing, and although there were a couple of changes, he decided to focus on 2 main changes to start after making those changes, which were LARGE parts of my swing.

I am all of a sudden hitting the ball consistently straight. I mean, wow!

It’s been 25 years since I have been battling a curving ball and chunking my irons (When the grass divot goes further than the ball, haha), and now, with one lesson and 2 changes, I am on the road to much better golf.

Coaching is such an essential part of life. It was an excellent reminder to be open to others’ feedback, get coaching if you want to get better at something, and if you think you know something, it’s always good to run it by someone you know is a professional in that field. I hope these two fantastic reminders help you this year. Thanks to Bob Hart and Stephen Douglas. You both made for a great week!

With Gratitude, Todd Shea

Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. is a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers andPartnerof Richardson Ober DeNichilo LLP, a law firm known for community association advice. Submit questions to Kelly@rodllp.com. Past columns at www.HOAHomefront.com. All rights reserved®.

Start the new year with a new look!

with help from Atl AntA’s top interior designers

She also cautioned readers to not follow trends too closely.

“Trends can provide a great source of inspiration, particularly for those new to design, though I always caution clients to avoid upending an entire home or aesthetic in favor of the most in vogue color or style,” Sirna said. “Great design requires balance between both trendy and timeless features to ensure consistent relevance.”

Catherine Wilson, of Atlanta’s Catherine Wilson Interiors, said paint and wallpaper will be used in creative ways this year.

“Dramatic paint coupled with wallpaper on the walls, and of course ceilings, makes rooms come to life,” she said. “Depending on the design of the wallpaper you can lean more whimsical, moody, classic or dramatic. There’s nothing like wallpaper to complete a room. If you are not feeling bold then select grass cloths, corks, and muted fabric weave to get your wallpaper fix.”

How to revitalize spaces on a tight budget

Once you’ve got plenty of inspiration, the next challenge is achieving your design goals on a reasonable budget. While they’re used to working with bigger budgets, many of the designers we reached out to said you can still make big changes without breaking the bank.

According to Kristin Kong of K Kong Designs, the key to a good redesign is focus.

“Everyone loves a fresh start in the new year,” she said. “Consider focusing on a high-functioning area of the home, such as the laundry or mud room, and elevate your space to create efficiency and functionality in the new year. Add sophisticated lighting and a favorite art piece to create a room you never want to leave!”

By Hunter Boyce

The new year is a great time to redefine the look of your living space. To be sure you make the most of your decorating, we reached out to Atlanta’s top interior designers and they responded with some great advice.

The city’s top designers are keeping track of a number of trends for 2023. And while trends shouldn’t be the beginning and end of your own design plans, they can offer a lot of inspiration.

Interior design trends of 2023

“Adding color and large patterns are becoming fashionable again,” according to Johna R. Jamison, lead designer of Atlanta’s Nandina Home & Design. “I’m ready for vibrancy, especially as the world has opened back up. People are craving more energy in their spaces. Warmer wood tones like walnut and maple are really on trend for floors and cabinetry. They work well with both neutral and colorful palettes, making them a versatile option. Traditional patterns in textiles and wallpaper are making a comeback through modern textures and color palettes. They offer a sense of comfort and nostalgia in fresh, new ways.”

Caryn Grossman, founder of CG Interiors Group, a firm known for its use of bold colors, agreed that color trends are a major change for 2023.

“We’re relishing the fact that color continues to have an energizing impact,” Grossman said. “Whether it is through well-placed, jewel-like pieces within a more neutral backdrop or a room with bold color throughout, we see the use of bright and saturated tones being a big hit in 2023. (The color of the year, after all, is Viva Magenta, influencing everything from fashion to furniture).”

The transformative power of texture

Studio 11 Design founder Kellie Sirna added that the new year is all about texture.

“In terms of what we can expect to see in 2023, this year it’s all about texture,” Sirna said. “Textured surfaces, furnishings and accessories will reign supreme as this element offers an easy way to layer in an additional dynamic to a space. Expect to see edges and crisp corners become softened via arches and curved doorways, further contributing to the curation of cocoon-like interiors. Finally, Japandi and biophilic design aesthetics are absolutely here to stay.”

Nandina Home & Design’s Johna R. Jamison said a fresh coat of paint can go a long way when it comes to designing a living space.

“Paint is always the most cost-effective way to make a dramatic change,” she said. “Whether it’s repainting the whole room or accenting a small space with color, paint instantly freshens up a space. Displaying personal items in unexpected or more visible ways and complementing them with pillows and other accessories is another great budget-friendly approach to create a new look.”

CG Interiors Group’s Caryn Grossman doubled down by expressing the power a quality accent wall can have on a space.

“Your home is self-expression at its finest,” Grossman said. “If there’s a color you love, try painting an accent wall, or better yet, the ceiling. Add accessories in that color, editing out things that no longer fit. Pull out a favorite collection or antique and put it on display. Mix and match. Visit used furniture stores, antique markets, even thrift stores or salvage yards. Don’t be afraid to experiment.”

Kellie Sirna of Studio 11 Design added that swapping around furniture costs nothing — yet it has a huge impact on your living space.

“You can freshen up a space by reconfiguring existing furniture, and adding or subtracting pieces, even pulling from other rooms within your home. Incorporating seasonal plants and greenery is another great way to brighten a room and shift its aesthetic without breaking the bank.”

Whatever your intentions for your living space, Catherine Wilson of Catherine Wilson Interiors said that the most important part of redesigning your space is a plan.

“No matter how much you are going to spend, start with a big-picture plan,” she said. “If you buy piecemeal you will buy and buy again. Know what your overall plan is for a room. Then if you are unable to execute the entire plan all at the same time, you can gradually check off one item at a time. Ultimately, you will reach your end game of a truly complete and cohesive room. After you have your key pieces, buy a wonderful coordinating throw for snuggling under on these cold evenings. Also, a candle to produce calming scents and a bouquet of fresh flowers do wonders to make a room feel more special.”

Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Catherine Wilson, of Atlanta’s Catherine Wilson Interiors, said paint and wallpaper will be used in creative ways this year.

Photo courtesy Katarzyna Bialasiewicz/Dreamstime/TNS

Plumber:

A few personal choices for a personal shower

By Ed Del Grande

Question:

Hi Ed: I want to install a personal shower with hose in our shower stall. I’m a handy person around the house, but can use a little help choosing a nice personal shower set up for our bathroom. Can you suggest some ideas to ponder?

– John

Answer:

Not only are personal showers relaxing, they can also help with cleaning and rinsing the shower area. The good news is they can be affordable, since many choices are available, from basic to elaborate. I do have a few types of hookups to share, and hopefully one or all of them can be a good match for your budget and skills.

First, basic personal shower kits can include a shower arm bracket, with the hose and personal showerhead. This replaces the existing showerhead, and since the hanging

bracket attaches to the shower pipe, no wall anchoring is usually needed.

Next, you can add a diverter valve to the mix so you can have a fixed showerhead along with a separate personal shower. This type of setup may require anchoring a separate wall-bracket for the personal showerhead.

You can even install a vertical wall-mounted bar with a sliding bracket to hang the personal shower. This allows for adjustable shower heights.

Finally, follow local codes, and for wall

anchoring, I suggest calling a professional so your new personal shower doesn’t get you into any personal trouble.

Master Contractor/Plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book “Ed Del Grande’s House Call,” the host of TV and Internet shows, and a LEED green associate. Visit eddelgrande.com.

©2022 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Not only are personal showers relaxing, they can also help with cleaning and rinsing the shower area.

Photo courtesy Kohler/TNS

Are you using your fireplace correctly?

Here are some safety tips to follow this winter

Whatever their purpose, fireplaces should be used with care.

Photo courtesy Dreamstime/TNS

By Vivienne Aguilar Modest Bee

Fireplaces might be an aesthetic, a comfort or a necessity for people during the winter months. Whatever their purpose, they should be used with care, and the Modesto Fire Department already has seen a few fires that could have been prevented.

On Dec. 20, the Fire Department was called to an address in Salida because smoke was seen coming from the attic of a home. Battalion Chief Ed Bartley said the residents had a fire going in a decorative fireplace for a prolonged period of time. This caused heat to build up in the aluminum insulated chimney so it burned through the flue.

The residents have a metal chimney, not stone or hardened casing as can be found in wood-burning stoves, so keeping fires lit for long periods of time is not recommended, Bartley said. Determining how long a fire should stay lit depends on many factors, like the design, age and maintenance of the fireplace, he said.

“Sometimes depends on the wood you’re burning — Duraflame is fine because they have elements that clean while burning. Oak burns hotter, things like that,” Bartley said. “If you’re adhering to the burn days, you’re probably not going to have an issue.”

On Christmas Day, a house fire was reported. The Fire Department said in an incident summary that smoke was the main issue, but no fire extended into the attic or got caught in the chimney flue.

Here’s what you’re expected to be aware of when using your fireplace this year:

What kind of fireplace do I have?

You most likely have a traditional brick fireplace or a zero-clearance fireplace, said Deputy Chief Darin Jesberg. Traditional fireplaces are safer for open burning with wood, he said. These usually have stone chimneys. Zero-clearance fireplaces are newer, dating back to the 1980s and 90s, and are made only for small fires and do not absorb a lot of heat. The chimneys on these models tend to be aluminum or metal

and used for aesthetic purposes.

“So a lot of times what happens is people build fires in the zero-clearance type fireplaces, and over time they’ll get charring on the chimney flue that goes up through a wooden box chimney, “ Jesberg said. Fireplace fires can be caused when the newer models aren’t maintained and residents continue to burn big, hot fires.

How do I clean my fireplace?

Based on your use, make sure you maintain the fireplace area by removing the ashes and periodically disposing of them appropriately, making sure that they’re fully out, Jesberg said. If needed, add water to the bucket to cool them down completely.

National Fire Protection Agency recommends keeping the ashes in a tightly covered metal container at least 10 feet away from your home.

If you have no experience cleaning or maintaining a fireplace, don’t try to do it yourself. Call a professional chimney sweep company, Jesberg said.

Chimney cleaning companies should be certified

by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. The CSIA website, www.csia.org, has a list of frequently asked questions for homeowners with fireplaces.

It recommends that all masonry fireplaces be swept when they reach 1/8-inch of sooty buildup, and sooner if there is any glaze (creosote) present in the system. This is considered by fire safety experts to be enough buildup to cause a chimney fire capable of damaging the chimney or spreading to the home.”

For newer fireplaces, the CSIA says, “Factory-built fireplaces should be swept when any appreciable buildup occurs. The logic here is that the deposit is quite acidic and can shorten the life of the fireplace by corroding the different components of the prefab system.”

What if I don’t have professional

maintenance?

Some zero-clearance fireplaces will have a metal flue that goes through basically a wooden

box void, which is like a fake chimney, Jesberg said. Both new and traditional models can develop cracks over time from use in the stone or metal chimney.

Both models have a flue, a space or void in the chimney. Masonry or metal flues can develop cracks over time, Jesberg said.

“The cracks are made as the hot gases and smoke go up through the chimney, which typically goes up through your attic, can escape and get into attics and cause a fire,” he said. These gases can get superheated in the attic, which makes it easily combustible.

What can I put in my fireplace?

According to the Valley Air Residential Wood Smoke Reduction Program, it is illegal and hazardous to burn:

• Trash

• Magazines

• Newspapers

• Plastics

• Other materials not designed to burn in fireplaces or stoves

Burning any of these materials as kindling puts heavy particulate matter into the air and can increase AQI levels, according to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. It recommends you buy Hot Wood, Duraflame or similar fire starters from the grocery store instead.

“If you’re buying a pack of firewood, usually it will come with smaller sticks or packets for fire starters,” said Maricela Velaquez, a spokeswoman for the air district.

Oak burns very hot and Duraflame logs can clean chimneys as they burn, Bartley told The Bee.

Jesberg said you should never burn construction materials or old furniture because you don’t know what they’re treated with.

“They could have paint on them or have been pressure treated. When you burn a two-byfour, for example, it can potentially stick to the walls of the fireplace, flue and chimney and it will build up and create creosote, or buildup on the inside the chimney,” he said.

The air district asks that you burn only clean, seasoned and dry wood.

What do I have to do when the fire is lit?

Be sure to use an Underwriters’ Laboratories approved covering in front of a fireplace, Jesberg said. Look for coverings made of metal mesh or any other approved devices that will contain embers that pop out from the fireplace.

Don’t sit too close if wearing flammable clothing, said Jesberg. Do not hang flammable items from the mantle.

by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Real Estate Q&A:

Should monthly fee be prorated if I bought townhouse near end of month?

By Gary M. Singer

Question

I bought a townhouse last Oct. 27, and the association charged me the maintenance fee for the entire month of October, despite there being only four days left in the month. Shouldn’t the fee have been prorated?

Answer:

– Deb

Yes, but not by your new community association. People buy and sell property every day of every month, and community associations and property tax collector may not find out about the closing until days or weeks later. There is no realistic way for them to track when people are closing and prorate the fees. Also, some people pay their bills ahead of time, while others wait until the last minute.

So rather than try to keep track of this, community associations and the tax collector set their due dates monthly, quarterly, or yearly and expect the buyer and seller to work out the proration between themselves. They just expect to get paid by someone.

This all happens during the closing process. Before your closing, the closing agent does the math, crediting and debiting the appropriate parties, and lists it on the closing statement.

If you look at your closing statement, which may be called a “Closing Disclosure,” “HUD1,” or “ALTA,” depending on the details of your transaction, see these figures.

If taxes or community maintenance dues have been paid for the period, you should see a debit from the buyer and a matching credit to the seller. The funds will flow from the seller to the buyer if they have not been paid. This lets the association and tax collector be paid on their schedule while allowing the parties to the transaction to work out the proration between themselves.

For example, if your condo dues are $300 per month and the seller already paid them for the month you closed, you would pay the seller for the part of the month remaining after the closing date. If it was not yet paid, you would have to pay it in full and should have been credited funds from the seller for the part of the month they still owned the property.

Review your settlement statement, and you should see these charges and credits.

If you cannot find what you are looking for because these forms can be confusing, contact the closing agent from your transaction, who should be happy to explain it to you.

Gary M. Singer is a Florida attorney and board-certified as an expert in real estate law by the Florida Bar.

He practices real estate, business litigation and contract law from his office in Sunrise, Fla. He is the chairman of the Real Estate Section of the Broward County Bar Association and is a co-host of the weekly radio show Legal News and Review. He frequently consults on general real estate matters and trends in Florida with various companies across the nation. Follow him on Twitter @GarySingerLaw.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Distributed

Be aware of what type of flue you have.

Photo courtesy Dreamstime/TNS

Santa BarB ara County SaleS

This is a partial list of all recorded residential sales in Santa Barbara County from January 3 thru January 6, 2023. While these recordings are public record, the News-Press receives this information from an outside source. This list does not represent all sales that occurred over this time period. Consult your REALTOR® for further information regarding home sales in your area of interest.

AREA ADDRESS SELLER

CARPINTERIA 4732 ELEANOR DR BALIN HILDEGARD TRUST

BUYER PRICE DATE

PICKETT GEORGE EU

$1,050,000 1/4/2023 1339 POST AVE STETSON STEVE EU MOTLOW MARY-SOPHIA EU $1,150,000 1/4/2023

GOLETA 29 DEARBORN PL 7 WISSMAN GARY MAZLOOM ARYAN $619,000 1/5/2023

17 N SAN MARCOS RD B CNC PROPERTIES

JASIORKOWSKI RANDAL EA $837,000 1/6/2023 260 SAVONA AVE BRANDON JAMES EU

DEXTER CAMERON $960,000 1/3/2023 108 SAN FEDERICO AVE CHELINI EDWARD EA PLASENCIA SAUL EU $1,100,000 1/6/2023 491 VIA EL ENCANTADOR ANAYA DOUGLAS EU SMYERS SCOTT EA $1,320,000 1/6/2023 5539 SAN PATRICIO DR WITTAK CHRISTIAN EA BEDARD DAVID $1,620,000 1/6/2023 1001 VIA BOLZANO ALLEN GEORGE EA CORLISS ALEX EA $1,782,500 1/3/2023

ISLA VISTA 6595 DEL PLAYA DR RUBSAMEN VALERIE EA ST GEORGE ED $2,500,000 1/5/2023

LOMPOC 1305 W HICKORY AVE ANDERSON VICTOR JAO GLASS INC $387,500 1/6/2023 803 N L ST ENRIQUEZ JUAN EU MELGOZA ABELARDO $395,000 1/4/2023 1104 E CYPRESS AVE SHAW SUSAN ENRIQUEZ JUAN EA $450,000 1/4/2023 1380 VIOLA WAY SANTIAGO JULIO EA MANUEL MARIA EU $469,000 1/6/2023

SANTA BARBARA 1205 REBECCA LN F CLEARY ELLEN EA

SANTILLAN ROBERTO $774,000 1/4/2023 3642 SANTA MARIA LN VON RHEIN JOHN EA BROCK NATHANIEL EU $911,500 1/5/2023 601 PICO AVE RODRIGUEZ JESUS EA 321 W PADRE ST LLC $1,240,000 1/5/2023 3149 CALLE FRESNO SHELDON MARY EA

ROBERTS KARLYN EU $1,494,000 1/5/2023 646 CALLE DEL ORO PORTER LYLE EA

SHAYNA EA $1,500,000 1/3/2023

Saturday’S Open HOmeS

To view this weekend’s Open Home Guide and all other Real Estate for sale or rent go to: newspress.com – click on Special Editions, House & Home

SANTA

YNEZ

3464 Lindero Street

3/2

1-3 $959,000

On an open road next to large acreage with open views this 3BD, 2BA home has many upgrades. Custom wood flooring throughout plantation shutters, new roof & windows new furnace AC and three large storage sheds.

Jeanne Hollingsworth Real Estate

Ursula Santana 805-455-9025 # 01965452

OPEN HOME DIRECTORY

To advertise in our Open Homes Directory for the Weekend Edition, use our submission form that is open Monday 8:00am. Go to newspress.com Click on “SPECIAL EDITION” then click on “OPEN HOME” For more information please e-mail: openhomes@newspress.com

To view this weekend’s Open Home Guide and all other Real Estate for sale or rent go to: newspress.com – click on Special Editions,

HopE R ANcH

965 Via Fruteria

3/3.5

1-4 $5,475,000

Hope Ranch estate where nostalgia from the 1960s meets modern minimalism. One story home with 3,345 sqft on 2.64 acres. Featuring ocean views, double glass doors, remodeled kitchen, spacious bedrooms, & plenty of privacy.

Coastal Properties Gary Goldberg 805-455-8910 # 01172139

WEST SidE

2/2

1-4 $1,150,000

825 W Sola St Opportunity is knocking for a westside property in R2 Zone with a generous sized lot. The small home is currently 876 SF 2/1 with a garage and added bathroom and bonus area. This home sits on an over 7,400 sf lot.

Etherton Real Estate Anastasia Carroll 805-303-5995 # 02118134

On Gardening:

Superbena Royale Plum Wine verbena is Garden Guy’s pick for Viva Magenta, Pantone’s Color of the Year

By Norman Winter

Superbena Royale Plum Wine is an award-winning verbena and prolific at attracting butterflies like this Eastern Tiger Swallowtail showing up in March.

Photo courtesy Norman Winter/TNS

Viva Magenta is the hot new color for 2023, according to Pantone, the gurus of all things color. Specifically, it is Pantone 18-1750. In the garden world, flowers will never be able to be bred so specifically so as to reach a Pantone number. We as gardeners, horticulturists, landscape and container designers, however, want to participate; we love this time of the year. Thus, Viva Magenta becomes somewhat subjective. That being said, I first nominate Superbena Royale Plum Wine verbena as a gardening pick for the color of the year.

Before I decided to go out on this limb, so to speak, I asked Google, “Is plum a color of magenta?” The results said absolutely, that it was considered the darkest shade of magenta. Home improvement TV host Bob Vila has a post on Viva Magenta on his website, too (bobvila.com). He shows paint chip cards showing the various shades. There at the bottom of both were colors that matched Superbena Royale Plum Wine to perfection. (Of course, Bob doesn’t say that, he just shows that on the card.)

Superbena Royale Plum Wine verbena is an award-winner and one that has been out for a number of years. With so many flowers available in the industry, you may never have seen it. Last year was a banner year for color in my backyard. Orange, red, blue, yellow and purple colors were in abundance. Oh my gosh, the Superbena Royale Plum Wine stood out like a rare jewel, a color of royalty.

Butterflies were going to it first in March and last in October. I asked myself, how I could have missed this verbena for so many years? Of course, the answer is, if every company has 15 or more verbenas, the independent garden center simply can’t have enough shelf space. There are even more petunias.

Superbena Royale Plum Wine will reach about 12 inches tall with a 2-foot spread, hence the “royale” designation. In contrast, the Superbena Whiteout and Superbena Stormburst will spread 30 to 36 inches in the South. That Superbena Royale Plum Wine was the winner of the Leader of the Pack - Summer title in the North Carolina State JC Raulston Arboretum trials says everything you need to know.

Superbenas like the Royale Plum Wine need a lot of sun with a soil that drains freely. This is one reason they are so easy in containers. Good, lightweight potting mixes by their nature drain well. Once you have prepared your planting beds as such, you will have one of the best blooming ground covers you can buy.

Superbenas need to be in an active state of growth to get the most riotous blooming performance. This requires you to get to know them, feed them occasionally and cut them back to generate new growth. Leaving woody, tired stems sprawling in the garden or hanging over the rim of your containers will rarely yield the performance you desire.

If Superbenas could speak, they would tell you they were created to grow and bloom. Cutting out tired stems and giving a light fertilization will reward you with lush green growth and weeks of blooms and usually a perennial performance at The Garden Guy’s zone 8a house. Time will tell if the recent arctic blast followed by several inches of rain did them in.

I tucked my containers, chock-full of verbenas, in the garage for about five days and they all are putting on good growth and even starting to bloom. Those in the ground aren’t showing me anything yet. But even if I have to buy every year, you simply can’t beat the verbena for their performance and their ability to attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

To me Superbena Royale Plum Wine could be the poster plant for Viva Magenta. Put a large eastern tiger swallowtail on it and you’ve got nature’s version of harmony in color. I’m planning on working with you more on this year’s Viva Magenta color of the year, so stay tuned.

Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy.

©2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

The Pantone color of the year is Viva Magenta and The Garden Guy nominates Superbena Royale Plum Wine as his first choice for gardeners to use in the year of celebration.

Photo courtesy Chris Brown Photography/TNS

With the colors of spring in full bloom the Superbena Royale Plum Wine verbena stands out like royalty next to the Superbells Yellow calibrachoas.

Photo courtesy Norman Winter/TNS

Yard Sale Tips

Before Your Sale

• Prepare to start early. Collectors and antique dealers like to show up early in the morning.

• obtain a permit if required

• Clean up your space. People like clean and neat places.

• Gather lots of shopping bags. Gathering Items

• Test any electrical items to make sure they work.

• Collect your items and sort it by type. (clothing, toys, tools, etc.)

• Take time to clean or repair your items.

• Wash all the clothes so they smell fresh.

WhaT SellS BeST?

• Tools: Guys love it all, any kind.

• Baby items of all kinds, especially clothing.

• Kitchen appliances.

• Clothing: Kids and adult.

What Should You Not Sell?

• Items missing safety parts.

• unused prescription drugs or medications.

• Personal hygiene items.

• halogen floor lamps.

• old baby cribs or playpens, incomplete child safety seats.

adverTISING

• Tell your friends, family or coworkers about your sale. Word travels.

• Place a classified ad in the Santa Barbara NeWS-PreSS!! remember to check the publication’s deadline.

• In your ad, give lots of details. Include the address, day(s), time of your sale. list major items such as “lots of kids clothes.”

SIGNS

• Check your local ordinances.

• list your address and sale date on all signs.

• Post your signs at main intersections, street corners and at the end of your driveway.

• use same colors and writing on your signs as people recognize them at a glance.

• Keep a list of where you posted your signs. It will be helpful when it’s time to take them down.

Are you a Caregiver? Handyman? Plumber? Let us help you build your business. Place your ad in the Service Directory. To place your ad CALL (805) 963-4391 or email: classad@ newspress.com