East Bay Home and Gardens

East Bay Then and Now: William Wharff: Architect, Civil War Vet and Mason

By Daniella Thompson
Friday February 22, 2008
The Masonic Temple at 2105 Bancroft Way was built in 1906.
Of all the architects who resided in Berkeley during the first four decades of the 20th century, the one who received the most coverage in the local press was not John Galen Howard or Bernard Maybeck but William Hatch Wharff. And only occasionally was the press coverage related to his profession. -more-

Garden Variety: Grow Local Heirlooms and Have a Good Time Too

By Ron Sullivan
Friday February 22, 2008
“Music will be an Old Time Music Jam, bring yer fiddle,” is what Terri Compost, the exquisitely named point person of the Bay Area Seed Interchange Library (acronym’ed, equally exquisitely, “BASIL”) replied to my query. I wanted to know who would be playing the music promised for BASIL’s Ninth Annual Seed Swap tomorrow, Saturday February 23, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Ecology Center. Dang, I don’t have a fiddle. Guess I’ll just send the cat. -more-

About the House: Some Notes on Building a Fire

By Matt Cantor
Friday February 22, 2008
I was inspecting a house out beyond the Naugahyde Curtain the other day (Walnut Creek, if memory serves; landing strip for white flight). The house was unillustrious but amongst the artifacts that brought me sufficient intrigue to set the day aglow was a brand new fireplace. -more-

Green Neighbors: Still Pruning? Take Care of Your Wildlife

By Ron Sullivan
Tuesday February 19, 2008
Plumblossoms, a male lesser goldfinch, and an old nest-not his; this one’s probably a squirrel’s.
Never mind that it’s caught me unarmed and ill-prepared, as usual; I love this sample of early spring we’re getting. We didn’t have it quite the same way last year, I guess. As happened, I was ‘way out of town and in another climate for most of last February on a most urgent and unfortunate errand, so I’m only guessing. -more-