“April showers bring May flowers” —A proverb meaning unpleasant things can ultimately lead to a positive outcome.
One very nice thing about living in “these parts” is the changing of the seasons.
And by the way, Los Gatos and Saratoga are designated “tree cities.”
Well, OK, a tree city and a tree town.
(Psst, Monte Sereno…where are you?)
Both lie on the fringes of Silicon Valley.
However, our valley was once known more for its miles of flowering orchards with an extremely rich soil (resulting in tasty apricots, for example).
How about going a day without your cell phone? Or even a few hours? Take a walk or a hike along a trail, Visit Hakone Garden, go to a local museum, listen to some live music.
Try something different and get outside. Be a tourist in your own area and change the channel on your routine.
Just get outside.
Do we live in a great area, or what?
Local residents are passionate about the natural world and are curious about what they can do to help preserve that wonderful beauty.
And in a pair of events this week, locals got a chance to hocus pocus their focus on the environment.
It started with an Arbor Day ceremony in Saratoga, along Highway 9 near Blaney Plaza.
It continued right through Sunday’s popular Spring Into Green event organized by the Town of Los Gatos at Town Plaza Park (and along main street).
In between there was even a Wine Walk in the heart of Los Gatos.
Whew!
Plus, there was plenty of varied entertainment being offered at the Villa, now called the Montalvo Art Center (they have the Carriage House Theatre—not to mention those amazing grounds).
One does not need to stray too far from one’s zip code to enjoy fabulous entertainment.
Arbor Day in Saratoga (a “Tree City” since 2007)
Arbor Day has traditionally been celebrated on the last Friday of April with the planting of a tree, usually with a civic ceremony. This past Thursday, Saratoga continued on in the same vein.
There are four criteria to be a Tree City USA. One of them is that Arbor Day must be celebrated. The other three requirements are: establish a tree board; adopt a tree care ordinance; and institute a community forestry program (allocating at least two dollars per capita to the cause). Saratoga and Los Gatos both meet all four requirements and both are designated under the “Tree Cities USA” certification scheme.
On April 24, a tree planting ceremony was held in front of the Saratoga Historical Foundation Museum, located at 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Rd., in Saratoga. Mayor Belal Aftab thanked those in attendance to celebrate 18 years in a row in good standing with Tree City USA. “Today we acknowledge and recognize the city’s agricultural roots by the planting of a Blenheim apricot tree,” he said. “This tree grows well in Saratoga, and it is part of our history.”
Aftab paused, then presented a proclamation to Annette Stransky, for her work with the Historical Foundation.
The mission of the Saratoga Historical Foundation is “to preserve the unique history of Saratoga for the education and enjoyment of the community,” according to its website.
Take a stroll back in time through the Saratoga Historical Park adjacent to the museum, the blacksmith “barn” tucked in behind, and through the McWilliams House—a charming Victorian built in 1865. All are free and open Friday-Sunday, 1-4pm.
And just a great bike ride away from Saratoga, in Los Gatos…
Spring into Green in Los Gatos (a “Tree City” for 45 years)
On an unusually cool spring Sunday, the Town’s “Spring into Green” annual event was held in the Los Gatos Town Plaza. The dancing fountain was off repairs, and 20 booths were set up across the open green grassy areas, alongside the regular Sunday Farmers’ Market. A stage was set up, and Jessica Ertell, event and marketing specialist for the Town, was there helping to keep everything running smoothly.
“Spring into Green” is a sustainability event that celebrates Arbor Day—usually on the last Friday in April, with the symbolic planting of a tree, and Earth Day, usually celebrated on April 22, with cleanups of open spaces. This event also ensured that Los Gatos maintained its 45-year continuous record of being a Tree City (town) USA-certified community.
There were booths for everything from the Vector Control District to the Bear Creek Redwoods Upper Lake Interpretive Tour, which shared information about how to walk to school safely. The Los Gatos Youth Commission had flyers on four steps to e-bike safely, with Police Chief Jamie Field looking on. It seemed as if all aspects of becoming a greener community were on offer, including bikes you could take out for a spin.
Yavneh Day School plants a redbud
On the actual Arbor Day, a redbud tree was planted at Yavneh Day School by the students, with Los Gatos Vice Mayor Rob Moore in attendance. The species was selected by the Town’s arborist Robert Moulden. A reenactment of this event was performed by students and Moore in front of the Town Plaza stage. Moore also cited the necessary milestones that a city (or town) needs to take to become a Tree City USA.
“I was fortunate to plant our Arbor Day tree at Yavneh Day School and know these children are the future leaders,” Moore said.
After the tree dedication, the Coffee Zombie Collective took over the stage and rocked on.
April is Poetry Month in Los Gatos
Los Gatos Poet Laureate William Ward Butler read his poem dedicated to this day. Butler took the metaphor of a bird in the sky looking down upon Los Gatos, moving and relevant writing for the occasion.
Attendees were shown ways to live that are more in harmony with nature and less destructive to our planet. There was a fenced area for kids to practice safe cycling.
Did you know you can get the Town of Los Gatos’ “Bike, Parks and Trails Map & Guide,” from our Parks and Public Works Department? Did you know that we have world-class routes in the hills that surround us? Did you know that a medalist in mountain biking from the most recent Olympic Games trained on these curves?
From mosquito-eating pond fish, to recycling hazardous household waste, the space was brimming with helpful ideas—from Midpeninsula Regional Open Regional Space District updates, to UC Master Gardeners’ gifts (which was even giving out tomato plants).
Despite the chilly spring weather, optimism filled the air for greener lifestyles within and around the town—the place that we call home, the place we love.
