What is the most fragrant plant? Which flower has the best smell? What is the most fragrant flower in the world? What is the most fragrant lavender? What is the most fragrant rose? Shrubs have many uses in the landscape, but gardeners who appreciate sweet-smelling plants will be especially drawn to the most fragrant of these shrubs. Whether cold-hardy or tropical, bushes in this group are valued for scenting the air and thereby diversifying the enjoyment of your yard. The blooms on many of … [Read more...] about Eight Fragrant Shrubs for Mountain Gardens
Columnists
Exploring the Miracle of Nitric Oxide
What if I told you that there is a molecule in your body that has the capacity to prevent high blood pressure and diseases caused from damage to the heart, brain and kidneys; keep your arteries young and flexible (preventing, slowing or even reversing the buildup of plaque); lower cholesterol; reduce your risk of diabetes; limit the pain and swelling of arthritis; and boost the power of pain relievers? It also reverses erectile dysfunction, calms the inflammation of asthma, protects bones from … [Read more...] about Exploring the Miracle of Nitric Oxide
Award-Winning Leadership Developing Area Youth
The Board of Directors for Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arizona (BGCCAZ) has unanimously appointed Nicole Kennedy as the interim executive director in February 2019. Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arizona offers affordable after-school and summer programs for youth ages six to 18 in Prescott and Prescott Valley. Its award-winning programs are designed to change the lives of young people across four key areas: fun with a purpose; academic success; good character and citizenship; and … [Read more...] about Award-Winning Leadership Developing Area Youth
Offering a Heads Up on Biking Safety
From paper boys hustling through their paper routes at the crack of dawn to families taking a Sunday afternoon cruise through the neighborhood, bike riding is one of America’s favorite pastimes. But every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26,000 bicycle-related injuries to children and adolescents result in traumatic brain injuries. A brain injury suffered by a child has a more devastating impact than the same severity of brain injury suffered by an adult. … [Read more...] about Offering a Heads Up on Biking Safety
Examining a Life-Long Love Affair with Aviation
Let’s talk about love – the love of aviation. I’m going to speak to my life-long love affair with flying and airplanes. Many pilots and perhaps some non-pilots will see themselves in these small vignettes. My love affair with airplanes started early in life. My dad was a builder and he recruited me at the tender age of three. He needed someone to help work in the controls on the airplane he was building, so he grabbed me, put me in the cockpit along with some rubbing compound on the control … [Read more...] about Examining a Life-Long Love Affair with Aviation
YCCA Boot Camp for Construction Trades
Welcome to “At Home with Tom & Sandy!” Here we are warp-speeding into 2019. Speaking of warp speed, yes, Tom, I am exhausted, done-in, spent and dog-tired – and on the other end of the spectrum, exhilarated, ecstatic, delighted, joyful, overjoyed and euphoric. Tom: The month of January kept you going almost 24/7 with the fantastic Boot Camp you orchestrated. You and the YCCA are certainly going above and beyond to help with the labor shortage the construction industry is facing. Have you … [Read more...] about YCCA Boot Camp for Construction Trades
Making Your Home Beautifully Clean for Spring
While taking a walk in February on the trails at Watson Lake, I looked all around at the dark, cloudy skies and the barren, cold trees. As I looked a little closer, there was a hint of green on the very tips of the Cottonwoods. Could it be? I examined the trees up close and sure enough, there they were, little green sprouts on the tips of the branches. Well, now, it is March and the first day of spring this year is March 20. As do many people, I absolutely love spring. Everything is so fresh and … [Read more...] about Making Your Home Beautifully Clean for Spring
How to Spring into Healthy Eating
March is National Nutrition Month as well as the start of spring, the time of year when many of us become more active and look forward to days outside enjoying the beauty of Northern Arizona. Whether you are hoping to shed a few pounds before a long-anticipated trip or are looking to maintain good eating habits to maximize energy for fun activities, here are some steps that are sustainable and will keep you progressing toward the healthiest of lifestyles. Hydration is the starting point. Cut … [Read more...] about How to Spring into Healthy Eating
Using Life Insurance for Financial, Tax Planning
Do you have a financial plan set up to protect your loved ones after you pass away? With a well-thought-out life insurance plan, you can do just that. The purpose of life insurance is to help provide a measure of financial well-being for your family and loved ones when you are no longer there. With the purchase of a carefully planned life insurance policy, you can help ensure that your family and loved ones will be taken care of. Life insurance offers two essential benefits. First, it offers … [Read more...] about Using Life Insurance for Financial, Tax Planning
Treating Hearing Loss in Babies
Hearing loss in children is more common than you may realize. Hearing loss occurs in two to three per 100 babies born in the United States, prompting hospitals to offer hearing screening as part of the newborn package or charge a small fee for the test. I strongly recommend all parents have their baby’s hearing checked prior to discharge. Hearing Test for Newborns The hearing test is quick and painless for the baby. It is administered by either a nurse or other hospital employee trained in … [Read more...] about Treating Hearing Loss in Babies