Did you know that April is the month for "Keep Los Gatos Beautiful"? There's a lot of emphasis on the town being "green" too. Events include:

• Children's Earth Day Celebration April 3
• Composting info at Los Gatos Farmer's Market April 6
• Info on recycling at Farmer's Market April 13
• Refresh a Planter Box Day April 19
• Los Gatos Parks Commission Volunteers - new park trail maps at Farmer's Market April 20
• 55+ Plant Swap April 23
• Tree City USA and Arbor Day Celebration April 25
• Los Gatos Trail Cleanup April 26

For detailed information on these events and MORE, click here.

"Blossom Hill" is the name of the small hill that rises up underneath - you guessed it - Blossom Hill Road in Los Gatos. That particular stretch of the long road where the hill heaves upward is a dangerous one for pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, and folks on rollerblades especially (and is no fun for drivers of large vehicles or new drivers either). There is no sidewalk, and the white line that marks the edge of the road goes into a hill on one side and a cliff on the other for a few dozen yards.

Jim just came in from a drive over that patch of Blossom Hill Road and was amazed to see a rollerblader carrying a hockey stick skating down the middle of the road. (In fairness, there is no "side of the road" there.)  I know it's inconvenient to go down Camino del Cerro and through the "Blossom" streets to get over to Union Avenue, but it would be a lot safer than being in the middle of the flow of traffic. It's a far safer "bike route" or route for people on foot or in self-propelled vehicles of any kind.

What Would It Cost to Build A Sidewalk Along the Dangerous Part of Blossom Hill Road?

I've often wondered what it would cost to get a sidewalk put in along that part of the road. A similar problem exists in Saratoga as Highway 9 goes into the town but they put a raised sidewalk into the hill. (I'm sure it's not cheap.) For the safety of everyone, I'd love to see an improvement made there. And I'd like to know if this issue has ever been considered. If not, it's time we talked about it.

Anyone who's more politically involved than I am - do you know the scoop on this hazardous section of road?  Your comments and feedback are welcomed and appreciated.

Ever eat the fruit from a cactus bush? If you've tried prickly pear, then you have! 

Prickly pear used to be extremely widespread in the "wild west" and is still commonly found in the western U.S. today. In the Belwood area of Los Gatos, you can find it in at least three places: along Harwood Road, on Bacigalupi Drive and at Westhill and Belgatos Roads.

The fruit makes a nice jelly or can be eaten raw.  

It's more than just a hearty fruit on a formidable looking plant, though. Back in the days of settlers, this cactus had an extremely important use, it kept the bears out. It grows into something of a tall, thick wall and develops large, strong, sharp needles. You'd think twice before getting too close to it. So did the grizzlies.

So the settlers grew prickly pear around the perimeter of their homes like a tall fence or wall, and the cabins were much better fortified against hungry intruders with sharp teeth and claws. All the better that each year, the fruit would ripen and could be consumed or preserved too!

Next time you see this local cactus, remember the wild west, imagine how important it would be to you and be glad that today, we think of this plant for food and landscaping only and not for home protection.