Want to give your kitty's living quarters an upgrade? If you have the space (and it doesn't need to take much) adding a catio could prove to be the cat's meow.

The post Feline design: A ‘catio’ can give cats a taste of the outdoors in a safe way appeared first on Mountain View Voice.

When Sally and Joel Phillips purchased their Portola Valley property, it didn't exactly come with the home of their dreams. The old 1,000-square-foot cabin was barely habitable, but it was what the newly married couple could afford in the neighborhood at the time, so they decided to make the best of it. 

The post Portola Valley couple upcycles ‘barely habitable’ 1940s cabin into rustic dream home   appeared first on Mountain View Voice.

July is the perfect time to give your trees a midyear checkup. By inspecting your trees, you can catch potential issues early and take appropriate action to keep them healthy and thriving during the region's warm, dry months. 

The post Tell-tale signs your tree is unhealthy  appeared first on Mountain View Voice.

Whether you’re looking to hone your gardening skills, explore local historic points of interest or learn about local flora and fauna, you’ll find plenty of opportunities on the Peninsula. Check out our July home & garden events calendar.

The post Looking for things to do in July? Try a history tour, guided earthquake walk, garden art exhibit or sunset hike at Filoli appeared first on Mountain View Voice.

The amount of water trees need in the summer depends in large part on the age of the tree. Newly planted trees with shallow roots may need weekly water. Trees that are a few years old and fairly well established may need monthly watering. Mature trees with extensive root systems may not need any supplemental water. 

The post Ask a Master Gardener: ‘How do I know how much water my trees need in the summer?’  appeared first on Mountain View Voice.

Kitchens are the heart of the home. It’s where families gather and connect. Food has a way of bringing people together, and it’s much more enjoyable to create delicious dishes when a kitchen is designed in a creative, organized manner.

The post Hate your cramped kitchen? Local designer shares creative ways to add more storage space appeared first on Mountain View Voice.

Putting aside a few days to do some minimal maintenance and prep work before the summer heat kicks in can make the season more relaxed and less property focused. Here are five simple ways that will make a big impact on your yard.

The post Do this prep work now to keep your yard low-maintenance during the summer months appeared first on Mountain View Voice.

Whether you’re looking to hone your gardening skills, explore local farms and orchards or learn about architecture, you’ll find plenty of opportunities on the Peninsula. Check out our June home & garden events calendar.

The post Home briefs: Redwood hikes, orchard activities, sunsets in the garden all happening in June appeared first on Mountain View Voice.

Earwigs are third only to snails and slugs in causing plant damage. While they are beneficial because they eat insects such as aphids, they also feed on soft plants.

The post Ask a Master Gardener: Are earwigs harmful to your garden? appeared first on Mountain View Voice.

With rising temperatures and an increasing frequency of wildfires, it is imperative to understand and integrate fire-safety precautions into your home design. Doing so not only can better protect your property and community, but it also can provide financial benefits, such as fire insurance discounts.

The post Portola Valley property gets a ‘wildfire-safe’ backyard makeover appeared first on Mountain View Voice.