Landscape: a problem or an opportunity?

If your home is landscaped with the classic look of junipers or azaleas under the eves and patchy yellow grass from there to the curb, you've probably thought once or twice about making drastic changes. Where can you get ideas that won't cost you a fortune?

Here's a website and a book:

Landscape Online won't help you select plants for your container garden, but it has hundreds of well illustrated articles which are keyword searchable. Cover the drop down menu titled "Research" and select "Search Articles." I tried the terms "Gophers" and "Palms". The first led me to an article on "critter control". The second provide pictures of the Frederick Law Olmstead landscaping for Stanford University using "Trachycarpus fortunei" - windmill palms.. along with 245 other articles

Sunset Before & After Garden Makeovers by Vicki Webster and the editors of Sunset Books. Menlo Park, Calif. : Sunset Pub., c2006.
Call #: 712.6 S
ISBN: 0376031883
Description: 144 p. : col. ill. ; 28 cm.

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Bidclerk

The internet is crowded with advertising - much of the information is highly selective and exaggerated. That might be helpful to you, because hiring a building contractor is as much like hiring a best friend as it is like buying a case of canned corn.

For those of you who would like to push the experience of home construction closer towards the "You say, they do, you pay" model, there is Bidclerk. Free for those of us who want to hire building, landscape, or swimming pool contractors; you simply describe what you want done and contractors who pay for the service will be able to contact you with a price quote.

You are not required to take the lowest bid or even use any of the bids submitted there. It is suggested that you ask for references and check the status of their contractor's license before agreeing to hire them.

They do not provide a list of their subscribing contractors, or even publish an estimated number of subscribers, so Bidclerk's effectiveness is unknown. Similar websites to Bidclerk include: BidstreetUSA, and Constructiondeal.com.

Eviction Resources

Possibly, a public librarian's most frequent legal reference question is "How do I evict a deadbeat tenant?" Like all legal, tax, and medical questions, we are unqualified to offer advice. Still, we aim to help out as best we can by buying books and directing people to informative websites. Our best book is:


The California landlord's law book : evictions by David Brown, Berkeley, CA : Nolo.com
Call #: Oversized 346.79404 B
ISBN: 0873375432
Description: v. <2> : ill., forms ; 28 cm. + 1 computer laser optical disc (4 3/4 in.)

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As for websites, the San Diego Superior Court offers a bit of help navigating their own specific requirements to file an unlawful detainer action. Note two links in the left hand column: "Forms" and "Self Help Center" The first one provides you with a pdf file of the unlawful detainer information sheet for San Diego County. The second one provides you with most of the other forms you'll need IF the tenant does not respond to your 3 day notice and you need to take him to court.

Many people come into the library to photocopy other forms, such as the 3-day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit out of the California landlord's law book. Alternately, you may be able to use the forms and legal advice included in the Nevada County Court's Unlawful Detainer Instructions for Landlords.