They say in October the veil between the living and spirit worlds shrinks to 2 millimeters. This minuscule separation could explain the numerous local paranormal sightings.

It’s the perfect time to organize the kitchen. With all the big holiday meals coming up, a clean, well-ordered cooking space will be a great gift to yourself.

The first time I gazed upon a dahlia I was with my father, driving up the Arlington Circle in Berkeley. I spotted a driveway filled with black pots and tall plants that had dinner-plate size flowers. I had never seen anything like them.

In keeping with the spirit of the season, this column will take a slight departure from its usual focus on historical aesthetics. The subject of this column the book, titled “Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln’s Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities” by Amy Stewart, does dwell in the realm of gardens with a past.