Editorials

Another reason to pave over a bit of paradise?

When property owner Tooru Hirose says that Green Thumb Nursery on Winchester Boulevard is "more like a small-town nursery," he pretty much hits the nail on the head.

There aren't a lot of parking spaces, and there's no paved driveway. In fact, a driveway and paved parking area might make it more convenient to shop there, but a lot would be lost--a lot that gives the nursery the old-fashioned charm that is increasingly prized by local residents.

The idea of paving the parking area at Green Thumb makes one think of Joni Mitchell singing about how they paved over paradise and put in a parking lot.

That's an exaggeration, of course. Still, anyone who loves gardens understands that hot pavement gives off a very different sensation than does gravel with its crunch under the feet and the coolness of moisture seeping up through tiny pebbles.

Gravel is not only more people-friendly, it's dramatically more plant-friendly. With pavement, the temperature increases, and nearby plants in containers will dry out faster.

Home-grown nurseries have become an endangered species in the era of mass merchandisers, catering as they do to the self-service mind-set.

Independent nurseries, such as Green Thumb, offer exactly what Los Gatans say they want from their home-town merchants--personal service, informed staff and selection not available in big discount stores.

We don't want to overplay the significance of Green Thumb's fight to keep its access and parking as they are. Still, we'd like to suggest that the town find a way to cut the nursery--which has operated at the same location for nearly 50 years--a little slack.

Paving over the parking area and requiring a driveway won't mean the end of the world. But it will mean just a tiny bit more of paradise has been paved over.

Classical Notes

Speaking of things heavenly, congratulations to KCAT-Channel 6 station manager George Sampson, who found a way to make the afternoons of local classical music lovers positively divine.

When TCI stopped providing cable service to KDFC (102.1 FM) for local subscribers, many listeners of the classical station found they could no longer get any classical music on the radio.

Sampson responded to requests to make the Classical Arts Showcase available on the town's public-access TV station. Now there's classical music, with accompanying video, in place of the message board that used to fill the air time in the afternoon.

The purpose of public-access TV is to allow local residents some control. Thanks to Sampson's responsiveness, local classical music fans have been empowered, and the local airwaves are alive with the sound of music.

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