Opinion

Generations: Taking a Bracing Vacation

August 10, 2026

I write this month’s column not from Belmont, but from Germany. My wife is German, and part of the “deal” in our relationship is that we spend every “urlaub” (vacation) in Germany visiting with her family. That nearly always includes one week…

Opinion

Garden Gems: To Squish or Not to Squish

August 5, 2026

Gardens are home to more than plants. Birds and small mammals are often poking around, seeking sustenance. Invertebrates make their living in the garden too, and encountering them gives many gardeners pause. We may recoil, or we may want to observe. And…

Opinion

Generations: Are We There Yet? My First American Road Trip

August 4, 2026

Even before I could point to the United States on a map, I knew America through a world of talking cars. As a child growing up in Korea, I watched the “Cars” series and became fascinated by the vast land with endless…

Opinion

Generations: The Illusion of Personal Control

July 24, 2026

Our bodies belong to us, yet mostly they are strangers. They drop bad news when they feel like dropping it and rarely let us know too much beforehand. They never ask. The Buddhists don’t talk so much about “my body” as they…

Opinion

Generations: Calm and Purpose Among the Benton Stacks

June 29, 2026

On a recent Saturday, I was finally able to resume my favorite volunteer activity: working at the E.C. Benton Library. People may wonder why I would spend three precious hours of my Saturday afternoon doing volunteer work, but I honestly can’t imagine…

Opinion

The Tree That Gave Linnaeus His Name

June 22, 2026

Here’s a tree for you. It has heart-shaped leaves, is easy to grow in full sun to part shade across a range of soil conditions, and is somewhat drought-tolerant. In June, copious small, yellow, sweet-smelling flowers blanket the tree, attracting so many…

Opinion

Generations: What I Learned Digging in the Dirt

June 16, 2026

Last summer, I wrote a column about attempting to transform my weedy backyard into a beautiful garden. This summer, I have a pretty garden bed with more flowers than weeds and plant names like buddleia roll off my tongue. Here are the…

Opinion

Ask Lisa: The Kids are Launched, Their Stuff Remains Behind

June 12, 2026

Becoming empty-nesters as your children move out into the world is emotionally complicated, but it also creates a practical challenge, one that might involve Marie Kondo more than Dr. Phil. Specifically: what do you do with all their stuff? When my children…

Opinion

Generations: The Birth of a Boston Sports Fan

June 9, 2026

Saying the Red Sox are off to a slow start to the 2026 season is an understatement. As I write this, they just suffered their 27th loss in 46 games. Yet somehow, I still find myself clicking on another highlight video during…

Opinion

Generations: The Hidden Curriculum of High School

June 4, 2026

When I look back at my junior year of high school, I think not only of my experiences with friends, my grades, and my favorite activities, but also of what I’ve learned along the way. Although school is mainly designed to teach…

Opinion

Garden Gems: There’s Something About Trillium

May 26, 2026

A few weeks back, I got an email from Native Plant Trust with the breathless subject line, “Trillium week begins this Sunday!” It went on to say, “Trillium Week at Garden in the Woods is just around the corner! Join us for…

1 2 3 … 14 Next