This spring has been gorgeous with all of the flowering trees and spectacular blooms everywhere. Our neighborhoods and Stanford Shopping Center look great and smell great. But with land and water at a premium, and food as well if you're poor, are we making wise decisions on what we plant?

Instead of planting only flowering or male fruit trees, shouldn't we consider planting fruit trees that produce food where possible? And gardens that produce vegetables? Places like Stanford Shopping Center could offer their organically and locally grown produce to non=profits to take care of and harvest for the homeless and elderly.

I don't suppose grocery stores would be interested in growing free fruit in their parking lots but perhaps other retailers might consider. And maybe we could come up with more locations for community gardens.