The plague of gardeners everywhere is anything that destroys the garden.  In the beautiful Santa Clara Valley (the San Jose area), a major pest in orchards, farms, and flower gardens is the gopher.

Once I watched, in horror, as a lovely and delicate flower I had nurtured and loved shook violently in place - like it was having a personal earthquake or a seizure. It trembled, it wiggled, and suddenly, SWOOSH, it was pulled below ground in an instant.  I had run into the voracious gopher, and he had found his "all you can eat buffet".

Los Gatos had its share of trouble with gophers too. They threatened the orchards which were the mainstay of the economy 100+ years ago.

A solution was created in 1900, right in Los Gatos. Amazingly, it's still being manufactured today - with involvement of the creator's descendants - in the creator's own home.

This is very cool "Living History" and I invite you to learn more by visiting my blog on Los Gatos, California real estate, history, events, and lifestyle:

www.LiveInLosGatos.com.