NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Every gardener wants a healthy, productive garden whether they’re growing vegetables, berries or flowers. While some problems are outside our control, there are a number of things to do to help keep a garden healthy all summer long.  Start with healthy soil. Have a soil test[Read More…]

NORTHFIELD – Milkweed may seem like a weed because of its name, but it’s actually an incredibly important plant. The leaves of milkweed are the primary food source for monarch caterpillars. The flowers provide nectar for the adult monarch butterfly and countless other pollinators and insects. The monarch (Danaus plexippus),[Read More…]

BURLINGTON – There’s nothing like the taste of a fresh-picked strawberry. Sweet, juicy and flavorful, it’s the first fruit to ripen on our local farms, and this year’s crop is a good one.  The buds that produce strawberries were formed last fall. Growers then tucked the plants away under a[Read More…]

PANTON – Introduced to Vermont by European settlers, red clover has become an essential part of the state’s landscape and identity. Designated as the state flower in 1894, this pinkish-purple bloom symbolizes Vermont’s deep agricultural roots, particularly its dairy farming heritage, and serves as a living tribute to the land’s[Read More…]

MONTPELIER – For some people, tomatoes are the pinnacle of summer gardening. Who doesn’t love fresh from the vine juicy tomatoes? Tomatoes can be easy to grow with some inexpensive equipment and a little know-how about this crop. First, when choosing a tomato variety, recognize there is a distinction between[Read More…]

CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – The very last day of May this year surprised me: we got three inches of rain in a little over 12 hours. Although not unheard of, it came after a month when we often got an inch or two of rain over a two or three[Read More…]

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – There are few things as refreshing on a hot summer day as a slice of watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus). At over 90 percent water, watermelons are a tasty way to keep hydrated with an added bonus of vitamins and minerals. For those who would like to try[Read More…]

PANTON – Perched on a hill in Manchester overlooking the Battenkill Valley lies Hildene, the Lincoln family estate. Originally built by Robert Todd Lincoln, son of President Abraham Lincoln, the property features a stately mansion and expansive gardens. Due to its significant historical importance, this Vermont landmark has drawn the[Read More…]

Planting time is almost here. While some crops will be directly sown, many others will begin as starter plants that have been grown from seed at home or purchased locally. The trick is to successfully move those plants outdoors from the controlled environment where they’ve been nurtured. The first thing[Read More…]

NORTHFIELD – If looking to boost the health of a vegetable garden, consider adding annual flowering plants that will attract beneficial insects to help support and protect plants from pests. Insects that are beneficial behave either as predators or parasites. They will prey on other insects like aphids or lay[Read More…]

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Easily recognized by their sweet fragrance and cone-shaped clusters of tiny flowers, the common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) has been a part of America’s gardens for much of the country’s history. Lilacs arrived with colonists in the early 1700s, bringing with them memories of homes and lives[Read More…]