by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – I love to cook, and I love to eat. I got started gardening in the vegetable garden more than 70 years ago, in part, because everyone I knew loved to eat homegrown vegetables: raw in the garden, fresh in the kitchen or cooked[Read More…]
In the Garden
Houseplants for a Dorm Room
by Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Plants may not be the first consideration in adding a personal touch to a dorm room, but they will add a touch of color and improve the mood of even the drabbest space. What makes a[Read More…]
Native Shrubs are Food and Shelter
by Bonnie Kirn Donahue, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont NORTHFIELD – Adding shrubs to your landscape can have many benefits. After being planted, they can live for many years. They visually ground gardens, adding structure throughout the year. Perhaps most importantly, they can provide food and shelter for small[Read More…]
With Hydrangeas, You Always Win
by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – Unlike the games of chance at our local fair, you always win when you buy a hydrangea. They generally bloom their fool heads off every year, even if you have poor soil and a poor track record in the garden. When I was[Read More…]
Dogwood Sawfly are Lookalike Caterpillars
by Ann Hazelrigg BURLINGTON – You may think that caterpillars were devouring your dogwoods this year, but these lookalike larvae are actually sawflies in the order Hymenoptera and are related to bees, wasps and ants. (True caterpillars are the larvae of moths and butterflies and are in the insect order[Read More…]
Summer Flavors Preserved in Dried Garden Herbs
by Andrea Knepper, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont BOLTON – Drying herbs from your garden is a satisfying, fun way to enjoy the bright flavors of summer throughout the year. You can preserve your herbs by drying them with tools you already have at home. There are three go-to[Read More…]
Solomon’s Seal Provides Elegant Shade
by Nadie VanZandt, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont PANTON – If you want to add a touch of architectural interest to your shade garden, look no further than the graceful silhouette of Solomon’s seal. Solomon’s seal is a hardy herbaceous perennial for shade that spreads through rhizomes to form[Read More…]
Big Plants and Tall Plants
by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – If Jack, of Beanstalk fame, were to visit my garden, I think he would be impressed. I’m not sure how tall his beanstalk grew, but I got out my 10-ft. tripod Hasegawa pruning ladder and took a picture of a flower blossom while[Read More…]
Window Boxes are Something Everyone can Have
by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – You may not have the time and energy to weed and maintain lovely perennial flower beds – or even to grow a few tomatoes, carrots and beans. But if you love flowers, you can have a window box or a big pot of[Read More…]
Powdery Mildew is a Common Fungal Disease
by Ann Hazelrigg, Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Vermont BURLINGTON – Gardeners may notice a white coating on the leaves of their cucurbit plants, phlox, roses and lilacs. This is a common fungal disease called powdery mildew that appears this time of year on several different hosts. The whitish gray[Read More…]
Smart Gardening Means Not Procrastinating
by Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Some people are always looking for shortcuts or ways to avoid boring or backache-inducing chores in the garden. Does that make them lazy gardeners? Or are they simply gardening smarter? Perhaps the biggest and least-loved garden[Read More…]