FRANCONIA, N.H. – Walking along a dirt road last winter, I heard a collection of pleasant, sputtering trills coming from a stand of conifers and hardwoods nearby. I’m used to the winter conversation of chickadees around feeder and woods, the cawing of crows and blue jays in the yard, and[Read More…]
Columns
White-footed Mice Seeking Warm House
BROOKFIELD – During winter, I often hear gnawing and the scurrying of little feet inside the walls of our house. Mice have taken shelter in our old farmhouse again. Although I hate killing the cute creatures, after we had to hire a carpenter twice to remove sections of our walls[Read More…]
Using Seed and Plant Catalogs
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – It begins in December. By January, seed and plant catalogs arrive at your mailbox (or email) almost daily. Browsing through their pages provides a welcome escape from the garden-deprived days of winter. These catalogs contain a wealth of information to help grow a successful garden. The[Read More…]
Streptocarpus Propagation Yields Easy-to-grow Houseplants
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Streptocarpus (Streptocarpus) are commonly known as cape primrose, not to be confused with the common primrose (Primula vulgaris), a perennial plant that may be grown outdoors at home. While the two share some physical similarities, their care requirements are quite different. The common primrose in the[Read More…]
Brodericks Raise Feral Hops, Saxon Merino Sheep for Beer, Beanies
HARDWICK — On Center Road, peeking slightly through and above the trees, sits a field of atypical appearance: eighteen-foot tall poles arranged in rows are interconnected via wire and rope. Absent of vines and greenery in the winter months, stands the Whitefield Hop Yard. Kevin and Karen Broderick returned hops[Read More…]
How Saxon Merino Sheep Got to Tasmania
EAST HARDWICK – Eliza Forlong was a remarkable woman who in the 1820s walked 1,500 miles throughout Saxony (now part of the Federal Republic of Germany) selecting from the best flock of Saxon Merino sheep. This was an outstanding achievement. Eliza Jack was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1784, and[Read More…]
Brief Moderation, Then Cold Again by Weekend’s Conclusion
HARDWICK – That pesky low-pressure system that remained suspended over eastern Canada contributed to a dusting to two inches of snow every day through Saturday. We finally saw sustained periods of sunshine by Sunday and the brief ridging and approaching warm front brought high temperatures into the upper 20s and[Read More…]
A Cherished Friend has Returned Home
EAST MONTPELIER – I’ve looked out the windows quite a lot this past week, and each time the thought sweeps across my mind: Now, this is the way it’s supposed to be. Snow everywhere, and not just transitory, but settled in to stay a while. Thermometers at 10 degrees or[Read More…]
Bricked-in No More
HARDWICK – 2025! We no longer need to think of the Jeudevine expansion project as a glimmering distant mirage attached to the phrases “in a couple of years” or even “next year.” This is the year, and perhaps even the season, within which the new space will be ready for[Read More…]
January Joy
SHELBURNE – The third candle in Advent wreaths is pink, not purple like the other three. Pink is traditionally associated with joy and celebration. After the anticipation of celebrating joy last month, I was unexpectedly without Internet service and connection with friends and family for two and a half days[Read More…]
Looking Back on Gardens of 2024, Ahead to 2025
CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – I’m not a big fan of unrealistic New Year’s resolutions such as “keep my papers organized and desk tidy”, for example. But I do like to spend some time each January reflecting on the gardens of the past year and making decisions about what I will[Read More…]
Sprouts are the Superfood to Grow at Home
BOLTON – Sprouts are a versatile, dramatic addition to foods that go far beyond the basic bean sprout. Sometimes seen as an addition to sandwiches, toppings on salads and garnishes on entrees, sprouts add crunch, flavor and color to a variety of dishes. Adding sprouts to meals also enhances the[Read More…]
