EAST MONTPELIER – For some decades I’ve tried to do something new each week: something I’ve never done before; something I haven’t done for a long time; or something I never thought I’d do again. I’m not always successful; and the something, whatever it is, isn’t always something I’d want[Read More…]
Columns
In The Garden: Grow Your Own Potatoes
CABOT – A couple decades ago, I was a new gardener with a small plot at a community garden. One of the more experienced gardeners had tall, lush plants with white flowers. I was surprised to learn that these were potato plants. They were lovely, but I was puzzled why[Read More…]
A New Discovery About Ancient Land Plants
DUXBURY – A long time ago, not so far away, freshwater plants partnered with fungi and moved onto land from lake and river shores. Since that time, land plants have evolved many sophisticated strategies for terrestrial life. Yet to this day, growing in damp forests and on foggy mountainsides, are[Read More…]
Vulgar Enthusiasm from Various Media
EAST MONTPELIER – I talk back to the television quite a bit. I get away with it; there’s nobody here but Kiki to comment on either my behavior or my performance. My wife used to point out, sometimes none too gently if I was commenting upon an especially egregious line[Read More…]
Just a Bump in the (Flooded) Road for Long-time Lovebirds
HARDWICK – Local couple Candy Parchment and Mike Morin recalled their experience with the historic July 9 flooding of 2023, on Parchment’s property on Route 15 West, across from the Lamoille River. In their nine years of partnership, the two had not witnessed a weather event so devastating to our[Read More…]
Whip-poor-will Haunts Grow Quiet
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION – During spring and summer nights, the relentless chanting of whip-poor-will, whip-poor-will, was once heard throughout the Northeast; however, many of the Eastern Whip-poor-will’s former haunts have grown quiet, as abandoned farmland reverts to forest and development encroaches on dry woods with open understories. The Eastern Whip-poor-will[Read More…]
Flying Tigers are Confusing
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION – And you thought you had trouble telling one butterfly species from another. Tiger swallowtails, which are rather large, yellow butterflies with black tiger stripes, flutter over the hills and valleys of eastern North America each spring and early summer, sometimes in great numbers. But figuring out[Read More…]
Watch Out for These Two Pests
BURLINGTON – Many gardeners are reporting damage lately from two pests, the fourlined plant bug and slugs. The plant bug causes minor cosmetic damage, but slugs can be quite destructive if left unchecked. The fourlined plant bug (Poecilocapus lineatus) feeds on mint, basil, sage and Shasta daisies. This little insect[Read More…]
Flash Flooding on Vt. Route 15 east of Brown Farm Road
HARDWICK — Hardwick Police is advising there is flash flooding on VT Route 15 just east of Brown Farm Roas. Hardwick Police stated people should avoid Route 15 between Hardwick and Danville according to Elliott Bjerke with Lamoille County Sherrif’s Dept. Dispatch.
Sunshine And Mild For 4th Of July; Rain Returns For Start Of Weekend
HARDWICK – Conditions are reasonably comfortable this morning as an area of high pressure is hovering over the region, bringing us sunny skies and mild temperatures. We saw several rounds of rain over the weekend in association with a frontal system that was slow to depart from the northeast. As[Read More…]
Bequest Benefits Library Landscaping
HARDWICK – Progress on the addition to the Jeudevine Library is a bit easier to track as the siding creates a more finished appearance to the building. Still, as one passes that way, it is quite clearly still a construction site. Eventually the heavy equipment and fencing will disappear. What[Read More…]
In Full Flower During Recent Debate
EAST MONTPELIER – I’ve been listening to sermons for over eight decades. At first, of course, it was because I had to. Next, because it was the thing to do. Now, occasionally, because I want to. And I must say that over those more than 80 years I’ve heard a[Read More…]
