by Willem Lange EAST MONTPELIER – “They’re a pretty sorry lot.” – Barbara Bush Mrs. Bush was talking in 2000 about the Democratic contenders for the presidential nomination. But her appraisal would fit the 19 alleged miscreants who’ve been showing up this week for booking at the Fulton County Jail.[Read More…]
Columns
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…]
When North Meets South: Flying Squirrel Hybrids
by Gretchen Uhrinek Pittsburgh, Pa. – It’s evening, and you’re in the forest. You close your eyes and inhale the sharp, sweet, turpentine scent of pine. The air is still, yet the branches overhead seem to nod at your presence. You shine a flashlight and catch a glimpse: a fleeting,[Read More…]
This Can’t be a Good Sign
by Willem Lange EAST MONTPELIER – For decades I’ve preached the virtue of experiencing one new thing each week. This has resulted in an occasionally exciting life so far. But the one this past week was a bit more than I’d planned for or even thought about. After a series[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…]
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…]
Doodlebug, Doodlebug, Are You at Home?
by Timothy Loftus AUBURN, Mass. – The doodlebug waits. It is patient. It is silent. And it is hidden under a fine layer of dry, loose, sandy soil at the bottom of a small conical pit. Soon, a wandering ant will slip down the side of the pit, where the[Read More…]
The Reason Should be Fairly Obvious
by Willem Lange EAST MONTPELIER – Increasingly, as time goes on, I find myself less and less interested in the Facebook pages that purport to tell “the startling truth” of the breakup of celebrities: Was it his devotion to Scientology or hers to a wanderlust? Who cares? Just as frequently,[Read More…]
Planting and Caring for Trees Invites Wildlife
by Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Trees provide us with many gifts: shade, wind breaks, erosion control, beautiful foliage, an invitation to birds and other wildlife and, in the case of fruit or nut trees, something tasty to harvest. Like other perennial[Read More…]
