by Willem Lange EAST MONTPELIER – I’ve lived a great percentage of my life in towns or places that people go to for vacations or getaways. This means that I’ve lived in some lovely places, and also that when it’s been the occasion for a getaway of my own, the[Read More…]
Columns
Lawn Care to Encourage Bees
by Bonnie Kirn Donahue, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont NORTHFIELD – Much of landscape maintenance in summer is devoted to mowing lawns. Traditional lawns in the Northeast are typically made up of a mix of turfgrasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, perennial rye and fine fescues. Seed mixes often include[Read More…]
Spawning Sunfish, Satellites, and Sneakers
by Doug Facey BURLINGTON – In the shallow margins of many lakes and ponds in June and July, you may spot male sunfish guarding their nests. The sunfishes (family Centrarchidae) comprise many well-known species – including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rock bass, and black crappie – but the most visible[Read More…]
Growing Plants for Their Scents Makes Sense
by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – Do you remember your Grammy’s favorite rose? If you do, you probably remember how fragrant it was. For me, one of my grandmother’s favorite plants was the peony named “Festiva Maxima.” It is a double white with a drop of red in the[Read More…]
There are Many Shade-loving Perennials
by Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – What do you do when there’s more shade and shadow than sunshine in your garden? While your plant selections will likely differ from those chosen for a sunny spot, there are still plenty of beautiful, flowering[Read More…]
Are White Grubs Friend or Foe?
by Nadie VanZandt, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont BURLINGTON – Are the white grubs you dig up in your garden friend or foe? White grubs are the larval stage of certain species of beetles from the Scarabaeidae family including June bugs (Phyllophaga), European chafers (Amphimallon majale) and Japanese beetles[Read More…]
Inviting Pollinators to the Garden
by Andrea Knepper, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont BOLTON – Many home-grown fruits and vegetables require pollination to develop fruit and seeds. Approximately 75 percent of all food crops grown in the United States depend on bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. However, pollinator populations worldwide are decreasing due[Read More…]
It’s Gotten too Civilized
by Willem Lange EAST MONTPELIER – I gave Kiki her Kong with a healthy dab of peanut butter inside, promised her I’d be back as soon as possible (the next day; my daughter Martha would pick her up in a couple of hours), tossed my gym bag and rain parka[Read More…]
It Takes a Village to Raise a Veery
by William von Herff CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — If you take a walk through a thick, broadleaf forest on a cool summer morning, you might recognize the cascading, metallic song of a thrush called a veery. It is an ethereal sound that echoes through the understory, like the ring of a[Read More…]
Planting, Transplanting and Moving Plants
by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – Once, a long time ago, I was sitting on a porch overlooking a landscape with an acquaintance. I commented that if she removed or thinned a line of tall pine trees, she would have a lovely long view. “Great idea! I’ll have them[Read More…]
Blind and Sighted Duo Complete Benefit Tandem Bicycle Ride on the LVRT
by Martha Steele, Community Journalist WESTMORE – “One, two, three, go!” With that command, I told Ferdinand Lauffer, the sighted captain of my tandem bicycle, to mount the bike in unison with me for us to start pedaling. It was June 10, and we were on the first day of[Read More…]
Perennials in the Garden
by Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – You’ve probably heard plants described as annual, biennial or perennial. You may have even heard some called a “tender perennial.” When planning a garden, knowing the difference can help you decide which type of plants you[Read More…]
