by Laurie D. Morrissey HOPKINTON, N.H. – Call it a flower or call it a weed, clover is a plant everyone knows. Who hasn’t idled away an hour hunting for a four-leaf clover, hoping for good luck? A member of the legume family, clover is common in lawns and fields,[Read More…]
Columns
Early Spring Bloomers
by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – I like to have blossoms in the garden and in vases everywhere. I try to have something blooming all the time or as often as possible. Right now, in mid-April, I count more than 10 species of plants in bloom, along with seven[Read More…]
Pruning Highbush Blueberries Increases Yield
by Dr. Vern Grubinger, Extension Vegetable and Berry Specialist, University of Vermont BURLINGTON – Blueberries are a popular backyard fruit. Once established, they will provide lots of delicious, healthy berries for many decades with proper care. To succeed with blueberries, plant winter-hardy varieties and maintain soil pH between 4.5 and[Read More…]
Ronald Reagan in Drag Had Little Effect on Me
by Willem Lange EAST MONTPELIER – If there were a Shakespearean stage direction for the arch-conservative wing of American politics as it is currently constituted, it would be, “Exeunt stage right, scattering petards.” How in the world any group can expect to prevail consistently among the majority of the electorate[Read More…]
Lessons Learned from Raising a Baby Opossum
by Susan Shea BROOKFIELD – Years ago, when I worked at a nature center in Connecticut licensed to care for injured and orphaned wildlife, a baby opossum was brought to us. It was found lying on a golf course, and was too young to be on its own. We named[Read More…]
Things to Try, or Not
by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – Are you in a rut? Spring is here, but most of us cannot plant anything outdoors due to cold nights or wet ground. Yes, you can plant seeds indoors and baby them until early summer, but that requires a place to grow them[Read More…]
Surprised and Delighted
by Willem Lange EAST MONTPELIER – American Airlines Flight #6059 to Burlington swung wide over Lake Champlain and approached the airport from the north, delightfully early, explaining without words why we were early: a strong south wind all the way from Philadelphia. A wheelchair was waiting for me halfway up[Read More…]
Tulips, the Anticipated Flowers of Spring
by Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont BURLINGTON – It’s finally spring (never mind any snow still on the ground). Daffodils have emerged, their buds anxious to open. Soon tulips (Tulipa), perhaps the most anticipated flowers of spring, will grace front yards and town squares. Tulips are[Read More…]
More Chores for Spring
by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – Although I still have some snow around the house here in Cornish, many of you may be looking at brown grass and mud. It will be some time before real spring weather is safely ensconced. We all want to get outside and enjoy[Read More…]
The Amazing Bird Egg
by Laurie D. Morrissey HOPKINTON, N.H. – I’m often tempted to peek at the eggs inside a phoebe’s nest when the parents leave it to forage for food. I’ve picked up a fallen robin’s egg shell and admired its delicate color and smoothness. I’ve marveled at the primal determination of[Read More…]
It’s Up to You to Contribute
by Willem Lange EAST MONTPELIER – Almost every day I treat myself to the blog of Heather Cox Richardson. I consider it sort of a stroking of my biases, which by this time of my life hardly need affirmation. But I learn stuff, too. In one of this week’s daily[Read More…]
Early Spring Chores
by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – Early spring is a good time to look at the trees and shrubs on your property when you are not distracted by flowers and leaves. Study your “woodies” now to see if they need some care, and if some plants need to be[Read More…]
