CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – If you lean toward lazy (or have kids, dogs and a job), growing garlic may be just the ticket. It is the easiest of all vegetables to grow. Once planted and mulched, it requires little or no work until harvest. A good harvest is guaranteed if[Read More…]
In the Garden
Putting the Garden to Bed
by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – To me, this felt like the summer that never was. It was rarely hot and sunny. The rainy gray days felt more like those in Portland, Oregon, than in New England. Even so, the summer we had is largely over and it’s time[Read More…]
Fall Flowers Are Important for Pollinators and Birds
by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – Despite my best efforts to support monarch butterflies, this year was discouraging: I only saw two monarchs visit my gardens. I have a small bed just for milkweeds, both the common one and swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). But no monarchs laid eggs there[Read More…]
Goldenrod is a Useful Wildflower
by Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Of all the wildflowers—or weeds, if you prefer—goldenrod (Solidago) is one of the most recognizable. Its plumes of bright yellow flowers atop tall stems bob in the breeze, making its presence hard to miss. If you have allergies, every[Read More…]
Fall is a Good Time to Sharp Pruners
by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – Fall is a good time to prune deciduous trees and shrubs. Once the leaves have dropped you can see the form and the clutter, and decide what to take out. But before you begin, think about sharpening up your pruning tools, replacing blades,[Read More…]
Many Vermonters are Seeing Early Defoliation of Trees
by Ann Hazelrigg, Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Vermont BURLINGTON – A lot of Vermonters are noticing that their crabapples and apples (Malus spp.), in addition to many other deciduous trees, have dropped many of their leaves well before the first autumn frost. This has been a common occurrence for[Read More…]
Tree Roots Need Protection
by Bonnie Kirn Donahue, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont NORTHFIELD — Trees are critically important to life on earth. They help clean the air, transform carbon dioxide into oxygen, provide shade, cool temperatures, retain stormwater, raise property values, provide food and habitat for wildlife, and improve mental health. Since[Read More…]
Invasives: What are they and what can you do about them?
by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – I’m lucky. Unlike many houses built in the 1800s or early 1900s, mine had no invasive plants when I bought it in 1970, probably because it was built as a Creamery, or butter factory. Decorative plants were not needed. Most older houses are[Read More…]
Gardening Better As We Age
by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – As a Certified Senior Citizen I sometimes wonder if I am too ambitious in my garden. I have about an acre of gardens with 200 or more kinds of flowers and a good-size vegetable garden. These gardens please me greatly, and I visit[Read More…]
Cooking and Gardening is a Marriage Made in Heaven
by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – I love to cook, and I love to eat. I got started gardening in the vegetable garden more than 70 years ago, in part, because everyone I knew loved to eat homegrown vegetables: raw in the garden, fresh in the kitchen or cooked[Read More…]
Houseplants for a Dorm Room
by Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Plants may not be the first consideration in adding a personal touch to a dorm room, but they will add a touch of color and improve the mood of even the drabbest space. What makes a[Read More…]