READING – Boiling maple sap into syrup is a time honored tradition in the Northeast, to the olfactory delight of anyone who has spent time in a steamy sugarhouse while inhaling the sweet maple scent of the season. It used to be that trees were tapped in late March, and[Read More…]
Columns
Returning Bluebirds Need Homes
by Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Spring is just around the corner. With its arrival, bluebirds will be returning north from their winter migration to the southeastern United States and Mexico. If you’re lucky, they’ll pay a visit to your yard. While bluebirds likely won’t[Read More…]
Warm Influence Sustained Through Week; Forecast Turns Murky by Sunday
by Tyler Molleur HARDWICK – Another record-shattering week in the books, as Tuesday of last week easily eliminated old records in several areas. It reached 55 degrees in Montpelier, breaking the former 52-degree record high from 2000. This week the warm air returned, and a record high of 57 was[Read More…]
I Needn‘t Have Worried so Much
EAST MONTPELIER – Owing to the recent development of a relationship with a much younger lady (of only 76), I’ve been traveling every so often to Nahant, Mass., a few miles north of Boston, for visits. Being a bit of a country rube, I’ve been quite aware of the increasing[Read More…]
Propagating Dogwoods and Willows
by Bonnie Kirn Donahue, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont Looking for versatile, native shrubs? Look no further than willows (Salix spp.) and dogwood (Cornus spp.). Both species are exceptional landscape plants. They have strong roots that can help secure steep banks and prevent erosion. They grow in tough conditions,[Read More…]
Cold Frames Extend the Season
by Andrea Knepper, Extension Master Gardener BOLTON – Cold frames allow for the early planting of spring vegetables such as lettuce, radishes, carrots and cabbage by protecting them from frost and cold temperatures at the beginning of the season. You can construct a season-extending cold frame for your garden with an[Read More…]
New Invasive Insect Zigzagging Across North America
by Jen Weimer There’s a new invasive insect zigzagging its way across North America. First reported by citizen scientists in Quebec in 2020, the elm zigzag sawfly (Aproceros leucopoda) has now spread to North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont. This new pest, which is native[Read More…]
Good Weekend for Sap Run
HARDWICK – What a difference a week makes. Several days of warm temperatures over the past week, combined with light to moderate rainfall continues to erode away at our snowpack which is already minimal for the season. Valley areas report patchy ground cover of snow, with areas from around 1,500[Read More…]
To me, it was the Mother Lode
EAST MONTPELIER – If you gad about enough and try to do at least one new thing a week, you’re bound to encounter interesting people, educational experiences, and exciting situations. A perfect proof of that came up for me last summer, when I trundled across New England to join my[Read More…]
Vanilla is a Tropical Treat
by Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Most of us recognize that little brown bottle on the spice shelf that imparts a wonderful fragrance and flavor to baked goods and beverages. It’s a staple in our kitchens, but have you ever wondered where[Read More…]
Identifying Trees in Winter
by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – Most of us enjoy knowing the names of our acquaintances including trees. It’s tougher to identify trees in winter because most have no leaves, which is how we generally recognize trees. But by observing overall shape, bark, branching patterns, buds and the presence[Read More…]
