My two-foot daisy plant bloomed each fall for five or six years but stopped two years ago. The plant comes up green and seemingly healthy, but no blossoms — not even one bud. Can you tell me why this has happened and how to solve the problem? C.M., Rockland, MA Get Our FREE Yankee Best […]
Living
Residents of the Newport’s Top of the Hill section feel it is the most heavenly neighborhood. And we recently found out why. For one thing, the Top of the Hill neighborhood is just an easy 10-minute walk to the downtown area with all those wonderful shops and restaurants along the harbor. Get Our FREE Yankee […]
Living
Spanish Lessons
A few items in these recipes may be new to you. If you have trouble finding ingredients, be sure to ask at your local grocery — many markets have Latin American sections. Or online, try: store.amigofoods.com or latinmerchant.com Aji is a hot pepper particular to Peruvian cooking. It packs a strong kick, but it’s mellowed […]
You know autumn has arrived in New England when boxes of tangy-sweet Concord grapes start showing up at local markets and farm stands. In fact, these dusky-purple orbs are so fragrant, you can smell them before you see them. Their growing season is brief, so enjoy them now, either straight from the vine or in […]
We practically live on our outdoor deck from spring through fall. By this time of the season, it’s showing wear. How best to care for our deck? — A.G., Fitchburg, MA Decks are constantly exposed to the elements and therefore will quickly show signs of weathering. If the wood is dirty (bird droppings, pollen, mud), […]
Decorating with maps is a wonderful way to display your favorite destinations in your home. Here’s how to use maps as wallpaper. It’s easier than you think!
Last spring I sent away for three bittersweet plants and received one male and two female plants. These grew high with great leaves, but no berries. What went wrong? — D.C., Pascoag, RI First of all, as pretty as their berries are, Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) is widely considered one of the most threatening invasive […]
Early autumn in New England is generally considered an ideal time to apply fertilize shrubs and trees. Here’s why and how.
Get Our FREE Yankee Best New England Vacations Guide! Email(Required) Subscribe Every fall I buy beautiful hardy mums, but they don’t seem to survive the winter in my landscape. What am I doing wrong? — D.B., Cambridge, MA Get Our FREE Yankee Best New England Vacations Guide! Email(Required) Subscribe The chrysanthemums we see everywhere commonly […]
Fifty tons of fieldstone were used in the foundation of this beautiful lake house. Jim Starkey and his apprentice, James Turner, built the columns, arches, and walls during the winter of 2002. Jim learned the trade from his father, Russell O. Starkey, a lifelong mason. “This house was an unforgettable project,” Jim says. “James lugged […]
Homes
New Hampshire Lake House
When fall comes to this lakeside family getaway in southern New Hampshire, the new color palette of golds and reds flows easily into the rooms, warming the space and creating new, enchanting views. The fireplace is amply stocked now, ready for chilly mornings when hot chocolate begins the day. Because the owner wishes to remain […]