On hot mornings like this one, I start early when it’s still (relatively) cool. Last weekend, I planted the vegetable garden, and later, morning glories on the porch posts. I need to keep these well watered, at least for their first week, and more if the heat continues. I only have one faucet, which is […]
4 The Thrill of Schill Curt Schilling’s sock was bloodied by the popping sutures in his right ankle as he pitched the Red Sox to a 4-2 win in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series in 2004 against the Yankees, tying the series at 3-3. That moment was every bit as heroic as […]
Some men bring their wives a dozen long-stemmed roses when they want to express their affection. Dr. Guy Esposito digs deep for the perfect gifts for his wife, Italian chef Mary Ann Esposito, in his own way. He literally digs into the ground for fragrant bundles of basil. Or he plucks tomatoes from the neat […]
We recently painted our house and found wood rot, which necessitated a lot of repair and replacement work on the clapboards. What can we do to prevent wood rot? — J.T., Swanzey, NH Homeowners should inspect for wood rot annually. This is a good time of the year to check the condition of exterior trim, […]
Bunny O’Callahan’s years of gardening on the New England coast have taught her which plants love a seaside setting. Here’s a selection of her recommendations: WOODY PLANTS Hydrangea macrophylla and Buddleia (butterfly bush) are easy, deciduous shrubs that bloom from July onward. The hydrangeas feature large “popcorn ball” or flat-topped “lacecap” flowers in vivid blue […]
This seaside garden in Connecticut is an oasis for birds and butterflies. “I choose plants to feed the birds or attract the butterflies,” says Bunny O’Callahan, explaining the composition of her seaside garden in Connecticut. “Sunflowers really draw the goldfinches in. I like to float on my back in the pool and listen to them […]
Finest Summer “Cottage” Inn at Shelburne Farms 1611 Harbor Road Shelburne, VT 802-985-8498 (inn) 802-985-8686 (farm) shelburnefarms.org As I drive directly into the setting sun, the entry posts appear as two shimmering blurs. My vision clears, but the illusion of passing through the pearly gates persists. “Welcome to Shelburne Farms,” the gatekeeper says, advising that […]
In 1905, the Thomas Brayton family hired Joseph Carreiro to create gardens on their estate overlooking Narragansett Bay. He clipped the first green animals out of privet, yew, and boxwood, and tutored his young son-in-law, George Mendonca, who created his own legacy for more than half a century. Eugene Platt now carries on under the […]
Rosaly Bass’s strong hands have seen 35 years of working these 16 acres of rocky soil — the oldest certified organic farm in the state. She’ll harvest as much as 10,000 pounds of tomatoes for her farm stand this season, plus kale, cucumbers, squashes, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, eggplants, flowers, and lots more. And she’ll sell […]
The Tullers have been working this same land since 1768. Now they’ve taken the venerable “do it simple, do it well” philosophy to their latest crop: gourmet ice cream. Using only real fruit puree and 16 percent butterfat, they mix up more than 50 flavors named matter-of-factly after the ingredients in them (“Red Raspberry with […]
I REALIZE THAT some travelers think of Rhode Island as a tangle of highway blocking easy access to somewhere else. I say give them a map and bid them Godspeed. I know this small and unruly state, and I can tell you for a fact that it affords more opportunities for easy enjoyment than any […]
THERE’S A PERFECTLY good reason why Nathan (“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country”) Hale came from northeastern Connecticut. Settled a generation after the rest of New England’s colonizing along the coastline and the Connecticut River Valley, this area became home to many ex-Massachusetts families looking for more […]
