Lyme Watch I think Edie Clark’s piece on the Lyme disease epidemic is one of the finest things she has ever written (“Trouble in Paradise,” July/August). Last year, I, too, had Lyme disease, for the first time at age 74, after working in an abandoned bee balm bed in Maine. Fortunately, I had what might […]
For something whimsical and playful, choose this sterling-silver toggle charm bracelet by Emily Rosenfeld. A heart, a star of David, a flower, a dove, or a contemporary Chai (a Judaic symbol meaning “life”) dances from the wrist. The detail is on both the front and back of the charm, and each piece is signed. Made […]
Former shipbuilder Brad Story is inspired by the birds of the salt marshes near his studio and home in Essex, Massachusetts. His Aerodreams wood sculptures, many of which are designed to be hung, have a wingspan of 4 to 7 feet. “Most pieces are figurative, representational, and/or realistic — in the sense that they resemble […]
Balance and harmony are core elements of ikebana, a Japanese style of floral arranging. George Saridakis’s ikebana vases capture these characteristics. He uses maple and holly from the Northeast, plus exotic woods from Africa and South America, such as wenge, bubinga, and bloodwood. Pictured here is a holly and ziricote vase ($120). Each vase comes […]
Vermont leads the region with small family operations producing world-class cheeses. We are particularly enamored with the following. Appleton Creamery, Appleton, Maine. In addition to fresh chèvre, the Hunter family also makes feta, sheep’s yogurt and a hard cheese they call Crofters. 207-785-4431. appletoncreamery.com Grafton Village Cheese Company, Grafton, Vermont. Grafton cheddar has a sharp […]
In September, the hills of western Massachusetts surrounding Hillman Farm are blazing with autumn color. Carolyn and Joe Hillman’s herd of 50 Alpine goats are outside grazing, as they are for most of the year. This pasturing of goats is largely responsible for the nuances of flavor found in the Hillmans’ Harvest Wheel, a raw […]
Vacations are a time for relaxation, good food, dreamless sleep, and quiet morning walks. The Inn at Castle Hill in Ipswich, Massachusetts, delivers all — except for quiet mornings. Honking geese pass overhead, red-winged blackbirds chatter in the reeds, and ever-present seagulls squawk relentlessly — nature’s vocal welcome to one of the most beautiful places […]
Westport Rivers Vineyard and Winery sits on 500 acres of beautiful farmland located between Fall River and New Bedford, Massachusetts, an area in and of itself that is a pleasure to visit. The winery is open year-round with free tours on Saturdays and Sundays. The gift shop, tasting room, and art gallery are open May-Dec. […]
Not far from Horseneck Beach and the east fork of the Westport River in Massachusetts, the rolling vineyards of Westport Rivers Vineyard and Winery pattern the land with acres of even rows of thriving grapevines. Bob and Carol Russell carefully chose this fertile farmland for its unique microclimate, which offers the warmest temperatures in the […]
On a day in early October 1981, Jack Williams, a popular Boston news anchor, met a little boy named James at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline; neither of their lives would ever be the same. Williams at that time was in his late thirties, tall and handsome with wavy blond hair worn fashionably […]
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 […]
Small stones crunch beneath David Haskell’s boots as he strolls along a shady path amid Allen C. Haskell Horticulturists in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Son of the late genius plantsman Allen Haskell, David now presides over the seven-acre retail nursery and landscape design business created by his father over the past 50 years. The nursery, which […]
