There’s something very satisfying about picking a perfectly ripe home-grown tomato from the vine to slice and eat while it’s still warm from the sun. When properly cared for, fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes may be enjoyed far into the fall—extending one of summertime’s simple delights for a few more precious weeks. Tomato Tips What kind and […]
plants
Here’s a way to keep oceanside memories close even when you’re landlocked: Make a seashell planter using a terra-cotta garden pot. The materials are simple: just the pot, some sanded grout (available at craft stores such as Michaels and A.C. Moore) and hot glue, and the shells. For that last item, you can scour beaches […]
What The Heck Is A Garden Hod?
An unusual-looking contraption with an equally odd-sounding name, the origins of the word “hod” are uncertain; however, I think it’s a translation for the term “workhorse.” Not necessarily a prize-winning beauty, but it reliably gets the job done day in, day out. (I have to admit, upon unpacking my first shipment of garden hods it […]
Want to add an interesting focal point to your garden area? Consider installing a backyard water garden. I installed my miniature backyard pond in one day with the help of a friend. Though we were both rookies at the time, we must have done something right, because eight years later my water sanctuary is not […]
Glorious Tim Clorius
Conversation Pieces at Aucocisco Tim Clorius: Conversation Pieces at Aucocisco Galleries in Portland, Maine (through June 11) presents one side of one of the most interesting young artists to surface in Maine in a long time. Using the tagger name Subone, Clorius is an internationally known aerosol artist, using graffiti or street art as a […]
Glorious Tim Clorius
Tim Clorius: Conversation Pieces at Aucocisco Galleries in Portland, Maine (through June 11) presents one side of one of the most interesting young artists to surface in Maine in a long time. Using the tagger name Subone, Clorius is an internationally known aerosol artist, using graffiti or street art as a way to inspire young […]
Grow Fresh Herbs in Your Garden
There is nothing like walking out to the garden on a summer day to snip fresh mint for iced tea or tender chives for a sautéed meal. Once you have used ultra-fresh herbs for your recipes you won’t want to go back to using the store bought variety. I grow an outdoor herb garden, and […]
A Tale of Two Cities, Portland and Portsmouth First, let me confess that I am not a big fan of graffiti art. The trains that roll slowly behind my house are covered up as high as a person can reach with aerosol tags that all look pretty much the same to me in their use […]
Crop rotation may sound complicated, but this age-old practice is such a useful method for thwarting pest and disease problems that it’s worth gaining a basic understanding of why crop rotation is important and how to try it in your garden. In The American Gardener’s Assistant (1869), Thomas Bridgeman offers this reason for crop rotation: […]
Q. I am crazy for herbs (cilantro, basil, parsley and mint). How can I get a head start on a great herb garden indoors that I can move outside when the weather gets warmer. Any tips for a year-round indoor herb garden? Answer: Herbs may be grown indoors year round, though they won’t be as […]
Top 20 Massachusetts Events for 2011
MAY 6-7: STOCKBRIDGE, Annual Plant Sale. Thousands of annuals, perennials, herbs, rare and unusual plants, and trees and shrubs go on sale at Berkshire Botanical Gardens. Vendors offer potted herbs and vegetable starts, tropical plants, garden ornaments, furniture, compost, and more. 413-298-3926; berkshirebotanical.org MAY 10-15, JULY 12-17, SEPT. 6-11: BRIMFIELD, Brimfield Antique Show. Running more […]
Top 20 Connecticut Events for 2011
April 30-May 1: MERIDEN, Meriden Daffodil Festival. Celebrate the blooming of the 600,000 daffodils in Hubbard Park. Enjoy the parade, a juried crafts fair, food prepared by local nonprofit organizations, a business expo, and a spectacular fireworks display. 203-630-4259; daffodilfest.com May 6-7: FARMINGTON, Hill-Stead May Market. All the crafts and plants you need to start […]