When simply deadheading isn’t enough, here’s how to prune lilacs and rhododendrons that have become too tall.
plants
Connecticut
Connecticut River Tidelands: A Last Great Place
Fifteen years ago, The Nature Conservancy included a surprising entry on its list of the Western Hemisphere’s 40 “Last Great Places”: the Connecticut River tidelands. Surprising, because the salt marshes and tidal flats at the mouth of New England’s longest river spread through a portion of the busy I-95 corridor of one of the most […]
Read more: Five tips for organic lawn care Richard Shasteen, retired from a long career as a project manager for IBM, is ferociously proud of the lawn surrounding the home he shares with his wife, Darlene, in Milton, Vermont, on the edge of Lake Champlain. And he should be: The grass is about as green […]
Living
Boston’s Hidden Gardens
There was a time in Boston’s Back Bay and Beacon Hill when the tiny brick-walled spaces behind homes were unadorned places that held drying laundry, extra coal, and outhouses. The spaces remain, but when the doors swing open today, you will likely find a plethora of annuals, perennials, flowering trees, and evergreens that provide homeowners […]
New England
Favorite New England Farm Stands
Photo/Art by Brenda Darroch Seasons matter in New England, and the best harbinger is what’s available at your local farm stand. Farm stands come in many varieties and sizes, from apple orchards to year-round markets. The ones highlighted here are three- or four-season spots, with spring seedlings, summer veggies, fall fruits, and winter seafood. Most […]
It’s time for spring cleaning, and I’ve learned that some of my favorite cleaning products can be toxic. What’s a good alternative?– M.R., Dover, VT Common household cleaners that contain chlorine, ammonia, and petroleum-based chemicals may contribute to respiratory problems, release harmful fumes, irritate allergies and chemical sensitivities, and burn skin or eyes on contact. […]
Q. My blue hydrangea has produced spectacular flowers this summer, and I want to use them in fall arrangements. What’s the best way to preserve hydrangeas? — W.M., Plymouth, MA A. All types of hydrangea (and many other plants) produce flowers that can be attractive and long lasting in dried arrangements when properly prepared. To […]
Drivers rolling down Boston’s Boylston Street are sometimes surprised to see — amid the concrete and high-rises — a splash of lush green, a pergola covered in purple blossoms, and bright-red rows of tomatoes, heavy on the vine. This seven-acre plot is The Richard D. Parker Memorial Victory Gardens, better known as Fenway Gardens.The names […]
Magazine
Swindle in Swanton, VT
The Marble Man came in the spring, when the rushing Missisquoi River tumbles gray and white past forgotten mills in Swanton, Vermont. He could have been just another regular at Pam’s Place, swapping stories over coffee with the locals — hunters and fishermen, dairy farmers, truck drivers, border-patrol officers, and commuters to St. Albans and […]
Organic — it’s a word we’re all familiar with. Or are we? In America’s quest to “go green,” the word organic has been plastered on everything from cheese curls to shampoo, burgers to baby clothes. To most folks, it’s shorthand for “all natural/no pesticides/hormone free.” But once upon a time, organic was used to describe […]
Magazine
A Whole Month in Your Hands
Here’s a thoughtful way to mark the passing of the months and years: a calendar sphere. Designed and painted by classical artist Jill DiPippo of Warren, Rhode Island, this delightful sculpture presents ornamental interpretations of people born in each month. You may order a custom sphere (Jill considers things such as favorite colors, plants, and […]
Connecticut
Here in New England: Brendan Loughlin
This Connecticut artist survived hard times to find his true life’s work.