In a region where seasonal work off the land is a staple of life, evergreens yield hundreds of thousands of holiday decorations.
winter
Magazine
Low Tide in the Hills
Down on the coast, they understand the tides. They live by the tides–and not only as a practical matter for seagoing folk, but more subtly, as well. Twice a day, the harbors, bays, and coves fill and empty, fill and empty. The edge of the continent comes close, then pulls back. Down on the coast, […]
New England
Best New England Historic Inns
Escape to a distant time at one of these New England historic inns, where 18th century ambience is preserved with style and comfort.
Photo/Art by Scott & Zoe/Botanical/Getty Images If the holidays mean leaving your houseplant collection alone while you visit your family in far places, water each plant well, move it out of direct sun, encase it loosely in a clear plastic bag with a few air holes punched in it, turn the thermostat down to 60 […]
Magazine
In Search of Whales | Mary’s Farm
Nowhere is the whaling history deeper than on Nantucket, where whalers set sail and didn’t return for years, their ships filled with whale oil.
Magazine
A Visit to Boston’s MFA
Even back in the 1970s when I was a graduate student in Boston, I wasn’t a big fan of the Museum of Fine Arts. I dropped in at the elegant and eccentric little Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum regularly just to smell the gardens in winter and breathe the ancient air, but the MFA struck […]
I realize my posts of late have been entirely apple-centric, but such is the focus of my life these days as I get out to promote my book. I promise that once November rolls around, I’ll turn my eyes to the wider world of food. For now, I want to take you to a very […]
Gardens
Garden and Potting Shed Styles
Garden and potting sheds are as diverse as the people who own and use them. Charming and intriguing, these simple structures seem to beckon us to approach, peek inside and let our imaginations run wild. These small outdoor buildings also serve as a back drop for artists and artists at heart to express their own […]
Gardens
Birdhouses in the Garden
“Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come.” ~Chinese proverb~ Birds and birdhouses have always been a part of the gardening experience (examples of early bird houses in museums date as far back as the mid 1600’s) and can be enjoyed throughout the seasons in New England. The presence […]
A few weeks ago while taking a quick after-work tour of my vegetable garden I made an important conclusion: I was about to drown in tomatoes. This was a bit of a sea change for me. At the height of gardening season I start thinking of my plants like they’re my own children. And like the kid […]
The Northeast Kingdom of Vermont is a world apart, crowned by color-filled autumn vistas, historic byways, and secluded mountain lakes.
Amy Traverso, Yankee lifestyle editor and author of The Apple Lover’s Cookbook picks her five favorite native New England apple varieties. Baldwin Apple Category: Firm-sweet Best use: I like to combine Baldwins with firm-tart apples in old-fashioned desserts like pies, crisps, and pandowdies. Origin: Discovered in 1740 on the farm of John Ball in Wilmington, […]