When spring sprung this year, I actually went online to research when and how to prune, fertilize, sod and care for the many plants in our garden. I was encouraged because last year when I followed instructions about how to care for my (dying) rose bush, I was actually able to bring it back from the dead and coax a bunch of flowers out of [...]
As my backyard emerges from the mud and muck left over from a mild Northampton MA winter, I am reminded that it is probably time to start pruning some of the plants we planted last year in our small yard.
As both a realtor and wannabe gardener, this tends to be a tricky time of year for me as the spring buying and selling market takes off [...]
Winter is a hard time for house plants. Dry heat robs them of needed humidity, and there’s less natural light. A basic understanding of what plants do in winter makes it easier to keep them healthy throughout the winter months. Think [...]
I have to say, when we moved from a 1/2 acre plot of land in downtown Northampton, MA to a 1/4 acre parcel in Florence, MA - I assumed we would have no more fall clean up to speak of. At our last house, we were practically knee deep in pine needles, carpeting the lawn and burrowing in between the shrubs and plant. The energy we expended on [...]
The snow has finally melted in our yard! I am amazed that the piles of leaves which I didn't manage to clear out in the fall have been perfectly preserved underneath the snow. In my fantasies, they had broken down and disappered during the long, cold winter. Alas, I still have some spring (formerly fall) clean up to accomplish. I thought [...]
It is amazing how quickly the leaves in our beautiful Pioneer Valley turn color this time of year. The change in the air is palpable come late August, and within a couple of weeks we see an amazing array of hues peppering our many trees. As the leaves start to fall, many of us begin the arduous process of raking, bagging and hauling them [...]