Ask a Master Gardener
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Ask a Master Gardener: How to grow a watermelon
There are few things as refreshing on a hot summer day as a slice of watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus). At over 90 percent water, watermelons are a tasty way…
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Ask a Master Gardener: Vermont’s state flower
Introduced to Vermont by European settlers, red clover has become an essential part of the state’s landscape and identity.
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Ask a Master Gardener: Moving starter plants outside
Planting time is here. While some crops will be directly sown, many others will begin as starter plants that have been grown from seed at home or purchased…
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Ask a Master Gardener: For the love of lilacs
Easily recognized by their sweet fragrance and cone-shaped clusters of tiny flowers, the common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) has been a part of America’s gardens for much of our…
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Ask a Master Gardener: Why you should plant dogwoods
Dogwoods, in the genus Cornus, are among the most versatile native shrubs. With seasonal interest, tolerance of less than perfect conditions and benefits for wildlife, these shrubs are…
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Ask a Master Gardener: All about bleeding hearts
Have you ever heard of the lady in the bath flower? That’s just one of the common names for bleeding hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, formerly Dicentra spectabilis). If you’re…
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Ask a master gardener: Simple tips for stunning Clematis
With abundant blooms in a wide range of colors from soft white to dark purple, pink and even yellow, clematis reign supreme among climbers.
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Ask a Master Gardener: A rose isn’t just a rose
We’re all familiar with roses (Rosa) — their fragrance, their flowers, their thorns. If you’re thinking about adding a rose (or roses) to your garden this year, it…
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Ask a Master Gardener: How to use heuchera
If you’re looking for a plant for your garden that will come back year after year, is easy to care for and suitable for a variety of growing…
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Ask a Master Gardener: Carl Linnaeus, father of taxonomy
Rudbeckia hirta. Solanum lycopersicum. Acer saccharum. Have you ever seen these names on plant tags or seed packets and wondered where they came from? We can thank Carl…
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Ask a Master Gardener: Indoor herb gardening
Winter weather may be on the wane, but it will still be a while before we can get outdoors and work in the soil. Even so, there’s no…
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Ask a Master Gardener: Plant stands for indoor gardening
Each winter, gardeners bid farewell to their outdoor growing spaces and turn their attention to other ways to occupy their days. Magazines and seed catalogs provide inspiration, but…
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Ask a Master Gardener: Boost veggie diversity with seeds
Choosing seeds and starting your own transplants are among the most empowering ways to garden. Why grow the same vegetable varieties that you can buy at the grocery…
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Ask a Master Gardener: Get ready for spring with a party
By this time of the year, it may seem like winter will never end. Many of us are eager to start gardening knowing that spring is right around…
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Ask a Master Gardener: The bewitching witch hazel tree
You may be familiar with its name from the bottle of astringent found in your home medicine cabinet or for sale on pharmacy shelves near rubbing alcohol and…
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Ask a Master Gardener: How to compost in winter
Compost, the dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling material produced by natural decomposers, provides many benefits to gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Converting garden waste, kitchen scraps and various paper items into…