Ask a master gardener: Shade elegance with Solomon’s Seal

If you want to add a touch of architectural interest to your shade garden, look no further than the graceful silhouette of Solomon’s seal. 

One of the great joys and challenges of gardening is seeing creatures inhabit and eat from our gardens. However, in some cases, animals and insects are unwelcome visitors.

Container gardening is a good option if you have limited space or want to be able to alter your environment by moving pots around.

Many home-grown fruits and vegetables require pollination to develop fruit and seeds. Approximately 75% of all food crops grown in the United States depend on bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators.

You’ve probably heard plants described as annual, biennial or perennial. You may have even heard some called a “tender perennial.” When planning a garden, knowing the difference can help you decide which type of plants you want to include.

Raised beds are a great way to minimize effort and maximize enjoyment of vegetable and flower gardens. 

You may have heard of jumping worms, sometimes referred to as “snake worms.” Worm castings that resemble coffee grounds on the soil’s surface are likely the first thing you’ll notice.

If you’ve got a gardening question, you can call the University of Vermont Extension Master Gardener Helpline to get an answer. 

A vegetable garden is not complete without tomatoes. Local farm stands will soon be offering a wide selection of tomato transplants for your garden.

Tulips are so plentiful that sometimes we take their presence for granted. They’re common flowers, but how much do you really know about them?

Wood ashes are a surprisingly useful byproduct of winter heating.

Spring is in the air, and what better way to celebrate a return to gardening than to share its magic with children? It’s not too early to start planning now.

It’s that time of year when, sure, it’s technically spring, but we all know there’s still plenty of cold and wet weather yet to come.

Philodendrons and other houseplants are toxic to puppies, so need to be placed out of reach with a gentle reminder not to touch. photo / Jodi Larison In their book, “How to be your Dog’s Best Friend,” the Monks of New Skete suggest that for many people, d … (read more)

What could be better than fresh greens during the dreary winter months? What if you grew and harvested them yourself?