Deborah J. Benoit
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Ask a Master Gardener: Chickens in the garden
There’s more to consider than fresh eggs when raising chickens at home. For gardeners, that includes keeping both chickens and plants safe and productive.
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Ask a Master Gardener: All about growing hellebores
If you’re looking for an early-blooming, low-maintenance plant for your garden, look no further. A hellebore just might check off several requirement boxes on your plant wish list.
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Ask a Master Gardener: What exactly is vanilla?
Most of us recognize that little brown bottle on the spice shelf that imparts a wonderful fragrance and flavor to baked goods and beverages. It’s a staple in…
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Ask a Master Gardener: How to attract bluebirds
Spring is just around the corner. With its arrival, bluebirds will be returning north from their winter migration to the southeastern United States and Mexico. If you’re lucky,…
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Ask a Master Gardener: Valentine’s Day flowers
Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to show those we care for just how much they mean to us. Often, that means a gift of flowers. Throughout history…
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Ask a master gardener: Know your zones
If you’ve purchased perennial plants or started them from seed, you’ve likely seen notations such as “hardy to zone 5” or “USDA Zones 4a-9b” on the package or…
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Ask a master gardener: Growing greens in winter
There’s nothing like creating a salad of freshly harvested greens you’ve grown yourself from seed.
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Ask a Master Gardener: Beneath the mistletoe
The mention of mistletoe evokes images of a seasonal kissing ball adorned with its leaves and berries or of someone sneaking a kiss beneath a sprig of mistletoe…
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Ask a Master Gardener: 7 essentials for your garden journal
Whether you choose a ready-made book, a calendar with plenty of room for notes or a three-ring binder to keep it all together, there are some things you’ll…
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Ask a master gardener: Plan a spring garden this fall
Every gardener has a fall to-do list to complete: pulling annuals, raking leaves and storing hoses and other garden tools. They aren’t the most exciting tasks, but planning…
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Ask a master gardener: Goldenrod, a useful wildflower
Of all the wildflowers — or weeds, if you prefer — goldenrod (Solidago) is one of the most recognizable. Its plumes of bright yellow flowers atop tall stems…
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Ask a master gardener: Annuals vs. perennials
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…
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Gardeners, watch out for jumping worms
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…
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Ask a master gardener: Tulip mania
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?
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Gardening: Make hay while the snow melts
Spring may be upon us, but winter is reluctant to let go. In the meantime, we’re all eagerly awaiting the time when we can head back to our…
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Ask a master gardener: How to share the magic of gardening
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…