Lavender as useful as its loveliness
Lavender is one of the most popular of all herbs for the fragrance of its dried flowers and the oil distilled from them. It is used most often in sachets, perfumes, and baking as its aroma is touted for its relaxing powers over the senses and the body. As summer...
Cambridge rain gardens rein in runoff
On summer Sunday evenings it may seem to take forever, traveling Route 50 West from Cambridge to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, but eventually you get there. The slow, steady drip of cars creeping towards the Bay may be a source of frustration to weekend beach commuters....
Looking beyond nature’s shapes
I can attest to that, since I consider myself one of them. Something that may look rather ordinary to most could be perceived as a thing of beauty by the artist — just waiting to be painted or photographed. Artists are not simply attracted to a scenic landscape, a...
Walbridge gardens through all of life’s seasons
On an unseasonably chilly May morning 100-year-old Ellen Walbridge had just returned to The Dixon House, a historic assisted living residence in Easton from her daily walk with her son. She recently suffered a broken hip and therefore wasn’t quite up to as long a walk...
Garden refresher: ‘New to you’ or tried-and-true?
Summer is here and gardens are blooming! Color brings gardens and exteriors to life and it’s not just the landscaping! Simple materials can turn the garden into a wonderland of joy! One of the most significant trends in landscaping and gardening for 2019 is keeping...
Peter principle: Tiny houses is a big idea
In his 35 years building custom homes, Mike Peter of Centreville has had a lot of unique projects. Over the past winter, Peter said he added a tiny house to that list when the carpenter took on the project to challenge himself after seeing the small dwellings featured...
Family marks 90 years of Hemming and hoeing at Eastern Shore Nurseries
You’ll likely find it difficult to narrow down your choices from among nearly 30,000 beautiful plants at Eastern Shore Nurseries in Easton. The last retail nursery in Talbot County, Eastern Shore Nurseries has been serving gardeners in the tri-county area for 90...
The zen of cordwood fencing
A durable, decorative fence adds the final touch to a yard or garden. But finding a way to do so without adding substantial cost, labor, or upkeep can be a challenges. A practical solution which won’t break the bank, or your back might be as close as the nearest stack...
Buried treasures: Summer blooming bulbs
We’re used to the idea that flower bulbs get planted in the fall, and all winter we get to anticipate the awesome spring color they’ll bring to the garden. Once the hyacinth, daffodil, and tulip make their long-awaited debut, it seems all too soon that they depart....
Thrill, Fill, and Spill: Create a front door masterpiece
The first thing that catches the eye and the last thing seen when leaving is the front door, the centerpiece of the house. There are many things that can be done to boost the curb appeal of the house, upgrading the front door is one of those things. The front door...
They’re out there, go pick them!
When local strawberries are ripe, it’s a good thing. Besides having the freshest sweet fruit at your fingertips, it also means summer is just around the corner. After a soggy spring in 2018 led to a short picking season on the Mid-Shore, theres’ much anticipation for...
Don’t ignore that side exterior wall
The front of the house is arranged to maximize all the qualities of the home. An attractive path sided with mulched beds and flowers. Small trees and shrubbery frame the entranceway. Move to one side of the house — the side you see the least, perhaps only when you’re...
The sky’s the limit
Warm weather entices us to think “outdoors.” The trend in creating outdoor living spaces has steadily increased throughout the years. Trellises, arbors, pergolas, decks, porches and gazebos create great outdoor spaces allowing us to share tranquil time in nature with...
Embrace moondust for your plantings
Spring planting season, with longer, warmer, brighter days, is when gardeners traditionally celebrate the resurgence of the sun. But some growers are also inclined to embrace the night sky and the moon, whose cyclical phases, they believe, can help them produce...
Ready to start your own moon garden?
We’re used to selecting plants to adorn our surroundings according to how much sun or shade they prefer. But some flowers wait until the sun sets to truly shine. These are the florae whose late (in the day) blooms emit intoxicating scents perfect for luring night...
MANTS introduces new trends
Your local garden centers, nurseries and landscape designers don’t take winter off. Instead they jump into the new year with trade shows. The Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show attracts a wide universe of green industry professionals to Baltimore each January. While the...
Philadelphia Flower Show blooms with ‘Flower Power’ theme
On the cusp of the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show presented by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society March 2-10 at the Philadelphia Convention Center, celebrated “Flower Power,” paying tribute to the impact of flowers on our lives....
Take your gardening out of the box
With the sunshine and bearable temperatures hanging around a bit longer and for multiple days, it’s time to rid your yard of traces of the crazy and wet winter as well as get your gardening projects started. With some progressive (and easy!) gardening techniques, you...
In defense of Mr. McGregor … (Thanks for Sharing)
Pussy willows whisper ‘Welcome, spring’
A robin’s song used to be the first sign of spring. But with robin migrations mitigated by warming temperatures, now the lucky robin plucking a worm from the warming soil is also regarded as the true harbinger. But for evidence pointing to winter winding down, there’s...
Ground rules for under-the-canopy gardens
When you think garden, do you envision open space graced by boundless sun? If your answer is “yes,” walking in the woods might open your eyes to other possibilities. Smaller trees and shrubs — think rhododendrons and dogwoods — enhance the understory. Shade-tolerant...
