Ann Strite-Kurz draws from decades of experience to create embroidery, needlework
Ann Strite-Kurz has a standard response for people who look at her extensive embroidery and needlework collection and ask how she has the patience to make each stitch by hand. Borrowing a friend’s response, she tells them, “You only have to have patience for things...
When’s the time to decorate the tree?
You’ve taken down the fake cobwebs (maybe some real ones, too) and your pumpkins have sunken in and been tossed. From here, you can either savor the simplicity of your home for November or you are one of the people who are eager to deck the halls with boughs of holly...
Learn to protect pollinators in the slow season
Even when they look dry and “dead,” our green spaces are full of life. When we think about plants, for example, we can see that herbaceous perennials seem dry but they are actually just retreating underground, while annuals continue their life cycle by spending the...
Corn maze-ing Grace
Farm kids have long been told to stay out of the corn so they don’t get lost. These days, farm kid or otherwise, everyone is encouraged to meander the stalks in the name of fun with the rising popularity of corn mazes. Corn mazes are now a pumpkin patch mainstay, but...
Gardening podcasts worth tuning in for
While “True Crime” and other crime and mystery podcasts get the most limelight, have you discovered the large niche of home and gardening podcast shows? There is so much to learn from them to improve your own gardening skills and practices, without learning how to...
Capt. Bill Collins knows the art of the decoy
Capt. Bill Collins was in the process of painting the feathers on a Mallard Drake decoy as he shared highlights of his journey to becoming one of the most sought-after decoy carvers and painters in the state of Maryland. “There are two different elements of this art,”...
Artists bringing mural magic home
A most welcome recent trend involves gifted artists transforming bare, wasted public spaces into iconic legacy treasures. But a number of these talented decorative gurus have also created mural magic in private homes. Mural artist Michael Rosato, who started out in...
Fallen leaves: Rake, mow or go with the flow?
As fall foliage colors take over the landscape, shifting from deep greens to cozy browns and reds, it’s only a matter of time before those leaves are hitting the ground. When that happens, conscientious gardeners and homeowners have to decide to either let the leaves...
Enjoying the fruits of their labor
Fall temperatures beckon you to come out of the air conditioning and enjoy the crispness of the air. And while pumpkins steal much of the buzz, apples should truly be acknowledged as a permanent symbol in our American history. Apples may be the Marylin Monroe of...
Comfort foods-Maryland style
As the heat of summer subsides, our yearning for lower humidity and cooler temperatures tends to grow stronger. And so, it seems, do our cravings for some good old-fashioned comfort food. Getting through those foreseeable “r” months before catching any signs of spring...
Delmarva’s late, great tomato canneries
Whether picked from your garden or purchased from local produce stands, fresh tomatoes are hot off the vines this time of year across Maryland. At their peak, fresh tomatoes are prepared in a number of ways such as in gazpacho, salsas, sauces and salads, while many...
Hellebores known to be early bloomers
Hellebores, also known as Lenten Rose, can bloom as early as January in some parts of USDA Hardiness Zone 7, even when there’s snow on the ground. In a recent GrowerTalks webinar sponsored by Pacific Plug and Liner, long-time hellebore breeder Bart Noordhuis offered...
Find holistic energy savings for the ‘whole house’
The costs related to home energy use keep rising, both in terms of dollars and environmental impact. Worse yet, on average more than a third of household energy consumption is wasted through so-called “phantom power” use and small inefficiencies that snowball into a...
Let your kitchen cool off, too
Things are always heating up in the summer, but that doesn’t mean your kitchen has to! While winter calls for warm hearty meals, summer calls for light and fresh — not to mention easy. To ease the dinner and meal rush, take advantage of slower days when you have time...
A common-sight, roadside delight
The signs of summer are many on the Eastern Shore and the opening of roadside produce stands ranks high for many people. Being able to indulge in such a plethora of fresh local fruits and vegetables throughout the season is well worth the wait. While driving along a...
Upstarts egg-static over new ventures
Farmers’ markets are wonderful sources for fresh, local edibles, but also, surprising finds not on everyday supermarket shelves. Many vendors delight in offering more than the expected fare, even when it comes to staples such as eggs. Two such innovative area smaller...
Summer music fills the Mid-Shore air
Summer is time to do just about anything outside, especially taking in some great music. Whether you like to listen and lounge or hit the dance floor, there are lots of local spots to check out. Head to downtown Easton for their annual concert series happening many...
Hospital’s horticulture therapy program raises much more than plants
Many people think of their gardens as a calming place, a quiet area that helps think through problems and relieve stress. For a select group of patients at the Eastern Shore Hospital Center in Cambridge, gardening and horticulture is an actual form of therapy and...
Be on guard to thwart common tomato pests
Tomatoes are the most popular plant grown in home vegetable gardens and like other vegetables, there are any number of problems that can interfere with growing a good crop. In Maryland, tomato plants are susceptible to several diseases, pests, and, at times,...
Lipscomb fund continues to leave mark
In 1963, Elizabeth Sheer Lipscomb was a founding member of the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore and served as its first president from 1963-65. She left her club with an endowment which came to be known as The Lipscomb Fund, and its continuing purpose is to be used...
Grow a new gardener: Summer activities for youth
You may be sharing the load when it comes to looking after young grandchildren this summer, and with up to three months to fill with attention-occupying activities, gardening ideas can keep them entertained and instill a love of growing plants that could last a...
