Looking for peat moss alternatives?
Peat moss has long been used in gardening to improve the soil by keeping it light and helping retain moisture. But in recent years, gardeners have been learning that harvesting peat moss is not great for the environment. “There are quite a few reasons why gardeners...
Bayshore Iris Society to meet in St. Michaels
The Bayshore Iris Society will host the American Iris Society Region 4 Fall Meeting on Oct. 18-19 at the St. Michaels Inn. The event is open to the public. The meeting is scheduled to coincide with the anticipated peak bloom time for irises that can rebloom in the...
Master Gardeners hold training course
While most garden enthusiasts pursue Master Gardener training through the University of Maryland Extension to build on their basic knowledge of plants, insects, the soil and other aspects, some have come to program with specific goals in mind. One of the more unique...
Let spooky plants underline Halloween theme
If you’re seeking more than a Jack-O’ Lantern for your porch this fall to scare visitors, plant lovers can veer to the eerie this fall with spooky and unusual plants. Inside or outside, in containers or not, there are several ways to creep up your home though some do...
Activities geared for fun, fright
There are two kinds of Halloween lovers: Those who love pumpkin patches, silly costumes and the fun, playful side of Halloween and those who love the spooky, gory side. No matter how you enjoy the holiday, there are plenty of fun and frights to be had on the Shore....
Purple cone flowers are friends of butterflies
October still has enough warm days for many late fall herbaceous perennials to bloom, and one favorite is the purple cone flower (Echinacea purpurea), which has daisy shaped flowers that have a spiny center cone that is surrounded by pink-purple ray petals that can...
Embrace the colors, flavors of fall
Are you ready for autumn’s burst of color? October dazzles with leaf and berry colors as Virginia creeper, maples, oaks, aronia, cotoneaster, fothergilla, hollies and many native plant varieties present us the spectacular shades of reds, oranges, yellows and more....
Try to fall into good habits
My favorite season of the year is here and once again, despite my vow to not overextend my schedule too much, I have once again done just that. Do you feel this way too? I feel like I work more and play less — and my down time is spent recharging my batteries rather...
Antique Discovery ‘Road Trip’: Visiting Eastern Shore graveyards
(Editor’s note: DeeDee Wood is the owner of Black Cat Curiosities, an online antiques research and sales venue.) few days ago, on an overcast, gloomy morning, I made a trip to a local cemetery on the Eastern Shore of Maryland to contemplate cemetery antiques. You...