Prices are right for preserving farmhouse
(This article marks the fourth in a series focusing on historic farmhouses on the Mid-Shore. These homes have been in the same family for decades, and are being given new life by the younger generation that now lives in them.) In Kennedyville, just down the road from...
Camellias can grow here
Camellias, originating in China and Japan, found favorably fertile ground and devoted fans in the Southern United States. Despite being traditionally trickier to grow farther north, they remained a sentimental favorite of geographically transplanted Southern...
Taylor family farmhouse rooted with humble start
(This article marks the third in a series that will focus on historic farmhouses in Caroline, Dorchester and Talbot counties. These homes have been in the same family for decades, and are being given new life by the younger generation that now lives in them.) Outside...
Seed saving: A growing hobby to savor
As summer settles into fall, it’s tough to let go of that urge to garden. Becoming a seed saver could channel that energy and preserve plant diversity. For those on a budget, seed saving requires minimal cost and saves spending money buying seeds. It also helps...
Bought a new tree? What now?
There are a few things husbands don’t like to hear. Well, maybe more than few, but some — “I got it on sale!”, “Look what I rescued!” and “Honey, where’s a big shovel?” can really mean an improvement to the landscape when you stroll in with some trees and ornamentals...
Spring forward with fall mulching
Gardening in the spring begins with lots of optimism and ambition Then, a stretch of unfit weather, a busy week with school or work and just like that, you’re behind schedule and, some years, getting caught up again just doesn’t happen. One option to consider in...
Learn to extend your garden’s fresh life
Are you someone who gardens with no plan to can and prefers to live life fresh-veggie-to-fresh-veggie? But, at this point in the summer, maybe you are running out of ways to keep it, well, fresh. Don’t let your bounty perish on the vine. There are plenty of ways to...
Sizzling summer garden survivors, thrivers
If the dog days of summer have decimated those once lush flowers, take heart, and take note to shore up and prep ahead for a late summer garden way less likely to wilt, even as the thermometer skyrockets, while maintaining plenty of eye and pollinator appeal....
Milby farmhouse soaked with history
(This article marks the second in a series that will focus on historic farmhouses in Caroline, Dorchester and Talbot counties. These homes have been in the same family for decades, and are being given new life by the younger generation that now lives in them.) Talbot...
Feng shui to blissful garden space
Feng shui, the ancient Chinese art of placement, gets a lot of attention inside a living space when arranging furniture, choosing paint colors and decluttering. But its principles are just as applicable outside the home, says Sara Danenmann, owner of Wind & Water...
Make sure to save some for later
After growing your garden with sunshine, sprinkles of rain and love, the time to pick and preserve your garden bounty has come. Depending on how the season is going, that could involve blood, sweat and tears, too. But joking aside, canning and preserving often get a...
Don’t let a lawn stress out and stress you out
Summer is supposed to be the low-stress season with vacations, long days, warm weather and lots of options for fun, but if the weather turns dry for long stretches, it can be a stressful time for your lawn. Extended drought periods or extreme heat can turn grass brown...
Don’t you want some bunny to love?
2020 was a big year for the Eastern Shore Rabbit Rescue and Education Center. Housed in a tiny building in Rock Hall, the rescue, since it began in 2012 has placed more than 200 rescued rabbits in new homes and last year was responsible for 83 of them. People were...
Stories abound from Adshead farmhouse
(This article marks the first in a series that will focus on historic farmhouses in Caroline, Dorchester and Talbot counties. These homes have been in the same family for decades, and are being given new life by the younger generation that now lives in them.) in...
‘Is that bush a snowball or a smoothie?’
With similar clusters of showy white flowerheads, several popular home garden woody shrub landscape plants are commonly called “Snowball” bushes. Horticultural professionals can help untangle the confusion, but to do so they need to introduce scientific names to help...
Use bats to get rid of mosquitoes
In the spring and summer, as daylight fades and dusk sets in, bats flit and flutter in the evening sky. They are mysterious creatures, revered by some and feared by others. The truth is, they are a fragile yet integral part of our ecosystem and desperately need our...
A melting pot of culture, activity
Easton is a town with a strong appreciation of art, its streets lined with multiple galleries and hosting several arts festivals. Still, while the landscape and wildlife pieces that are aplenty are breathtaking, there are several kinds of art that haven’t had the same...
Goat’s milk proving to be tried and true
In 1880, Swiss author Johanna Spyri published her internationally acclaimed novel “Heidi.” For more than 100 years, readers have been captivated by the heartwarming tale of young Heidi and the tender way she and her good friend Peter care for their herd of goats in...
Dogwood trees worth the extra work
Dogwood trees can at times feel like caring for a young child. A favorite of Southerners, the trees are a bit picky about where they’re put, getting cranky in too much sun, moisture or dryness or when their environment changes quickly. But their inspiring beauty and...
Try tomatoes that don’t bite back
The second Sunday in May is set aside for celebrating moms, grandmoms, and others who have lovingly nurtured us. But it also marks the unofficial start of outdoor planting season for gardeners who’ve lovingly tended tomato plants...
Brothers are history detectors
If you have ever spotted someone ambling along in a field, slowly swinging a metal detector to and fro with each careful step, and wondered, “What could they possibly be finding out there?”, the answer might surprise you. The Mid-Shore is rife with history and...
