This fall, think small bulbs
It may be way too soon to start thinking about snow — or so we hope — but seasoned gardeners know that instead of hiding one’s head in the sand about the coming of colder weather, it’s way better to place carefully chosen bulbs beneath the soil before the freezing...
Bark worth its bite
When asked why she had not gotten a facelift at her age, Academy Award winning movie actress Bette Davis replied, “Because I have earned every line and wrinkle.” The same can be said of the bark of trees. The tree has earned every line and curlicue. The bark is the...
Repurposed to last
Sean Downey, woodcrafter and artist of Barn Life Primitives & Architecture in Chestertown, has two major objectives: Bring people to downtown Chestertown and create new designs from old wood. Downey began working in wood after graduating high school and said he...
Small backyard doesn’t have to limit creative options
Sharon Ottobre may live far from the Mid-Shore but she shares the same issue as many residents in the new subdivisions that have popped up in nearby counties in recent years: Limited backyard space. Neighbors on three sides of the Barrie, Ontario resident had put up...
Hydrangeas a study in pruning, colors
Hydrangeas grace the landscapes and flowerbeds of many a home on the Mid-Shore. Their flower clusters, soft pastel colors and dense foliage, make it a good foundational plant for the area. But there are aspects about the plant many gardeners may not have a firm grasp...
They did it their way
When they moved to the Eastern Shore in 2002, Jack and Maria Fischer had a blank canvas with which to build their house and landscape. It was quite a change, coming from Northern Virginia. And that’s just how they wanted it. “It was a cornfield and we worked our way...
Craving honest-to-goodness ice cream? Here’s the scoop
On these hot summer days, it’s easy to find a frosty treat plopped atop a cone or packed inside a carton calling itself ice cream. But to savor the genuine stuff, hand crafted with all natural ingredients, it takes some searching. Mid-Shore ice cream purists don’t...
Eastern Shore-style barbecue chicken
No sooner do the words “Eastern Shore-style barbecue chicken” leave your lips and you’re sure to be licking them in anticipation. It’s one of those iconic food items that fills much more than the belly, a downhome feast downright capable of magically transporting you...
Local bike shops can help you get what’s right for you
Life, in the summer especially, should be enjoyed on the journey and not just when you arrive at your destination. Do you ever picture yourself cruising around on a bike, but know the last picture of yourself on one might have been unwrapping one as a child at...
Fireworks celebrations in Mid-Shore towns
• Easton Carnival and 4th of July Celebration: June 28 to July 4, Easton. Easton’s annual carnival and 4th of July Celebration. Located between the Easton Bypass and St. Michaels Road (near Target). 410-822-0345; www.avalonfoundation.org. • Fireworks in Rock Hall:...
SH&G Q&A: Everything coming up roses
Where to start when describing Nick Weber’s home garden in Brookeville, Md.? His obsessive love of roses has grown from a hobby and blossomed into the renowned “Heritage Rosarium,” filled with nearly 700 heirloom varieties of ramblers and climbers. Overwhelming and...
50 Shades of Flowers open for business
While they’ve been pretty busy showing their “floral flag” at area farmers’ markets and similar events on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, sisters Michele Rouse of Pasadena and Christine Rouse of Chester, both avid horticulturalists, officially opened their...
Regal roses can reign in your garden
Roses have a thorny reputation for being tricky to grow, even under idyllic conditions. Fungus and mildew, black spots, Japanese beetles and foraging deer are just a few of the challenges to be overcome on the way to successfully cultivating the “queen of flowers.”...
Estate sales a walk through history
A life well lived tends to bring with it an accumulation of things and when the time comes to part with what’s collected, there are a few ways to do it. An estate sale is one option for people downsizing their home or dealing with the death of a loved one, to move...
Checking out this year’s line of new plants, products
Do you ever wonder how new plants and products make it to the shelves and nursery benches at garden centers near you? Many gather in winter to do their ordering at the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show in Baltimore. At this year’s event more than 11,500 total...
Philadelphia Flower Power
Sale Barn rolls with punches
The Olde Sale Barn has been in Caroline County since the early part of the 20th Century. It has evolved from a livestock auction barn to an arena for amateur boxing matches to an antique mall with an event venue. The Olde Sales Barn’s transformation is a reflection of...
Checking out at the seed library
For the second growing season in a row, Mid-Shore residents once again can bask in the best of both worlds, courtesy of the Free Seed Library at Talbot County Public Library’s main branch, 100 W. Dover Street in Easton. Sponsored by the University of Maryland...
There’s always a few shady plants
In a perfect world, we’d all have sunny, weed-free gardens but the truth is, it’s just not possible! Perhaps your only possible garden site is along a woodsline, or your yard is surrounded by woods, or, your garden might consist of planting boxes on your patio. While...
Stay a cut above with strawberries in your diet
While several niche berries have gotten recent acclaim as superfoods, the old standards such as strawberries remain a powerful player in health and wellness. From diabetes to heart disease, strawberries’ health benefits are nothing to pass by. Its heart shape offers a...
Homestead Gardens talks ‘Nature’s RX’
More than 40 gardeners filled the house at Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville, on March 10 for its 27th annual Spring Garden Show. The theme was gardening as “Nature’s RX,” cultivating plants, both ornamental and agricultural, not only for the dinner table or...
