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....
Root veggies keep us grounded
Every vegetable crop needs its roots, but when the roots are the vegetable that’s consumed, it’s all the more important. Most root vegetables are good sources of vitamins A and C, which boost the immune system; fiber, which aids digestion; antioxidants, which...
Summer may be winding down but buttonbush still has time to shine
Fall is just around the corner, and some of my summer bloomers are beginning to wind down. But birds and other wildlife continue to need sustenance from plants, and I continue to need focal points in my garden. Fortunately, buttonbush, a sadly underused shrub, is...
Help caramel apples become a family tradition
Back-to-school season comes with a lot of apple paraphernalia with a side of pencils and books. If you fast forward just a pinch, it starts to get more delicious with a side of caramel and crunchy chocolate. While thought to be an old-fashioned treat, I assure you,...
These plants wait their whole lives to bloom once. It’s usually spectacular
Flowering annuals generally bloom nonstop before dying at the end of the year or season. Perennials return every year, providing either season-long color, a burst of blossoms followed by sporadic blooming or a limited show that can last as little as two weeks. And...
Plan your fall chores with wildlife in mind
Fall officially starts on Sept. 22, and with it traditionally comes a long “to-do” list of clean-up chores. Gardeners, and nature-lovers in particular, are learning that list is better cut to a minimum for the sake of wildlife Your tendency may be to rake every leaf,...
Garden smarter in drought periods
You know your garden is in trouble when the forecast is for rain, but all the storms seem to skip over your area entirely. According to plantmaps.com, as of mid-July, 16 percent of the United States is under drought conditions and 25 percent is “abnormally dry.” Much...
Be sure to keep an ear out
Ready to get back into the lunch packing routine?
Back-to-school means goodbye to summer snacking, and hello again to lunch packing. Lunch packing may just another checkmark to complete in your quest to get out the door in the morning, but when you start to get multiple kids getting multiple lunches — plus yourself —...
There’s still time for great nearby summer trips
The 12-week stretch of summer sunshine always seems so long, but it goes by in a breeze! Planning a last-minute jet ride off to Hawaii might be out of the question, but there’s lots of last-minute fun to be had on the Eastern Shore and nearby. Here’s a few ideas to...
Dividing perennials: Handle with care
Perennials are plants that die back to the ground with the first freeze but reappear in spring. Perennials may cost more than annuals initially, but you don’t have to buy them again and can enjoy them year after year. An added advantage is that many of them spread to...
Shore sourced: Build a local burger
The thing about a burger is that they can be a simple and quick dinner or they can be dressed up into a fancy gourmet meal. We’ve all heard of the burgers of folklore, costing in the four digit realm. One, the “Golden Boy,” created by a chef in the Neverlands, is...
Between the buns: Condiments are essential
Summer is a time for you to get sweaty, but your food to get saucy. Chances are, you have a whole refrigerator door of condiments. A mustard too spicy, another too sweet. A mayonnaise that you love to mix in with a tangy barbecue. An intriguing sauce that you bought...
Mason Dixon Outfarm graces scene in wildflowers
Shayne Darling-Meyer has always been free-spirited and wild, so it’s not surprising that she is passionate about wildflowers and native plants. She is also described as “creative, compassionate and kind-hearted” — so much so that she can’t stand to see a flower...
Go bug-free? Maybe not such a good idea
Many of us consider insects as something to be feared, an annoyance to be swatted or a germ-carrier to be stomped on. Maybe it’s time to reconsider. Many children are afraid of bees, most of which can’t or won’t sting unless threatened. I have a healthy respect for...
Hydrangeas offer splashes of color throughout Delmarva
Hydrangeas come in a wide variety of flowering shrubs that grow well on the Delmarva Peninsula, and some of them are native to the United States. H. macrophylla Perhaps the most familiar hydrangeas are the French or florist-type bigleaf hydrangeas, Hydrangea...
Stay cool with homemade popsicles
Does the ice cream truck rarely make it down your street? Fret not, pick up a set of inexpensive popsicle molds and get busy making your own treats — without the annoying music. With summer approaching, making popsicles can check a few things off the summer bucket...
Wildflowers allowed to take over
There’s a lot of history at Wye Farm in Queenstown, going back centuries in Anne Habberton’s family. Her and her husband Jon Shaw’s recent efforts to enhance wildlife and plant diversity is as much focused on the future as it is in bringing back aspects of the past....
Black Eyed Susan is a Maryland all-star
There are some things that are just so Maryland: Old Bay and crabs, of course — but also, the simple, cheery look of Black Eyed Susans, rudbeckia hirta, along roadside stands. When it comes to a state symbol, the Black Eyed Susan has Old Bay beat by more than 20...
