Comfrey naturally a source of fertilizer
Fertilizers comes in numerous forms and in the category of “green manure” — plants whose biomass puts nutrients back into the soil — there’s Comfrey. Maria Velikonja, a Master Gardener and owner of Carniola Farms in Parsonsburg swears by the plant as a fertility...
New perennial plants unveiled at meeting
When you gather a bunch of horticultural professionals together the talk naturally turns to plants — old favorites, new introductions, past failures, and hard-to-find specimens. For the plant-obsessed, gathering with fellow plant-nerds is the next best thing to being...
Del Sordo a dollhouse, mini devotee
Jean Smythe Del Sordo, longtime director of the Dorchester County Public Library, began her love affair with dollhouses as a youngster as actual child’s play, courtesy of her mom’s gift of a Renwall tiny home with mini plastic furnishings, as well as Barbie. But it...
A Coneflower Cornucopia
Whether they’re called Echinacea purpurea or coneflower, these stalwart native perennials stand the test of time as iconic favorites, unfailingly handsome, hardy and garden friendly. Generally recognized for their purple or pink petals and seedhead centers, the...
Rustic, romantic Cow Barn stands out as Ridgely’s hidden gem
If Albert and Odella Saulsbury could only see the new life that has been given to the cow barn they had constructed in 1911, Zelie and Marty Collison like to think they would be delighted and proud. The Collisons purchased the historic property in 2018, and have...
Ingersoll uses history for her pallett
Whether it’s in a miniature display for competition or a real-life historic Dorchester County property, Midge Ingersoll is intent on preserving history through art. As a trustee for the Nanticoke Historic Preservation Alliance, she has worked tirelessly for the...
Rose-colored retreat graces Main Street in Trappe
(This article is part of a series that spotlights historic farmhouses in Caroline, Dorchester, Queen Anne’s, Kent and Talbot counties. These homes are being given new life by the younger generation that lives in them presently.) Eighteen years ago Molly Reid was...
Explore next generation of cooking
The other day I heard a term that really resonated with me: “Back to School Nesting,” used to describe when you are gathering school supplies, decluttering workspaces and getting your “nest” ready to slide into back-to-school season. Even if you aren’t in the part of...
Asters brandish a legacy as endearing as their appearance
Along with asters being an attractive flower, it also has an intriguing history. Its name comes from the Greek word for star, referring to the shape of its flowers. Their flower heads appear as a single flower but with a closer look, they are comprised of several...
Bringing dollhouse dream homes to life
In the realm of childhood wonder, the playful possibilities opened up by a dollhouse’s miniature world often loomed large. While still most often the stuff of beloved memories, the good news is that you don’t have to be a kid to partake of the magic. Grownups...
Lankford enjoys many perks of food preservation
Rick Lankford’s affinity for canning started with an issue a lot of vegetable growers face at one time or another — he had more than he knew what to do with. The year was 1976 and Lankford, then a new and naïve gardener, planted 36 cucumber plants. “I was getting...
Start to plan ahead for dried flower arrangements
The flowers are still in bloom and our sunscreen is still within an arm’s reach, but the cozy of fall and the craziness of holidays is right around the corner. Make this the year that you take the time to dry flowers from your garden (or some snipped from someone...
The lore behind alluring lamb’s ears
Many easy growing perennials provide pleasing eye and aroma appeal. But Lamb’s Ears, or Stachys byzantine, offer an irresistibly velvet-like touch, with a touch of history. The silky soft grey/green leaves literally bring an invitingly pleasing touch to children’s and...
Handle artwork with kids’ gloves
It’s almost time to send the kids back to school. Sure, you’ll miss them but few things beat hearing the stories they come home with, even if you only get a few clues to piece it all together. (Fingers crossed the teacher doesn’t call to fill you in on what you didn’t...
Home-grown blueberries worth labor if done right
!t’s officially blueberry season in Maryland, and between pies and pastries or just popping them right in your mouth, fans of the fruit are welcoming them back with open arms (and buckets). From late June to early August, Marylanders are getting their fix before they...
‘A great way to grow the plants I love’
Stephanie Stube said she knew what she was getting from her husband Brian for their second anniversary, but two years later, she’s still amazed by it every day. She said she made no secret about wanting a glass-windowed greenhouse space outside their McLean, Va.,...
Smokin’ hot
The cherished summer tradition of outdoor cooking holds even more succulent surprises in store for smoker devotees and those intrigued to experiment. The concept of cooking turkey in a smoker, once considered quirky, became a revelation to culinary adventurers willing...
Gowls find paradise on Wye River
(This article is part of a series that spotlights historic farmhouses in Caroline, Dorchester, Queen Anne’s, Kent and Talbot counties. These homes are being given new life by the younger generation that lives in them presently.) In 2016 Michael and Lisa Gowl had...
Review board: Charcuterie sampling
Charcuterie boards were originally borrowed from the French and lately it seems they’ve evolved to the next mouth-watering, over the top level. While the word itself refers to the tradition and art of preparing and assembling cured meats and meat products, these days...
Keep the welcome mat out for those repeat bloomers
In the movie, “Dennis the Menace,” Walter Matthaus Mr. Wilson gathers his garden club for an elaborate celebration of his corpse flower bloom, an occurrence that would only happen every 40 years. All the work he put into the event ended up being missed due to a...
There’s more than one way to feed a hummingbird
All winter my family feeds our variety of backyard birds, taking care to stick out peanuts for our Blue Jays and gathering round the window when our little woodpecker comes to dangle off the feeder. It all changes come April though, as they quickly fall to the...
