Few wintertime trees are more spectacular than our native White Birch. Standing straight and tall against a clear blue sky, or blending into a snowy landscape, birch trees are a New England fixture. Betula papyrifera, or the Paper Birch, is the most well-recognized of all birch trees. There are several similar looking species, but none are […]
So the holidays are over, the decorations packed away, and now there are all these plants around, purchased for their beautiful bright colors, that have now faded into just green foliage. Do not despair! With just a little bit of care, all of your holiday plants can continue to provide beauty for years to come. […]
January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow. – Sara Coleridge A new year brings with it new chances to make plans and changes and the opportunity to do just about anything to the garden, all from the comfort of one’s living room. There are many, many weeks left to our long New […]
One of the longest standing and certainly most recognizable holiday traditions is the Christmas tree. Origins of the tradition of bringing greens into one’s home go all the way back to ancient Egypt, and later to Scandinavia and Germany, when freshly-cut greens were brought into the home to symbolize life’s triumph over death, and to […]
Now that there is a light layer of snow on the ground, and the gardens have been closed down for their long naps, gardeners can all relax a little bit, not worrying about watering or the deer eating the prize hostas. Winter is an excellent time to both plan new beds and appreciate what is […]
Now that all the leaves have fallen, we are seeing more and more of the colors of winter. Even before we have a backdrop of clean, white snow, red and yellow-twigged dogwoods are in their full glory, birch are showing off their bright white bark, and the winterberry hollies are loaded down with their bright […]
It’s that time of year… the world is cooling off, leaves are falling or fallen, and thoughts turn to indoor pursuits. Before we can tuck our gardening brains in for a long winter’s nap, however, there are things that must be done. Preparing a garden for our long, cold Maine winters takes some work, but […]
The full glory of autumn is here in the brilliant reds, oranges, and golds of foliage. Lawns are turning into crunchy carpets when ash and maples shed their leaves, giving way for lower shrubs to display their beautiful colors. One of the most popular plants for brilliant red fall color is the burning bush, Euonymus […]
We’ve all heard that “fall is for planting”, but people go to garden centers every day and ask “is it still OK to plant?” Yes, absolutely! Plants can be planted as long as you can get a shovel in the ground and dig a hole. All the usual requirements for good plant growth success still […]
Hemlock Wooly Adelgid: What it is, what to do about it. “In early July, hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA) was detected by an observant park employee at Ferry Beach State Park in Saco, ME. To date the entire beach, along with adjacent properties, has been surveyed, and HWA has been found at low levels scattered throughout […]