By Julia Purdy ROCHESTER—On Saturday, April 30, Pierce Hall hosted an antiques appraisal fundraiser for the ongoing restoration of Pierce Hall—especially significant this year, as the building celebrates its 100th anniversary. Lunch fare of homemade soups and baked goods was offered and the atmosphere was friendly and low-key. Several dozen people brought items to be…

By Dr. Leonard Perry Carrots are loved by many, useful in many recipes, nutritious, and they store well. They’re also one of the top 10 most economically important vegetable crops in the world. Follow a few tips, and carrots are easy to grow in home gardens. For the best results, pay particular attention to good…

By Dr. Leonard Perry As every gardener would agree, flowers provide color in the landscape. But it is an understanding of color and its uses that allows gardeners to make the most of their flowerbeds and to achieve pleasing results. Looking at plants as a painter (as the famous Monet did) isn’t that complex, and…

Submitted Fairy garden creation is a great way to get kids interested in gardening, while teaching them a useful skill such as how to grow and take care of plants. Gardening can be an enjoyable activity for adults and children alike. Gardening encourages creative thinking and can make for an eco-friendly activity as well. Adding…

Courtesy of Rutland Garden Club A variety of plants are potted and perused by vendors at a previous plant sale. The Rutland Garden Club’s annual plant sale will take place Saturday, May 21 from 9 a.m. until all plants are sold. It will be located at the corner of Center Street and Main Street, Rutland,…

Submitted Many bees need protection from pesticides and other threats. Honeybees flitting from flower to flower is one of the first signs that warm weather has arrived. Honeybees are a welcome presence in the garden, pollinating plants and contributing to local honey supplies. Despite their importance in the ecosystem, honeybees are in grave danger. In…

(MS) According to Scotts®, a premier lawn seed and care company, grass clippings contain the same beneficial nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, as fertilizer. Grass clippings can provide as much as one-third of the annual feeding requirement of your lawn. Homeowners who mow their own lawns can save themselves the trouble of bagging and…

Saturday, May 7 at 8 a.m. — TINMOUTH — The 32nd annual Tinmouth plant sale will take place on Saturday, May 7 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Old Firehouse. Viewing will be from 7:30 to 7:55 a.m. No sales will be made before 8 a.m. Come early for the best selection. There is a big rush when organizers say “go”…

By Meghan McCarthy McPhaul We noticed the first robin in our yard this year in early March. Normally these famous spring harbingers, who move in comically stilted hops across our front lawn, don’t show up until at least April Fool’s Day. Their earlier-than-usual arrival made me wonder how robins decide to begin a spring migration.…

If you’re a longtime reader of this newspaper, you might occasionally wonder: is Brett Yates ever going to leave us alone? Won’t he ever run out of opinions? Reader, I share your concerns. In a recent fit of anxiety, I combed through the “Generation Y” archives in order to determine whether indeed I’ve already covered…

By Brady Crain It has finally happened—I’ve transferred to the uphill season! As I write this, I have completed 173 days of skiing, and I have hiked Superstar four days in a row. My legs, once rubbery testaments to my sedentary winter lifestyle, are now once again carved from iron. Starting May 1, Killington Resort…

Most likely we can all come up with expressions that are clearly associated with our parents. It’s also likely that these expressions will be heard by future generations. After all, “they”say that we turn into our parents at some point in time. When I was in elementary school I used to go to my Cousin…

Courtesy of Dave Hoffenberg APPLESEED COLLECTIVE When people ask me what my favorite band is, it’s tough to say because I like so many. When they ask me what my favorite kind of music is, I can’t narrow it down to one but what I can say is that I love remixes and when a…

People love to see a black bear in its natural surroundings, but when a bear ventures into human territory, problems can occur. Vermont Fish & Wildlife wardens and biologists are receiving reports of hungry bears getting into trash containers as well as raiding bird feeders, beehives and chicken houses. “Human conflicts involving bears are increasing…

By Linda Maness The first-ever Hero Boys team at Mettawee Community School aims to build character with fitness. Similar to Girls on the Run, aims to make athletics, teamwork fun WEST PAWLET — For the first time a boys’ youth development program called Hero Boys is being offered to students in grades 3-5 at Mettawee…