Lifestyle

By Bonnie Kirn Donahue, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont Dogwoods, in the genus Cornus, are among the most versatile native shrubs. With seasonal interest, tolerance of less-than-perfect conditions, and benefits for wildlife, these shrubs are worth considering. Planting native dogwoods has many benefits. They flower in the spring, offering food for native insects and…

By James Kent BRIDGEWATER — There is a quote written as you come through the door of ShackletonThomas, from namesake Earnest Shackleton:" Optimism is true moral courage." For nearly four decades, ShackletonThomas has stood true to that quote. The furniture and pottery makers are a testament to craftsmanship, creativity, and perseverance. Nestled along Route 4…

Saturday, May 17 at 8:45 a.m.—RUTLAND—A beloved springtime tradition is back in downtown Rutland. The Rutland Garden Club’s annual plant and bake sale will occur on Saturday, May 17, at the corner of Main and Center streets in front of the Hull Maynard building. This highly anticipated event draws gardeners and sweet-tooth enthusiasts alike. The…

By Izzy Wagner/VtDigger Honey bee colonies worldwide suffered massive losses last year, but University of Vermont researchers and international partners developed a new testing method that may lead to more disease-resistant colonies in the future, including in Vermont. “It’s incredibly promising. We are all really excited with the results,” said Andrew Munkres, a beekeeper at…

By Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont Have you ever heard of the lady in the bath flower? That’s just one of the common names for bleeding hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, formerly Dicentra spectabilis). If you’re wondering where that name comes from, look at the flower upside down, and you’ll see her. Other…

By Melinda Myers Trees provide many benefits to the environment and our health and wellbeing. These long-lived members of our landscapes and communities provide shade, help reduce energy costs, clean the air we breathe, prevent soil erosion and stormwater runoff, and attract and provide homes for birds and pollinators. National Arbor Day, celebrated on the…

By Andrea Knepper / Extension Master Gardener / University of Vermont Rudbeckia hirta. Solanum lycopersicum. Acer saccharum. Have you ever seen these names on plant tags or seed packets and wondered where they came from? We can thank Carl Linnaeus for taxonomy, the study of categorizing and naming organisms, and binomial nomenclature, the precise, two-termed…

By Deborah J. Benoit Gardeners bid farewell to their outdoor growing spaces each winter and turn their attention to other ways to occupy their days. Magazines and seed catalogs provide inspiration, but there’s nothing like gardening indoors to satisfy your inner gardener.  Plant stands with grow lights are a convenient way to bring your garden…

  By Katy Savage   The local housing market picked up considerably after a slow start to 2024. Limited inventory remained a major driving factor with the total number of units sold up slightly by 1.9% across Rutland County and slightly down in the Upper Valley -3.5%, according to a regional analysis by Sotheby’s International Realty.…

By Polly Mikula Mountain Green Condominium Association, a 45-year-old, 215-unit association with a restaurant, spa, gym and two pools located across from Snowshed Lodge on East Mountain Road, is embarking on a $48 million renovation.  The renovations, under DEW Construction Corporation, will take about 2 1/2 years to complete. Work began in 2023 and is…

By Polly Mikula Steve Malone, developer of the new Base Camp at Bear Mountain townhomes, says all his model homes are decorated by Pompanoosuc Mills furniture, (a.k.a. “Pompy”) based in Thetford, Vermont. “It’s delux, Vermont-made furniture and a wonderful local company,” Malone said. “I’ve used Pompy for all of my model homes and many owners…

By Polly Mikula Twenty-four 4-bedroom, 4-bath duplex townhouses with attached 2-car garages are underway at Bear Mountain in Killington. All of the townhomes will have ski-in ski-out access on the Bear Cub Trail. Site clearing for the new slope side duplex development at Killington Resort’s Bear Mountain began this past October and will resume with…

By Steven Jupiter Editor’s note: This story was originally published in The Reporter, based in Brandon. Jupiter is the editor of that publication. For the better part of the past year, everyone driving down Route 7 south of Brandon Village has wondered about the transformation of the old Adams cabin resort—most recently known as the…

By James Kent At one of the highest buildable elevations in Killington, a new vision for mountain living is taking shape. This two-home compound offers a rare blend of modern Scandinavian design, cutting-edge energy efficiency, and breathtaking panoramic views. Envisioned by architect and developer Erik Rhoden, this project brings Nordic craftsmanship and innovation to Vermont’s…

The Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), in collaboration with the Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies (VAPDA) and the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA), has released new regional targets for housing production across the state and a new tool that allows DHCD to track progress towards those regional housing goals in…