Home and Garden

By Nadie VanZandt, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont Clematis reigns supreme among climbers, with its abundant blooms in a wide range of colors, from soft white to dark purple, pink, and even yellow. A genus in the buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family, clematis are versatile, easy-to-maintain perennials that grow as climbers, spreading shrubs, or groundcovers. More…

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 Benjamin Block  Compost, the dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling material produced by natural decomposers, provides many benefits to gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Converting garden waste, kitchen scraps, and various paper items into compost at home reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and saves households money on garbage fees. Most importantly for gardeners,…

By Deborah J. Benoit The middle of winter, with snow covering brick-hard, frozen ground, may seem like an odd time to plan a new garden bed, but it’s the best time. If you make decisions now, you’ll be ready when the weather warms and the ground is workable. Putting in a new garden bed takes…

By Amy Simone, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont   Imagine having sunny orange, bright yellow, and luscious green fruit growing in your home, especially during this gray, cold time of year. While we do not associate citrus plants with our northeast climate, several varieties can be grown as indoor/outdoor houseplants. Citrus plants, native to Southeast…

By Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont It begins in December. By January, seed and plant catalogs will arrive at your mailbox (or email) almost daily. Browsing through their pages provides a welcome escape from the garden-deprived days of winter. These catalogs contain a wealth of information to help grow a successful…

By Deborah J. Benoit Streptocarpus (Streptocarpus) is commonly known as cape primrose, but don’t confuse it with the common primrose (Primula vulgaris), a perennial plant that you may have grown outdoors at home. While the two share some physical similarities, their care requirements are quite different. The common primrose in your garden is hardy in…

Well, the holidays are behind us and hopefully you enjoyed that special time of year. Once January rolls around, my mind gravitates toward spring and gardening. I want to forget that it’s winter. My apologies to those of you who still want to be skiing while I am tending to my daffodils! As many of…