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…

By Debra Heleba, Extension community horticulture program director, University of Vermont If your holiday includes a live, cut Christmas tree, you may be wondering what to do with it after the festivities are over. Many towns, civic clubs, and solid waste districts across Vermont now have disposal programs in place. Most offer curbside pick-up of…

By Debra Heleba, Extension Community Horticulture Program Director, University of Vermont Did you receive a poinsettia as a gift and wonder how to extend its life through the winter? Is your favorite houseplant dropping its leaves? Or are you already thinking ahead to spring and want to know when to start your seeds indoors?  The…

By Deborah J. Benoit Cold weather has arrived, and you’ve put your garden to bed for the season. That doesn’t mean you can’t garden. Just shift your focus from outdoors to in. Adding foliage plants to your home satisfies your need to be surrounded by green. Easy-to-grow choices that are also tolerant of the low-light…

By Andrea Knepper, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont Amaryllis bulbs and blooms make popular and appreciated holiday gifts. Gifted in full bloom to brighten the winter months or lovingly tended to bloom after the new year, amaryllis add vibrant color and joy to the dreary season. Amaryllis are commonly available during the winter holidays…

Winter is the perfect time to observe and learn about Vermont’s bird species. “Winter bird feeding is a great way to observe and learn about our year-round bird residents and winter visitors,” said Jillian Kilborn, Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s bird project leader. Bird feeding tips: The right mix: Black oil sunflower seeds are popular, but…

By James Kent Hair stylist and manager Katelyn Stewart and owner Peggy Campney moved their thriving hair salon and boutique from Ludlow to Killington last year after the July 2023 floods made it impossible for their business to continue in their current location. When the opportunity presented itself to Stewart and Campney, they exchanged one…

The most expensive interval ownership condominium in Killington was sold by Killington Pico Realty on Nov. 1, for $210,000–one of two interval condominiums in Killington to sell for more than $200,000 in the same week. For perspective, this same interval condominium sold just 16 months ago for $134,000. Krista Mosher and Jessica Posch of Killington…

By Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont Fall foliage color has peaked, and leaves are falling. Temperatures are dropping, and it’s time to put the garden to bed. It is also a perfect opportunity to prepare for spring. What you do this fall can provide significant benefits when the garden wakes up…

By Kerry McKeel, Best Friends Animal Society With the devastation wrought in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee due to Hurricane Helene and more damage anticipated from Hurricane Milton, Best Friends Animal Society urges Americans to foster or adopt from local shelters and rescue groups to make room for incoming dogs and cats from impacted areas. “This…