For some people, tomatoes are the pinnacle of summer gardening. Who doesn’t love fresh from the vine juicy tomatoes? Tomatoes can be easy to grow with some inexpensive equipment and a little know-how about this crop. First, when choosing a tomato variety, recognize there is a distinction between det...

While you don’t need a lot of experience or land to successfully raise a backyard chicken flock, you do need one key ingredient. “You’ve got to really love the process,” emphasized Lori Clark, a Virginia Cooperative Extension 4-H youth development agent in Stafford County who cares for 12 egg-laying...

If attracting more deer, turkey and quail – or even just watching a healthier variety of wildlife – is on your radar this season, now’s the time to get started. Autumn isn’t just harvest season; it’s a golden window to enhance your land’s habitat so it supports the wildlife you love for years to com...

There are few things as refreshing on a hot summer day as a slice of watermelon. At over 90% water, watermelons are a tasty way to keep hydrated with an added bonus of vitamins and minerals. If you’d like to try your hand at growing your own watermelon, you’ll need a location with rich, well-drainin...

There are a couple of famous Mulberry Streets. There’s Mulberry Street in New York City, famous for its historical significance as the heart of Little Italy and its connection to Italian-American culture. There’s a Mulberry Street that’s known as the inspiration for Dr. Seuss’s first book, “And To T...

Are you looking for a low-labor, chemical-free method to help eradicate weeds and soil-residing pests in the garden? Solarization and occultation, often referred to as “tarping,” may be just what you’re looking for. Simply put, tarping covers the soil with plastic, clear or opaque, depending on whic...

For the curious minds who ponder “How did that get here?” and marvel at the journey of a single bloom, prepare to have your questions answered! Join industry veteran Diane Blazek, a seasoned expert since 1993, as she pulls back the curtain on the fascinating world of horticulture. During this free w...

Looking to boost the health of your vegetable garden? Consider adding annual flowering plants that will attract beneficial insects to help support and protect your plants from pests. Insects that are beneficial behave either as predators or parasites. They will prey on other insects like aphids or l...

Newly emerged maple leaves coupled with the recent cool, rainy weather provide perfect conditions for a common spring fungal disease called maple anthracnose. There are several fungi responsible for the damage. All native and ornamental maples are susceptible including sugar maple ( Acer saccharum )...

Easily recognized by their sweet fragrance and cone-shaped clusters of tiny flowers, the common lilac has been a part of America’s gardens for much of our country’s history. Lilacs arrived with colonists in the early 1700s, bringing with them memories of homes and lives left behind. Native to Asia a...

Lavender just might be the “it plant” for 2025. That’s why Monrovia is declaring May 12 – 18, 2025, Lavender Week – the perfect time after Mother’s Day for moms to keep treating themselves well. This fragrant and colorful perennial is a top choice for landscapes and containers alike. Its popularity ...

Reduce Your Lawn Day returns on May 20 – a national invitation to rethink our outdoor spaces and reimagine them as thriving habitats. Whether you’re planting a small pollinator bed or rallying your block to convert a shared green space, this movement makes sustainable gardening feel accessible and h...

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. There are many benefits of planting native dogwoods. They flower in spring, offering food for n...

Exciting for locavores: The 2025 Herkimer County Local Foods Map is now available from CCE Herkimer in East Herkimer. Maps will be distributed throughout Herkimer County at various outlets including farmers markets this summer. To view an online version of this map, visit http://bit.ly/CCEHerkCoLoca...

In recognition of Arbor Day on April 25, the TurfMutt Foundation is celebrating the vital role trees play in enriching our environment, enhancing our health and beautifying the spaces where we live, work and play. “Trees are environmental superheroes,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the TurfM...