Did you know that the world’s most expensive spice comes from a type of crocus? It’s true. Saffron is derived from Crocus sativus , commonly known as the “saffron crocus.” While blooming crocuses are as common in spring as boldly colored leaves are in autumn, the saffron crocus blooms in autumn. Saf...

Red and sugar maples are part of what makes the Northeast unique. In spring, they provide the makings of maple syrup and in autumn, they provide our landscape with some of the brightest colors. Although they have a lot in common, there are many differences between these two species and there are sev...

Raising chickens during winter has challenges: decreased egg production, frozen water and possible frostbite. However, there are management strategies that will keep your flock safe during winter. Winterizing your chicken coop and daily monitoring of your chickens will help to keep your flock health...

Fall foliage color has peaked and leaves are falling. Temperatures are dropping and it’s time to put the garden to bed. It’s also a perfect opportunity to prepare for spring. What you do this autumn can provide big benefits when the garden wakes up next year. Spring-flowering bulbs will be the most ...

SUNY Morrisville horticulture students joined thousands across the globe participating in the Society of American Florists (SAF) annual goodwill initiative, Petal it Forward. They handed out flowers and bouquets to unsuspecting community members and passersby, encouraging recipients to keep one and ...

When the weather starts to turn cold, four common insect invaders may show up uninvited in your home. None of them breed in the house or cause any damage to humans, pets, food items or structures. These nuisance pests are looking for a warm, protected place to overwinter and hibernate. The western c...

When the air becomes cooler, and leaves begin to turn colors, it’s time to gear up for fall garden maintenance. Or is it? If you’re interested in doing more sustainable fall garden maintenance, then autumn might be less busy for you than usual. The first big thing that you can do is to consider not ...

We’ve probably all run out to the garden on an autumn evening as the temperature drops and a frost warning is issued. We throw a sheet over our fruit-covered tomato plants to eke just a little more growing time from the rapidly evaporating season. Ghostly visions of sheet-covered tomato plants aside...

Rather than leaving a field or patch of soil open over winter, consider cover crops. A cover crop is basically a temporary seeding of an area that would otherwise have exposed soil. The crop is a placeholder for future crops that will be grown there. There are lots of reasons to use cover crops. Fir...

Autumn colors have started to paint the landscape. As beautiful as those reds, oranges and yellows are, many gardeners tend to focus too much on the formerly green perennials that are now a crispy brown. What may seem ugly to you, however, is a happy winter home for a beneficial insect or food for a...

Food is a big part of autumn, and farms play a significant role in seasonal celebrations. Each autumn, families plan apple picking excursions with their eyes on baking homemade apple pies. And while Halloween is made even more fun when carving jack-o’-lanterns, savvy celebrants know that carving ses...

For 15 years, the TurfMutt Foundation has encouraged people to get outside, care for and enjoy their own family backyards, parks and community green spaces. As autumn approaches, there’s no better time than now to plan for next spring and summer. “Now that fall is just around the corner, our best ad...

Fishing and hunting are popular outdoor activities. Many outdoor enthusiasts engage in angling or hunting so they can have trophies to put up on their walls. Others rely on hunting and fishing for supplemental food sources. Game animals will have to be cleaned and processed properly whether they’re ...

As summer gives way to the crisp embrace of autumn, there’s no better time to preserve the beauty of your favorite flowers. Drying these flowers allows you to enjoy their vibrant colors and delicate forms year-round. Whether you’re creating a dried bouquet, a fall wreath or simply preserving a few s...

Modern agriculture operations utilize various machines and technologies to grow the food we all eat. Greenhouses are among the resources used to help plants thrive. Greenhouses are not a new phenomenon, even if today’s incarnations have technological upgrades over their ancestors. The first attempts...