by Jude Hsiang What’s in the House? Paper White Narcissus, from the family that gives us daffodils and jonquils, add a sparkle as the days grow shorter. Most are white, some with orange center ups, some are yellow. All are fragrant. The small bulbs can be grown in a pot of regular houseplant soil with […]
by Jude Hsiang Last October China resident James Hsiang met with Town Manager Becky Hapgood to propose a community garden. Her response was enthusiastic, and Hsiang wrote up a plan based on his experience at a community garden in a small Connecticut town. The garden would be built and managed by volunteers with support from […]
by Jude Hsiang We are in the week of Jack O’ Lanterns, and folks are dressing and decorating with orange, black, purple, and acid green. In two months our color scheme may be reds, whites, and greens. If we plan now, we can have some exciting flowers to brighten the house for the holidays and […]
by Jude Hsiang It’s not too late to plant garlic. Part of the allium or onion family, it first arose in Central Asia and has been grown in the Middle East for over 5,000 years. Now it’s grown worldwide as an important part of many cuisines. Many Maine farmers are adding it to their crop […]
by Jude Hsiang At the end of the gardening season, we are looking back to the beginning. All the way back to January with seeds we saved in 2024, the arrival of seed catalogs, and our hopes, resolutions, and plans for the new season. As the days lengthened, we started seeds and watched them germinate, […]
by Jude Hsiang Putting the garden to bed is like sending a toddler off to dreamland. It takes more than a nighty-night kiss. There are a number of tasks to do, but they needn’t become dreaded chores. Remember, all the little jobs done this fall will be appreciated when spring gardening season begins. You’ll thank […]
by Jude Hsiang We still have warm days ahead making preparing our gardens and yards for winter easier. Doing a few chores over the next couple of weeks will make a big difference come spring. The soil cools down slowly in the fall, and roots are active until the soil temperature reaches 40 degrees. This […]
by Jude Hsiang Many of us are coming to the end of the active gardening season. While some have a greenhouse, it may be small and not heated. Perhaps you’ve already had a light frost – or a heavier one – and are beginning to clean up the plants that have been affected. For others, […]
by Jude Hsiang In the last half of the 20th century gardeners typically bought seeds from catalogs and store displays. This convenience separated us from the experience of saving seeds from our own gardens and many of us lack the agricultural knowledge that our ancestors had used for thousands of years. Recently, many people have […]
by Jude Hsiang Winter squashes, like the butternut and acorn varieties are members of the cucurbit, or gourd family, like cucumbers and zucchini. The family has almost one thousand species including edible plants like melons. Ornamental gourds and loofah “sponges” sponges are some of the others. Humans have been cultivating and developing new types for […]