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3 weeks ago | 
nhhomemagazine.com | Robin Sweetser
Optometrist Michael Gordon has been living on a small, in-town lot in Peterborough for 35 years and gardening there for the last 30. He has made great use of every inch of space, filling the property with the unusual plants he has an eye for. The gardens are not just about flowers — which are fleeting — but full of contrasting foliage forms, colors and textures that bring interest to the space all season long.
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2 months ago | 
almanac.com | Robin Sweetser
See a list of shade vegetables (and shade fruit) that will grow in partial shade, find out what will NOT grow in shade, and three examples of garden plans for partial shade.
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2 months ago | 
nhmagazine.com | Elisa Verdi |Robin Sweetser
It is tempting to get outside on a nice day and start digging as soon as the ground has thawed, but don’t. Never step in or work wet soil; it compacts easily, ruining its structure. To tell if it is ready, take the Cake Test: • Try to squeeze a handful of soil into a ball. • If it crumbles easily (like cake crumbs) it is good to go. • If it stays in a ball, wait a few more days.
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2 months ago | 
nhhomemagazine.com | Robin Sweetser |Kendal Bush
Though they love all four seasons in New Hampshire, Robin and Larry Turnbaugh of Chesterfield eagerly await the arrival of spring. “It really is my favorite time of year,” says Robin. Their home sits high on a bluff looking east over Spofford Lake toward Mount Monadnock. They purchased this as a second home when they were living in Boston and have been year-round residents for the past 12 years. Here they get to witness spring and fall migrations of birds that stop by the lake during their flights.
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Dec 31, 2024 | 
almanac.com | Robin Sweetser
When to plant garden peas? “Plant peas as soon as the ground can be worked” is a popular saying in the gardening world. Unfortunately, in my garden, that means mid- to late March! However, our fortunate southern friends can often start planting in January and February. Wherever you live, see my pea-planting tips. When to Plant PeasGarden peas (Pisum sativum L.) are cool-season crops that cannot withstand the heat and humidity of summer, but they CAN tolerate frosts and light freezes.
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Dec 18, 2024 | 
nhhomemagazine.com | Robin Sweetser
For true plant lovers, the garden is never done. There is always a new variety to add, a different combination to try, or an area of the design to tweak. Now that the garden may lie under a blanket of snow and the holiday hubbub has passed, Carolyn Hager of New London is thinking about next year’s garden and the changes she’d like to make. “I’m always looking in magazines and catalogs for something new and different,” she says.
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Dec 5, 2024 | 
almanac.com | Robin Sweetser
The Almanac Garden Planner - Use It Free for 7 Days!Plan your 2025 garden with our award-winning Garden Planner. If you are blessed with a garden that gets full sun, rejoice! Your place is perfect for perennial flowers that thrive in sunny spots. I’ve narrowed my list down to 20 favorites, with an eye toward American natives, which are perfect for supporting pollinators. Take a look and tell me what you think. What is a “Full Sun Perennial”?
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Nov 28, 2024 | 
almanac.com | Robin Sweetser
Mulch is the gardener's friend. In winter, mulch protects bare soil, prevents erosion, and protects plants. In spring, mulch retains moisture, suppresses weeds, and feeds the soil. Learn how and when to mulch plus types of mulch in our mulching guide.
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Oct 3, 2024 | 
almanac.com | Robin Sweetser
Subhead How to Sterilize Soil in Oven, Microwave, and Pressure Cooker Become a better gardener! Discover our new Almanac Garden Planner features for 2024. It’s easy, fun, and free to try! There is a lot of buzz out there about sterilizing the soil you use for starting your seedlings and potting them up, especially if you are reusing old soil. See how to sterilize soil in the oven, microwave, or pressure cooker. But let’s also ask ourselves, Is this really necessary?
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Aug 29, 2024 | 
almanac.com | Robin Sweetser
Subhead Saving and Storing Your Pumpkin Seeds to Grow Next Year Become a better gardener! Discover our new Almanac Garden Planner features for 2024. It’s easy, fun, and free to try! You can save seeds from this year’s pumpkins to plant next year! It’s fun to grow your own jack-o’-lanterns. Here’s how to store those seeds this fall and plant in the spring!You also save money by growing your own. Pumpkins are easy enough to grow and require very little pampering.
