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Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
A dozen fresh-picked holiday gift ideas for gardeners
The best holiday gifts for gardeners are the ones that keep their minds in the dirt, even during the off-season. These gardening and garden-themed gifts will sow the seeds of anticipation for greener days to come and spread a little sunshine just when it’s needed most. SMART VIDEO CAMERA BIRD...
Rose hips’ seedpods provide pop of color in the fall and winter garden
The rose has long been regarded as the “queen of flowers,” revered for its fragrance and beauty. But less lauded are the orange and red hips, or seedpods, that form after the flowers fade. And that’s a shame. If they’re left on the plant, the rose hips will take center...
New gardens on view at Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art
Michael Strueber can be found in one of two places at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art: sitting in a rocking chair on the porch, sipping coffee with just a dash of cream, or in one of the site’s seven gardens, elbow deep in soil. Director emeritus of SAMA, Strueber,...
Tips and tricks for keeping garden critters at bay
As she browsed the outdoor aisles of 380 Auction in Murrysville, Plum resident Marilyn Covert lamented the loss of her homegrown tomatoes to a deer. “They’re terrible,” she said of the deer, as she pushed her cart stacked with gardening supplies. “There’s nothing like a homegrown tomato.” Covert uses deer...
A list of local farmers’ markets
Editor’s note: This list has been updated to correct the days, times and location for the Central Westmoreland Famer’s Market. Here is a list of selected farmers’ markets in the area (listed in alphabetical order): Baldwin Farmers Market Dates: Second and fourth Thursdays of each month through August, plus Sept....
Greensburg Garden Center tour features 7 special outdoor spaces
The seven locations on Greensburg Garden Center’s upcoming garden tour feature themes spanning the globe from Hawaii to the British Isles. The self-guided driving tour is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 24. Five of the featured gardens are in the Greensburg area, the other two are in...
How to plant a container like the pros do
Have you ever gone to the grocery store for, say, milk, and left with a cartful of impulse buys? Well, I visited a couple of nurseries last week in search of one specific plant and left with nearly everything except that plant, which both retailers had sold out. As usual,...
Tips for growing herbs (you don’t even need a garden)
Culinary herbs are among the easiest plants you can grow. They only need sunlight, water, and well-draining soil with a neutral pH. You don’t even need a garden. Many herbs, such as rosemary, basil, cilantro, lemon balm, oregano and mint will grow well in containers. In fact, mints should only...
Before you transfer garden plants outdoors, make sure they’re hardened off
It’s prime planting time in many regions, and gardeners are flocking to garden centers for annuals, and herb and vegetablestarter plants. Likewise, those who have grown plants from seeds indoors may be gearing up to transplant them in the garden now. But regardless of their origins, seedlings can’t typically go...
No Mow May? Good intentions, bad approach, critics say
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve heard about the #NoMowMay movement that’s been gaining steam on social media and in eco-conscious circles these past few years. Started in 2019 by citizen scientists in the United Kingdom, the call for homeowners to abstain from mowing their lawns during the month...
Plant sales are in bloom all over Westmoreland, Allegheny counties
Seventy-degree days in February and 40-degree days in May. While the weather around these parts has been topsy-turvy of late, there’s one thing that home gardeners can depend on — plant sales will start popping up in May. “As cold as it’s been, people are ready to plant something warm...
When planting a meadow, heed conditions in your garden, yard
Wildflower meadows have been growing in popularity among gardeners, and for good reason. They’re low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, provide food for birds, wildlife, pollinators and other insects, and they’re pretty. Wildflowers are native plants, so your options will vary according to where you live. Start your search on the Lady Bird...
Gardening help in the palm of your hand: 5 apps, phone tips
You’re in your garden and notice a beautiful, new-to-you flower that has popped up somewhere unexpected — pull it or leave it? Or perhaps an unfamiliar garden pest has ravaged your tomato plants. Or you experienced the deflating discovery of a gray-white crust on the soil in your seed-starting tray....
April programs promote growth of backyard butterfly habitats in Westmoreland
Spring’s arrival brings two programs to Westmoreland County to guide backyard gardeners in selecting plants for their property that are attractive to the senses and to migrating butterflies. The staff of the Penguin Court preserve in Laughlintown on Tuesday will lead a virtual program on creating a “Monarch Waystation,” or...
Spring garden prep: What to do before growing season gets underway
It’s been a pretty poor excuse for a winter in Western Pennsylvania, but Mother Nature still could have a few frosts and snowflakes up her sleeve. That means gardeners eager to get out there and get planting need to exercise a little patience. “The biggest thing I can tell people...
Bigger, better, tougher? A look at 2023’s new garden plants
Most gardeners have favorite go-to plants that perform well in their climate and simply make them happy. For me, those are coneflowers, catmint, liatris, alliums, daylilies, black-eyed Susans and oh so many tomatoes. But every year, I manage to find at least a little space for something new that woos...
Moon gardens: Designed to shine when bathed in moonlight
Planning this year’s garden? My guess is you’re envisioning plants bathed in daylight. But the problem is that by nightfall, when the sun has set and you’re ready to kick back at home, you won’t be able to see and fully enjoy the fruits of your gardening labor without flooding...
Delmont seed swap offers variety for backyard gardeners 
Darin Kuczek gets a lot of enjoyment out of his backyard garden. “I’m not exactly a ‘hippie-dippy’ guy, but I have a chair out there and after I get done working, a lot of times I’ll just sit for maybe an hour,” the Salem resident said. “I just really enjoy...
Choosing safe Valentine’s flowers, plants for pet parents
If you’re sending your sweetheart cut flowers or a potted plant for Valentine’s Day, choose ones that are safe for their pets. One lick of a pollen-covered lily stamen can be life-threatening to cats, as my daughter Julia learned when her cat, Nyah, found her way to a beautiful and...
Pretty but toxic: Watch toddlers around these houseplants
When visiting friends or family who have both houseplants and young children, I’ve been compared to “Aunt Bonnie” from the Geico commercial “Aunt Infestation.” In it, a young couple who just moved into a new home complains of having pests — not ants but overbearing “aunts.” Like the one who...
Should you worry about lichens, moss, algae on trees?
Now that deciduous trees are bare, trunks and branches have taken center stage, and you might be noticing nuances and irregularities that evaded your attention over the summer. For instance, what are those green masses growing on your trees? Those growths could be either lichens, moss or algae, and the...
Honeybees are at risk, along with the crops they pollinate
PHILADELPHIA — The honeybees looked perfectly healthy, buzzing about their boxy wooden hive on a warm autumn day in central Pennsylvania. Elizabeth Capaldi suspected otherwise. Clad in a protective white suit and hat, the biologist reached out with a gloved hand to capture one of the insects in a small...
Christmas tree recycling is a good alternative to landfills
Taking down the Christmas tree is only one task after the holiday season. For those with a real tree, figuring out what to do with it can be as easy as placing it by the curb. In most states, it can be the gift that keeps on giving. Discarded Christmas...
Scientists reveal secrets of frog transparency
WASHINGTON — Now you see them, now you don’t. Some frogs found in South and Central America have the rare ability to turn on and off their nearly transparent appearance, researchers report Thursday in the journal Science. During the day, these nocturnal frogs sleep by hanging underneath tree leaves. Their...
6 favorite conifers and the cones they produce
In much of the country, much of the landscape goes barren from fall through spring. Evergreens are typically the workhorse plants that carry us through. But not all evergreens are created equal. A subset called conifers provide not only year-round greenery but ornamental cones that command attention, feed birds (and...


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