Elizabeth Park Greenhouse

Every year, the first sign of spring arrives at the Elizabeth Park greenhouse. The 2012 flower show began last week, and runs through Friday, 3/16/2012. Check out the greenhouse daily from 9:30 to 3:00. Return Saturday for the flower sale, which runs from 10:00 to 2:00, but be sure to get there early as it is a very popular event. As of this morning the majority of the tulips weren’t quite out yet, but there

Gardening in Greater Hartford

The snowless winter has made sledding nearly impossible this season. We got a few runs in after the Halloween storm, and a few more after a modest snowfall in January, but since then the sleds have been idle. Instead we’ve been thinking about spring and the upcoming gardening season. And it seems like others are on the same page. Last week we learned about an updated plant hardiness map from the USDA. The map for

Goodbye Engine-less Lawnmower

June 2004: Amy and Kyle have just bought a home in Hartford, their first … it’s time for some yard work. I was very excited to have property to take care of for the first time since I worked summers during college as the maintenance guy for our Town Park back in Vermont. As you might imagine, the lawns up there are a little larger than down here in the City. The parks I maintained

The Ideal Time and Place to Pea

I’m ready to start gardening. Is it warm enough to plant peas yet? I know they are okay with the cold, but the very beginning of April may be too soon to plant. Especially since I’m planning to just put them in the ground rather than get them started inside. I don’t have any go-to gardening sites – does anyone have any that they like? The next important question is where to put them. It

Greater Hartford Farm Scene: Part 2

Welcome back to part 2 of our round-up of the Greater Hartford Farm Scene. Yesterday we focused on Farmers Markets, Farm Stands, and U-Pick, which are common ways to get fresh, local, vegetables. They don’t require a commitment – you can stop in if your schedule matches up with their hours. It just takes a little bit of travel time, and perhaps some sweat, to get delicious produce for dinner and dessert. Today we’re covering