ANTIQUES: A famed Mother’s Day campaign ad from early 20th century, F7
The best yellow paint colors, according to design pros
By K athryn O ’ Shea- E vans
The Washington Post
IF YOU’VE BEEN FEEL-
ing sunny-side up lately — at least when it comes to your paint color choices — you’re not alone.
Yellow is having a moment.
“We’re going to start seeing yellow in the next year and a half, two years,” said Jordan Slocum, co-founder of the Brownstone Boys, a design and renovation firm in Brooklyn.
Today’s shades, though, are not the yellows of yore.
“Years ago, I had a living room painted this kind of sunny yellow color, and I kind of abandoned it,” said Paula Wallace, founder of the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Her current shade of choice is decidedly richer — an almost marigold hue that is “not too whimsical or flimsy.”
Slocum, too, went deep in his bedroom; his version of yellow whiffs at Dijon and is “really beautiful and calming.”
To do yellow right (no caution tape, daffodils or Easter chicks, please), designers suggest avoiding buttery shades that “drift into ’90s French country territory,” said Emily Vaughan, a designer in Bethesda, Maryland. Instead, try an earthier color.
And “make sure you get a sample,” says Slocum. “I don’t really believe in accent walls … but maybe just try one wall, see how you’re liking it, and then from there you can always continue it through other walls or do a full drench.”
Here, designers share their favorite modern yellows, ranging from creamy, pale shades to deeply saturated citrus hues.
Nugget by Sherwin-Williams
When a windowless basement home gym in Vienna, Virginia, needed a jolt of energy, designer Laura Hildebrandt opted to bring in a bit of sunshine of sorts on the ceiling. “I was really trying to think of how to bring in some natural light and make it interesting and not just four boring walls,” said Hildebrandt, the founder of Interiors by LH. Leaving the beams exposed helped, by making the ceilings feel taller. But the true wow moment came from a coat of Sherwin-Williams’s Nugget, inspired by a shade in some fabric in an adjacent room. “It’s a bright, sunny color,” she said. “I always try to make sure [a paint color] is something that is natural and can really be easily found in nature because our brains understand nature.”
Duster by Farrow & Ball
Slocum, co-author of the new book “For the Love of Renovating,” says he struggled to find just the right shade for his bedroom. “We tried many different iterations throughout the years, but we never really felt like it was our sacred space — a place that we can turn everything off and just relax,” he said. But during a trip to the United Kingdom last summer, he and his husband and business partner, Barry Bordelon, fell in love with a calming shade of yellow. “We really felt like this yellow was speaking to us.” They tried Farrow & Ball’s Duster — which he
matte counter. “It’s an upbeat, vivid and clear shade, even though the undertones are warm,” she added.
Babouche by Farrow & Ball
Designer Bridget Tiek’s young daughter chose a “loud and proud” yet almost moody shade, Babouche by Farrow & Ball, for her Baton Rouge bedroom. “This color is incredible because it’s a deeper yellow, and throughout the day as the light changes, the color changes completely,” Tiek said.
describes as an aged yellow, and similar to the one they experienced in England — on one wall, then another. “Then, next thing you know, we did a full drench.”
Sunflower by Benjamin Moore
Kishani Perera, a designer in Los Angeles, gravitates to yellow for good reason: “I mean, it’s just instant joy,” she said. “You cannot have yellow in the space and not walk in and just smile.” Perera recently worked with clients who feel the same way, so she carried similar shades of the color throughout their home. That began with the front door, which is painted a very peppy Sunflower by Benjamin Moore. “It was so bold, and the exuberance of this color, it just brought so much life to the house.” It’s an alluring “deep, rich yellow that,
when you’re driving down that street, you can’t even miss it,” Perera said.
Citron by Benjamin Moore
Diana Byrne, a designer in Rye, New York, likes the “unapologetic and edgy” Citron from Benjamin Moore, she said in an email. She used it in a lacquer finish in this dining room and bar area to contrast with the bar’s oak millwork and
Mellowed Ivory by Benjamin Moore
Adam Ford, of the Tennessee firm A.A. Ford, went with a softer, creamier shade in a lake house bedroom, to match the Raoul Textiles fabric in the window treatments. “We wanted to bring in some of that warmth, but not in a way that was too saturated or too buttery,” he said. The choice: Mellowed Ivory by Benjamin Moore, applied in a strié finish over a base coat of the brand’s White Chocolate. “The bedroom is north facing, so they get some east sunlight in the morning and then west in the evening. So, it’s kind of perfect: In the morning it’s cooler, and then in the evenings it’s a little more golden, kind of what you would want it to be as the sun goes down.”
Bombazine by Farrow & Ball
In a basement laundry room with zero natural light, doing a load of whites
An example of Sherwin-Williams Nugget. Cover photo: an example of Bombazine by Farrow & Ball. (CHRISTY KOSNIC/ COV ER PHOTO:
STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG)
An example of Mellowed Ivory by Benjamin Moore. (ADAM FORD)
An example of Citron by Benjamin Moore. (DOROTHY HONG)
GARDEN NOTES
STOCKBRIDGE
Upcoming program at Berkshire Botanical Garden
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming program. Saturday, May 17, from 1 to 4 p.m. Spring Botanical Spa Day.” In this workshop, led by Nicole Irene, participants will go through a full, plant-based facial routine after creating products that you will take with you to continue your spa day in the comfort of your own home. The day will start with creating an aromatherapy candle, bath salt, salve and infused oil that you will take home with you after we cleanse, exfoliate, steam, mask/treat, moisturize, and massage our faces step by step together using everyday ingredients infused with herbs and essential oils while enjoying herbal tea and infused detox water. Please arrive with a freshly washed face and no makeup products. Cost is $60 members, $75 nonmembers.
To register or for more information, visit www. berkshirebotanical.org.
Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
WEST SPRINGFIELD Garden club plant sale
West Springfield Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale on Friday and Saturday, May 16 and 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be held rain or shine at Mittineague Park on Route 20. Come shop a selection of vegetables, herbs, annuals, perennials, and hanging baskets grown in their green house. Also, perennials and house plants from members’ gardens will be for sale. Cash, check, debit & credit cards accepted (transaction fee applies).
Visit the web site www.
wsgardenclub.org or on Facebook for more information.
All proceeds support scholarships, planting and maintenance of 12 public green spaces, Christmas decorations at Storrowton Village, The Yuletree Festival at the library, Yuletide Decorations for Storrowton and other community beautification projects.
SOUTHAMPTON Women’s club plant sale
The Southampton Women’s Club will hold its annual plant sale on Saturday May 17, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Conant Park on College Highway (Route 10) in Southampton. An assortment of perennial flowers, herbs, vegetables, and shrubs will be available. All proceeds support the Anita Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund to support Southampton High School senior students.
MONSON Down to Earth Gardeners plant sale
The 27th Down to Earth Gardeners’ Plant Sale will be held at United Methodist Church, 162 Main St., Monson on Saturday, May 17, 9 a.m. to noon, rain or shine.
There will be a large selection of plants for shade or sun, including perennials, ground cover, shrubs, herbs and more. For more information contact Debi at 413-267-5207.
WESTFIELD
Nature workshop at Stanley Park
“Looking and Listening for Birds in the Woods” with Joanne Fortin will take place on Sunday, May 18, from 8 to 10 a.m. Spend time identifying birds by sight and sound. All skill levels are welcome. Bring binoculars if you have them. Joanne has been an active
member of the Allen Bird Club of Springfield for more than 10 years and she enjoys sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm with others.
The workshop will meet at the main entrance sign to the Frank Stanley Beveridge Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary located across from the recreation field.
Wear summer hiking attire, sturdy boots, and bring water.
Nature workshops are free of charge. Stanley Park is located on Western Avenue.
HAMPDEN Memorial Day plant sale
The Hampden Garden Club will be holding their Memorial Day plant sale on May 26, from 8 a.m. to noon, rain or shine at Academy Hall on Main Street.
HOLYOKE Senior center plant sale
The Holyoke Senior Center at 291 Pine St. will have a plant sale on Saturday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The sale supports the purchase of plants and supplies to beautify the grounds and give fresh herbs to the Senior
Lee Reich | In the Garden
Soil temperature is crucial to planting success
STOP BY MY VEGETABLE GARden this time of year and you might see one or more thermometers poking out of the ground. No, I’m not experimenting with a new way to monitor the soil’s health. Soil temperature can serve as a guide for timely sowing of seeds outdoors. Seed sown in soil that is too cold won’t germinate; just sitting there waiting for warmer weather, ungerminated seeds are liable to rot or be eaten by animals.
Lettuce, onion, parsnip, and spinach seeds can be planted earliest. They’ll germinate just about as soon as ice in the soil thaws. At the other end of the spectrum are seeds of melons and squash, which won’t germinate until the soil temperature reaches sixty-five degrees. The minimum temperature required for germination of other vegetable seeds is as follows: 40 degrees for beets, cabbage and its kin, carrots, peas, chard, parsley, celery, and radishes; 50 degrees for sweet corn and turnips; and 60 degrees for beans, cucumbers, and okra.
Turnip is interesting for being eager to sprout anywhere in the broad range of 60 to 105 degrees!
The above listing gives minimum, not optimum, temperatures for germination. Optimum temperatures might be
even 30 degrees higher than the minimums, as in the case of celery which germinates quickest at 70 degrees. Waiting for the optimum temperature isn’t advisable, though. To delay sowing until the soil temperature reached the optimum temperature for pea germination (75 degrees) would result in a midsummer harvest, when hot, dry weather turns peas coarse in taste and texture.
For indoor seeding in seed flats, I use an electric, thermostatically controlled
will include many perennials and shrubs all from members gardens and all a bargain.
Center kitchen. Join us to see our plant offerings and buy a raffle ticket for our gardening related prizes.
AGAWAM Garden club plant sale
Agawam Garden Club is planning its annual plant sale for Saturday, May 31. This year’s event will be held at the Historical Thomas Smith House, 251 North West St., Feeding Hills and will run from 9 a.m.to noon. The sale
Because the plants are all grown locally in members gardens, they are well acclimated to the area. Proceeds from the sale go towards funding the club’s scholarship and providing educational programs for the year. Check the club’s website for further information, agawamgardenclub.com.
SPRINGFIELD Garden club annual plant sale
The Springfield Garden
heating mat, waterproof and made for seed germination. With so many different kinds of seeds to grow, I can’t be twisting the thermostat dial up and down to suit each seed’s optimum. The temperature remains set at about 80 degrees. Which is why lettuce sown a couple of weeks ago still hasn’t sprouted.
Each kind of seed also has a maximum temperature at which it will sprout. For lettuce, that’s about 80 degrees. I resowed a few days ago,
Club will hold its annual plant sale on Saturday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Monkey House in Forest Park. Free entry to the plant sale is available at the Trafton Road entrance to Forest Park, 200 Trafton Road, Springfield. A spring tradition and the Club’s major scholarship fundraiser, this is not the kind of plant sale that focuses on re-selling plants from wholesale growers. Except for a few donations from generous area garden centers, these plants are from members’ gardens or have been grown from seed specifically for the sale This is a major fundraiser for our scholarship program
setting the lettuce flat on the cooler greenhouse bench instead of the mat, and green leaves have already shown their faces.
Other vegetable seeds notorious for sulking in the heat are parsnip, celery, and pea. Turnip is interesting for being eager to sprout anywhere in the broad range of 60 to 105 degrees!
For more details on temperatures needed for seed germination, as well as plant growing and charts and tables with lots of other stuff about growing vegetables, I highly recommend ‘Knott’s Handbook for Vegetable Growers,’ available in hard copy or online. No need to twiddle your thumbs waiting for the soil to warm; the warming process can be speeded up. (I detail a number of ways to do this in my book ‘Weedless Gardening.’) A thick, organic mulch, though generally beneficial to the soil, insulates the soil and hence delays warming this time of year. So, for early sowings, rake back the mulch to expose the soil to the sun. Once the soil is warm — about mid-June — replace the mulch to recoup its benefits.
Where soil is not blanketed with mulch, warming can be hastened by forming small ridges oriented east and west. You plant seeds on the south faces of these ridges. With sunlight beaming directly down on these south-facing ridges, the soil there warms a bit faster than the surrounding soil. (For the same reason, here in the Northern Hemisphere, south-facing slopes are warmer than north-facing slopes.
and a lot of fun for club members and our customers alike. We love to talk about the plants we are offering and, with many experienced gardeners and Master Gardeners among us, can offer useful suggestions on which plants to buy or answers to some of your gardening questions.
The Springfield Garden Club awards an annual scholarship of between $2,000 to a graduating high school senior, undergraduate or graduate college student majoring in a full-time plant science or environmental studies program, such as horticulture, floriculture, landscape design, conser-
vation, forestry, botany, agronomy, plant pathology, environmental control, land management or other allied fields. Using proceeds from past plant sales, the club has given out over $80,000 in scholarships to students in the last 30 plus years and we look forward to adding to that this year. For more information on the Springfield Garden Club events go to www.springfieldgardenclubma.org or visit them on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/SpringfieldMAGardenClub/.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
A soil thermometer can tell you, depending on what you’re planting, if seeds are ready to be sown. (LEE REICH PHOTO)
Renovating your bathroom?
You should consider the vanity.
By T im Mc K eough
The New York Times
AT THE HEART OF most bathroom renovations is one great piece of furniture: the vanity.
“The vanity can make or break the design of the bathroom,” said Hema Persad, founder of Los Angeles-based interior design firm Sagrada Studio. “It takes up a lot of square footage, no matter how big or small the bathroom is, so you have to think about it really carefully.”
There are two key points to consider: how to maximize storage space and how to bolster the design vision for the room.
“The vanity should always meet a functional need,” said Gabriela Gargano, founder of New York-based interior design firm Grisoro Studio. “But how bold or discreet it is really depends on the design goal for the space.”
The answer to those questions can lead to vastly different designs, from expansive built-in cabinetry to compact wall-mounted units. Here are some of the designs that Persad, Gargano and others have implemented to make bathrooms look, and function, their best.
Take stock of requirements
At Ten Plus Three, a design firm with offices in Dallas and Monterrey, Mexico, every vanity design begins with an assessment of how a homeowner will use it, said Gonzalo Bueno, a partner at the firm.
“Some of our clients have simple bathroom products, while others have not-sosimple skin care products and tall bottles they need access to,” Bueno said. Some people want a large cabinet with a door, so they can hide a wastebasket inside, he said, while others desire drawers with integrated power outlets for hair dryers or toothbrushes.
A vanity in a powder room or guest bathroom, on the other hand, might not require so much storage.
Go wall to wall
One of the best ways to maximize vanity storage space, even in a small bathroom, is to build a custom cabinet that stretches from one wall to another.
For a bathroom she designed in New York City, Gargano introduced a built-in white oak vanity with big drawers topped by a Calacatta Nero marble counter that completely filled a niche, which is also lined in white oak. “It creates a very immersive feeling,” she said.
In a small bathroom Persad designed, she ran a shallow cabinet right across the end wall of the room to add significant storage space. Because there was no space for doors to swing open or drawers to pull out, she chose sliding doors finished in cane, which were made by Yeehaw Woodworks.
“We had to do those sliding doors because there was nowhere else to put the toilet,” Persad said. In such tiny confines, she added, “custom is often the way to go,” because prefabricated vanities are rarely a perfect fit.
In a more spacious bathroom, a custom vanity can also help maximize storage space. In a bathroom that Aimee Meisgeier of Seattle-based AM Interior Design conceived, she installed a generous double vanity bookended by matching storage cabinets that extend from floor to ceiling.
“There was a huge run of open wall,” Meisgeier said. “So those are built-in linen cabinets that hold pool towels, bathroom towels and all the necessary day-to-day things.”
Hang it off the wall
One potential downside to a vanity that runs wall to wall is that it can eat up a lot of floor
space and look visually heavy in the room. A solution is to use a wall-mounted vanity that has no legs or base.
“When an item doesn’t touch the floor, it takes up less visual space, even though the depth and width of the cabinet might be exactly the same,” Gargano said, who often prefers wall-mounted vanities in compact urban bathrooms.
Add a shelf
Another way to increase storage space is to install a low shelf, either below a wall-mounted vanity or on the bottom of a vanity that runs to the floor.
Meisgeier has built open shelves into vanities for guest bathrooms as a place to store towels or for guests to store travel toiletry bags. In a powder room she designed with a long wall-mounted stone vanity, she added just a short walnut shelf below it. “That’s for a basket where the toilet paper goes,” she said.
Choose a prefabricated unit
In bathrooms that have straightforward dimensions and a little more breathing room, a prefabricated vanity can work nearly as well as a custom one. In a bathroom
Persad designed where she had to put the vanity between a shower and a toilet, she found an ideally sized free-standing model from West Elm.
“We wanted something that looked midcentury, and West Elm happened to have one that fit the footprint and the style we needed,” Persad said. “That was a great cost savings.”
In another bathroom, she used a prefabricated wall-mounted vanity. “It had to be narrow enough that the door could still open,” she said.
She replaced the hardware on the unit’s single storage drawer with one long bar pull, which provides a place to hang a towel.
Repurpose an antique
A cabinet or chest doesn’t have to be labeled as a bathroom vanity to function as one. Some designers repurpose antique chests of drawers to make one-of-akind vanities.
Aileen Warren and Kiley Jackson, founders of Jackson Warren Interiors, a firm with offices in Houston and Fairhope, Alabama, once transformed a mahogany chest of drawers they found at an antiques fair into a vanity.
“It was perfect for the space,” Warren said. “We had a local carpenter work on the drawers, so they were really smooth.”
The designers even kept the stone top that was already on the chest and had a stone fabricator create a cutout for the sink.
For another bathroom, they found a vintage bleached wood cabinet at Houston antiques shop Back Row Home and replaced the top with a marble counter to turn it into a vanity.
“It’s not difficult at all,” Warren said. “And it can be
less expensive than making a custom cabinet.”
Turn it into sculpture
There’s no rule that says a bathroom vanity has to be a rectangular cabinet. If you want to make the vanity the star of the bathroom, you can give it a more sculptural shape.
In a bathroom Ten Plus Three employees designed in Mexico, they carved a sink from a rough granite boulder and added pedestals on either side to function as flat counters. “The clients wanted to bring natural materials inside of the house to make it more interesting,” Bueno said.
In another bathroom, the firm designed a bulbous vanity covered in parchment leather with a waterproof high-gloss finish. The piece doesn’t look like a traditional vanity but has curved doors that open to reveal storage. It wasn’t the easiest vanity to build, Bueno said, but “we’re just always trying to find ways to make bathrooms a little more special.”
A Miranda Estes vanity. The most important piece of furniture you will buy could make or break a project. (MIRANDA ESTES VIA THE NEW YORK TIMES)
Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting
The slogan that’s part of Mother’s Day history
“SAY IT WITH FLOWERS!” NO WONder it’s one of the most successful advertising slogans ever. It works for nearly any occasion and is especially appropriate for Mother’s Day. In fact, the slogan was created for the Society of American Florist’s 1918 Mother’s Day campaign, but flowers were already an important part of the holiday.
Anna Jarvis held what is considered the first Mother’s Day observance in 1908. It was on the second Sunday in May, the day her mother, teacher and activist Ann Reeves Jarvis had died in 1905. Ann Reeves Jarvis promoted public health throughout her life and encouraged mothers in her community to get involved in social issues. The 1908 memorial was held at the church in Grafton, West Virginia, where she had taught Sunday school. Anna Jarvis had white carnations, her mother’s favorite flower, distributed to the congregation.
Florists quickly caught on and were advertising for Mother’s Day by 1911, before the day was officially a national holiday. Anna Jarvis would later campaign against the holiday she started, believing it had become too commercial. She would not approve of advertising displays like this one, which sold for $270 at Morphy Auctions.
Q. I have a picture of what I understand is an actual scene of a Chinese city. There are buildings along a canal. The artwork is 16 x 20 inches within a frame, which is 31 1/2 x 36 inches. The item is a hand embroidery of pure silk created in 2008 or 2009 by Dong Xi Wenhua. Can you provide any information on this medium of work, the artist, and what the artwork may be worth?
A. You probably have a piece of Suzhou embroidery, also called Su embroidery or Su Xiu. It is one of four major traditional styles of Chinese embroidery, all named after the regions where they originate. Suzhou is a major city in the Jiangsu province on the eastern coast of China. It is known for its gardens and canals; it may be the city depicted in your textile. Suzhou embroidery has been practiced for over 2,000 years and is known for its use of silk thread and images of animals, nature environments, and scenic pictures. Suzhou embroidery can also copy pre-existing paintings and artworks. It is increasingly popular to embroider copies of photographs and Western paintings. The Su Embroidery Studio was established in Suzhou in 2004, and its artists embroider and sell traditional patterns, copies of famous paintings, and custom designs. It is likely that your textile was made there. A modern Suzhou embroidery like yours has a resale of about $50. Antique pieces from the 19th century can be worth thousands of dollars.
Q. I think I have a salesman’s sample of a dumbwaiter. It is 9 1/2 inches tall with a 4 1/2inch base. The shelves and base are metal. It has a round hole in the bottom so food can be
“Say It With Flowers” stays true to the spirit of the first Mother’s Day, even if its founder disliked the commercialization. (MORPHY AUCTIONS)
lowered to the basement. We hope you can help us with more information, including where we could sell it and its approximate value.
A. A dumbwaiter raises and lowers a set of shelves or a platform, usually enclosed in a cabinet, to move items like food and dishes from one floor of a building to another. The first patent for a mechanical dumbwaiter was filed in 1887. They were used in commercial buildings, restaurants, and the homes of wealthy families and were phased out with the introduction of the electric motor in the 1920s.
This time period, the late 19th to early 20th centuries, was also the heyday of salesman samples. It’s likely that your dumbwaiter dates to that period, although we haven’t been able to match it to a maker or specific model.
For another possibility, it may have been made for a dollhouse. It is difficult to tell the difference between dollhouse furniture and salesman’s samples if the maker isn’t known.
The best clues are usually the size and the quality of the piece. Salesman samples are usually about 1:6 to 1:8 scale and are also often made with higher quality materials and construction than doll furniture. Both salesman samples and dollhouse furniture are sold at general antiques auctions, and shops. The value of your dumbwaiter is probably about $100.
A word about terminology: In the world of antique furniture, “dumbwaiter” (also spelled “dumb waiter”) can also mean a type of tiered table or stand. Party guests could help themselves off the tiers, so waiters did not need to bring them food and drinks. Don’t confuse either type of dumbwaiter with a “silent butler,” usually a metal container with a handle and a hinged cover that was used to empty ashtrays or collect table crumbs.
TIP: Put fresh flowers in view when you’re away for a short period of time. Fresh flowers indicate owners aren’t away for long.
CURRENT PRICES
Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.
Sports, baseball, pendant, commemorative, N.Y. Yankees, lettering around border, Mother’s Day, goldtone, May 14, 1967, Balfour, New York, 2 1/2 x 3/4 inches, $50.
Furniture, table, typewriter, Toledo Metal Furniture Company, wood case, roll top, metal stand, stretcher base, on casters, label, 1910s, 40 x 24 inches, $125.
Jewelry, pin, bar, pierced, four seed pearls alternating with three green enamel leaves, 14K gold, Henry Blank & Co., art nouveau, 1 1/4 inches, $180. Rosenthal, coffee set, Flash On, coffeepot, lid, warming stand, sugar and creamer, multicolor zigzags, Dorothy Hafner, 1980s, coffeepot 9 inches, four pieces, $190.
Schneider, vase, shaded light purple to cobalt blue, etched and frosted stylized flowers, signed, Charder, 8 1/2 inches, $345.
Purse, crocodile leather, black, shaped front flap, goldtone hardware, Gucci, 7 x 12 inches, $435. Silver-American, centerpiece, Francis 1 pattern, oval, scalloped rim, scrolled trim, panels, leafy branches, fruits, Reed & Barton, 15 x 12 inches, $495.
Furniture, rocker, art deco, iron, painted black, slat back and seat, hoop arms, 31 1/2 inches, $640. Gameboard, checkers and Parcheesi, folk art, painted, red and green, applied molded edge, black, 1800s, 17 x 17 inches, $685.
Clock, Gilbert Rhode, model 4706, round, chrome plated steel, aluminum, black center spot, dot indices, rectangular base, Herman Miller, 6 1/2 x 6 inches, $1,265.
Kovels answers readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures, the object and a closeup of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We do not guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Questions that are answered will appear in Kovels Publications. Write to Kovels, The Republican, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels.com.
Average rate on a US 30-year mortgage holds steady at 6.76%
By A lex Veiga Associated Press
The average rate on a 30year mortgage in the U.S. held steady this week, not far from its highest levels this year, but below where it was a year ago.
The rate stood at 6.76% for the second week in a row, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 7.09%.
Borrowing costs on 15-year
Deeds
AGAWAM
fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, eased.
The average rate dropped to 5.89% from 5.92% last week. It’s down from 6.38% a year ago, Freddie Mac said.
Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including global demand for U.S. Treasurys, the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions and bond market
Darren G. Longo to Khalid Dhahir and Murtadha Hindal, 769 Main St., $365,000.
David G. Teixeira to Meghan L. Moomjian and Douglas P. Moomjian, 3 Plantation Drive, $246,900.
Dominic Santaniello, trustee, Lucas Giusto, trustee, and Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, to Aldo Properties LLC, 41 Channell Drive, $190,000.
Justine J. Como, Denise A. Como and Raymond D. Como to Patricia Fitzgibbon, 142 Autumn St., Unit A, $206,000.
Pine Crossing Construction Inc., to Ellen Kupiec, 115 Villa Drive, Unit 38, $510,000.
Robert E. Cardwell, Kathryn H. Claffey, Kathryn A. Howell, Rami Ashkar, Rita B. Cardwell, Steven P. Cardwell and Kevin J. Cardwell to Manchester Enterprises LLC, 945 Shoemaker Lane, $242,000.
Ronald Sarnelli and Therese K. Sarnelli to Hunter Ford Sarnelli and Hunter Sarnelli, 340 Regency Park Drive, Unit 166, $130,000.
AMHERST
Allison B. Henry and Jonathan Henry to Shira Epstein and Scott Alfeld, 235 Lincoln Ave., $755,000.
Michael Hooker, trustee, and Martha Spiegelman Revocable Trust to Jonathan Henry and Allison Beth Henry, 185 Middle St., $425,000.
Timothy Ocain, personal representative, and Barbara J. Elleman, estate, to Hedwig S. Zaremba and Stephan W. Zaremba, 25 Greenleaves Drive, $310,000.
Kathryn V. Fitzgibbons to Teru Jellerette-Nolan and Teya Renee Nolan, 29 Bedford Court, $265,000.
BELCHERTOWN
Mark Tiffany Jr., trustee, Katelyne Tiffany, trustee, and Mark & Katelyne Tiffany Revocable Trust, to Mark A. Tiffany Jr., and Katelyne M. Tiffany, 84 Stebbins St., $100.
John L. McMillan and John L. McMillan Jr., to Katelyne Tiffany, trustee, Mark Tiffany Jr.,
investors’ expectations about the economy and inflation.
After climbing to a just above 7% in mid-January, the average rate on a 30year mortgage has remained above 6.62%, where it was just four weeks ago. It then spiked above 6.8% in the following two weeks and eased last week to 6.76%.
The recent swings in mortgage rates reflect volatility in
trustee, and John L. McMillan Jr. Irrevocable Trust, 111 Daniel Shays Highway, $100.
William R. Bakes to William C. Bakes, 210 Michael Sears Road, $100.
Steven R. Harvey to Robert J. Litter, Alden Avenue, $85,000.
Steven R. Harvey to Peder Andrew Gilbert and Jordan Chesley Litter, Alden Avenue, $95,000.
George Sutherland and Irma Sutherland to Audrey Piubeni, 165 Bardwell St., $475,000.
BLANDFORD
Barbara J. Gliniak to Elisha T. Jameson, 124 Chester Road, $375,000.
BUCKLAND
Andrew E. Smith and Nancy A. Smith, trustees of the Smith Investment Trust, to Lesley Grow and Jonathan Winfisky, 28 State St., $197,000.
Judy A. Heffner, “fka” Judy Aldrich, and Timothy D. Heffner, “aka” Timothy D. Hefner, to Crispin Boulter, trustee of the Donald Evan Woodyard Testamentary Trust FBO, Sadie Rowena Pietruszka-Boulter, 1 Old State St., $192,000.
John M. Lawson, “aka” John Lawson II, and M. E. Mariel Olcoz, trustees of the Olcoz-Lawson Investment Trust, to Astrid Burke and Trey D. Jones, 44 Green St., $389,000.
CHARLEMONT
Timothy M. Atwater to Samantha Bodine and John Karlin, 1859 Route 2, $930,000.
CHESTERFIELD
Todd F. Sunderland and Susan Lanfare to Daniel Cooper, 419 Main Road, $475,000.
CHICOPEE
Ashley C. Cox to Libnie Yael Freytes Marrero, 267 Chicopee St., Unit 8, $202,000.
Ashley M. Boutin and William Bigda Jr., to Haley Convertino, 287 Fuller Road, $240,000.
Bradford K. Landry to Tara Stolki, 106 Columba St., $320,000.
the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.
The yield, which had mostly fallen after climbing to around 4.8% in mid-January, surged last month to 4.5% amid a sell-off in government bonds triggered by investor anxiety over the Trump administration’s trade war.
The 10-year Treasury yield was at 4.33% in midday trad-
Debra M. Burdeau to Cameron Sanderson and Jenna Jenkins, 43 Lorimer St., $320,000.
Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Varakas Realty Trust, trustee of, to Stazia Blair and Thomas Halsey, 52 Wellington Ave., $335,000.
Gary P. Gaudrault, representative, and Robert James Gaudrault, estate, to Bruce Engel, 671 James St., $170,000.
Helene C. Sears, Michael J. Sears, Kenneth A. Sears, Christine M. Kiely and Elizabeth A. Liptrap to Olesya Lebedinskaya and Andrey Orlov, 0 Polaski Avenue, $105,000.
Johnny K. Ng and Kristen H. Ng to David Geary, 62 America St., $425,000.
Kathleen E. Germaine to Lucas Giusto, trustee, Dominic Santaneillo, trustee, and Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, 91 Norman St., $182,500.
Koda Penny Realty LLC, to Christian Andris, 9 Massachusetts Ave., $370,000.
Mary H. Maciaszek to Pauline E. Dent, trustee, and Pioneer Provence Trust, trustee of, 50-52 Taylor St., $475,000.
Tammie M. Finnell to Ericka Rivera, 47 Walter St., $265,000.
COLRAIN
Jena Dee Gavora, Donna MacLeay, Douglas MacLeay, Jana L. Purington, Lee M. Purington and Michael A. Purington to Amy Taylor and Lorraine Taylor, 201 Thompson Road, $320,000.
CUMMINGTON
Charlene F. Madison, Charlene Frances Madison and Charlene F. Cassidy to Gretchen Louise Pohlman and Eric William Pohlman, Nash Road and Harlow Road, $100.
EAST LONGMEADOW
Michael J. Trombley and Beatrice Trombley to Brent Houle and Victoria E. Springer, 182 Patterson Ave., $260,000.
EASTHAMPTON
Daniel F. Stasz to Daniel F. Stasz, trustee, and DFS Revocable Trust, 1 Chantel Court, $100.
ing Thursday, up from 4.26% late Wednesday. Elevated mortgage rates and rising home prices remain affordability hurdles for many would-be homebuyers. It’s why the spring homebuying season is off to a lackluster start. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell in March, posting the largest monthly drop since November 2022.
Peter A. Elsea to Emily H. Atkinson, 1 Westview Terrace, $450,000.
Norwich Properties LLC, to Denise Hersey and Andrew Hersey, 2 Fox Run, $900,000. Norwich Properties LLC, to Alan Wei Shun Tseng and Shiyun Guan, 230 Hendrick St., $886,000.
Ronald F. Sasarak and Judith M. Sasarak to Aaron D. Sasarak and Aleeta J. Sasarak, 45 Hannum Brook Drive, $100.
Michael K. Gelineau to Brett J. Cumming, 100 Holyoke St., $275,000.
Rebecca T. Bassett, Rebecca T. O’Connor and Daniel J. O’Connor to Hans Hansen and Rebecca J. Worsham, 16 Oliver St., $391,000.
Robert J. Misner and Anne L. Misner to Chad O. Grabowski and Alexandra Starr Malo, 83 Holyoke St., $378,572
ERVING
Leslie Heath, “fka” Leslie Smith, and Richard Heath to Alexandra L. Durant and Jeremy D. Klepadlo, 5 Northfield Road, $360,000.
GILL
Jeffrey A. Carter, personal representative of the Estate of Russell E. Carter Jr., “aka” Russell E. Carter, to Allegra Mary Hyde, 31 Riverview Drive, $471,000.
GRANBY
Heather Longley to Christopher Steininger, Batchelor Street, $73,500.
Gabriel L. Haber and Erica L. Lemm to Erica L. Lemm, 55 Pleasant St., $100.
GREENFIELD
Jason B. Graves and Owen A. Graves to Barbara L. Graves and Jason B. Graves. 223 Chapman Street. $80,000.
Regina O. Campbell and William C. Campbell to Jaimye L. Bartak and Jeffrey M. Sauser, Highland Avenue and James Street, $2,300.
D&B Properties Inc., to Ieremia V. Sinigur, Pickett Lane, $86,000.
HADLEY
George T. Urch, trustee, Vanessa G. Druskat, trustee, Craig E. Urch, trustee, and George E.F. Urch Family Trust, to Jason J. Lorusso and Rebecca B. Chapman, 18 Highland Circle, $525,000.
HAMPDEN
Timothy P. Lord, Alyssa R. Wakelin and Alyssa R. Lord to Alyssa R. Wakelin, 69 North Road, $100.
HATFIELD
Gerald A. Sweet to Mancy L. Sweet-Antes and Elisha Sweet, 366 West St., $100.
HOLYOKE
Charles Fadden-Hall and Thomas Fadden-Hall to Christopher M. McAvene, 352 Maple St., Unit 352l, $121,000.
Garrett J. Lavoie, Garrett Lavoie, Dianne E. Lavoie and Dianne Lavoie to Catrina Sorae Kim, 107 Lincoln St., $435,000.
Holyoke Landing LLC, to Atlantic Capital Holyoke Retail LLC, 12 Holyoke St., $6,800,000.
Margaret A. Becker to Libby Coyner and Shepherd Tsosie, 309 Hillside Ave., $270,000.
Thomas C. Wilhelmi to Mark B. Sampson and Kathleen M. Sampson, 31 South Mayer Drive, $405,000.
Tina M. Holman, representative, Mary Kathleen Smart, estate, and M. Kathleen Smart, estate, to Avinash Sharma, 151 Allyn St., $421,909.
Legacy Property Investment Group LLC, to Ty Realty LLC, 1412 Dwight St., $250,000.
HUNTINGTON
Ronald D. Sturgill, Ronald D. Sturgill, trustee, Norwich Realty Trust, Marilyn H. Sturgill and Marilyn H. Sturgill, trustee, to Aidan Greenwood and Rylie Greenwood, Route 112, $44,000.
LONGMEADOW
Mark B. Sampson and Kathleen M. Sampson to Jaime Margolis and Trevor Maloney, 109 Bel Air Drive, $465,000.
LUDLOW
Gitsit Real Property BBPLC1 LLC, to Tiana Lambert, 41 Barrett St., $375,000.
Eric Alexander Rucki to Samantha
Marie Dion and Joseph M. Ferrera, 183 Reynolds St., $320,000.
Michael L. Roberts to Megan Allyn Leone, 162 Cady St., $250,000.
Nathan Shaw and Melissa S. Dias to Luis E. Guzman, 54 Chapin Greene Drive, $315,000.
Rosemarie Lamarche to Jacqueline Lamarche, 517 Ideal St., Unit 503, $83,000.
So Cool Realty LLC, to OnPointe Holdings LLC, 345 Holyoke St., $465,000.
MONSON
Christopher J. Aubin Sr., and Jennifer Susan Dupuis to Timothy P. Shea and Myriam Shea, 165 Palmer Road, $285,000.
Paul Matrow and Barbara Matrow to Jomeysha T. Matrow, 13 A Oak St., $310,000.
NORTHAMPTON
Robert Adams to Robert G. Adams, trustee, and Robert G. Adams Revocable Trust, 117 Olander Drive, $100.
Phyllis Jean Norris and Jillian M. Malo to Alberto Moreira and Suzana Moreira, 64 Pines Edge Drive, $425,000.
Dufrayne LLC, to Ann W. Bissett and Lynn S. Koerbel, 67 Park St., $799,000.
Susannah M. Kopcho, Susannah Marie Kopcho, Rita E. Sohlich, and Rita Evelyn Sohlich to Rita Evelyn Sohlich, trustee, and Susannah Marie Kopcho, trustee, and Sohlich Kopcho Revocable Trust, 44 Berkshire Terrace, $100.
Amy Bleiweiss to Amy Woolf and Michael A. Woolf, 55 South St., $500,000.
Mohamed S. Kamel to Lynn Demers, 51 Locust St., $122,000.
Erik Kauppila and Ingrid Kauppila to JVD Investment Properties LLC, 80 Damon Road, $165,000.
Julia Ann Yang-Snyder, trustee, and Ding-Djung Yang Revocable Trust to Christian Bratina and Lynne Alexander, 67 Prospect St., $750,000.
Aquadro & Cerruti Inc., to Mario Aquadro, Texas Road, $25,000.
ORANGE
Deborah A. Maillet and Ronald J. Maillet to Maddyson-Taylor Ruby Welch and Noah Matthew Welch, 22 Mechanic St., $378,000.
Kimberly A. Sluder and Ricky K. Sluder Jr., to Darren A. Rosa, 25 Center Drive, $325,000.
Alexander Vera to Alexandra Faulkner and David J. Faulkner, 20 Bacon St., $350,000.
Katherine I. LaClair to Cornerstone
Homebuying LLC, 295 South Main St., $165,000.
PALMER
Daniel R. Biegner to Antonio A Hernandez and Taylor Machado, 5 Ruggles St., $240,000.
Michael R. Courtemanche to Adam Jonathan Marowski, 3108 Main St., Unit 5, $155,000.
PELHAM
OLA LLC, to FI Properties LLC, 121 Amherst Road, $474,227.
SHUTESBURY
Michael Vivier and Suzanne Vivier to Robert Haughey Jr., 31 Merrill Drive, $90,000.
SOUTH HADLEY
Kevin P. McGrath and Roxanne L. McGrath to Kevin P. McGrath, trustee, Roxanne L. McGrath, trustee, and McGrath Family Trust, 28 Cottage Ave., and 27 Cottage Ave., $100.00.
Donna J. Sevarino, and Donna Sevarino to Daniel A. Sevarino, 42 Lamb St., $100.
Debra A. Marquis, trustee, Lori J. Werbiskis, trustee, and Dupre Family Irrevocable Trust to Tilman Freitag, 6 Leahey Ave., $450,000.
Jose L. Hernandez and Annmarie Hernandez to Jose L. Hernandez, trustee, Annmarie Hernandez, trustee, and Hernandez Family Trust, 151Pine Grove Drive, $100.
SOUTHWICK
Carla L. Hoffman and Maynard Scott Hoffman to Daniel Kombert and Joanne Kombert, 34 Grove St., $1,150,000.
Jeffrey David Banks, trustee, and Sherman Family Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Suzanne Fleming Gravel and Jan Dudek, 32 Beach Road, $382,000.
SPRINGFIELD
Bedrock Financial LLC, trustee, and Ajax Trust, trustee of, to Omar Santiago-Feliciano and Nicole Jimenez Cruz, 255-257 Roy St., $385,000.
Celeste R. Orszulak to Avery C. Orszulak, 74 Loretta St., $235,000. DDMNS Realty LLC, to JW Real Estate Holdings LLC, 732 Cottage St., $475,000.
Emmanuel Massenat to Aneda Jean Denis Octave, 18-20 Wareham St., $431,000.
Emtay Inc., to Jermel Jacobs, 452 Franklin St., $285,000.
Ericka Gonzalez Carrillo to Hanniel
Victorino-Mejia, 171 Massasoit St., $460,000.
Erik .J Brennan and Alexandra C. Brennan to Robert W. Tongue Jr., and Elizabeth G. Tongue, 33 Brewster St., $310,000.
Genaro Vargas to Titus Madu, 540-542 White St., $460,000.
India N. Tucker-Ross to NRES LLC, 305 Laurelton St., $190,000.
J & K Real Estate Investments LLC, to Chester Ardolino, trustee, Todd Illingsworth, trustee, and 924-934
Main Street Realty Trust, trustee of, 924-934 Main St., $430,000.
Margaret M. Hagopian, Linda T. Cross and Henrietta E. Daigneault to Dylan Rios and Yariliz Millet Velazquez, 51 East St., $265,000.
Mark C. Henshaw, representative, and Judith Ann Henshaw, estate, to Nola Management LLC, 191 Pheland St., $170,000.
Michael Visneau and Lauren Surprise to Georges Charles, 14 Rittenhouse Terrace, $250,000.
MPR Properties LLC, to Dazel A. Tapper, 117 Monrovia St., $295,900.
Nola Management LLC, to John Serrano Colondres, 191 Pheland St., $295,000.
Pah Properties LLC, to Mairym Hernandez, 128 Avery St., $340,000.
Phoenix Development Inc., to Lyna Thi Dao, 274 Commonwealth Ave., $239,900.
Robert J. St. Marie, estate, Michael P. St. Marie, representative, and Robert J. St. Marie, representative, to Hedge Hog Industries Corp., NS Paramount St., $45,000.
Sanky Properties LLC, to Elvis R. Leiva and Adolfo Paulino Jr., 297 Main St., $550,000.
Sarah Naylor to Naylor Nation Real Estate LLC, 104-106 Dawes St., $90,000.
Stephen A. Collins Jr., and Kaitlyn Collins to Cali Kacoyannakis and Dante Hill, 63 Blueberry Hill St., $291,500.
Stephen Grimes to John Dupre and Frances Dupre, 119 Wilber St., $269,000.
Steven Paul Wilson, estate, and Brian Wilson, representative, to Sareen Properties LLC, 73 Timber Lane, $175,000.
Thuy Fuda to Erica Torrellas, 292 Commonwealth Ave., $224,900.
SUNDERLAND
Jennifer Grader, “fka” Jennifer Potyrala, and Stephen Grader to John Graves and Kathleen Graves, 352 Montague Road, $420,000.
Maxine C. Graves and Todd P. Graves, trustees of the Graves Family Trust, to Christine B. Graves and Hollis D. Graves, South Main
Street, $110,000.
WARE
Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Rahab Realty Trust to Pamela Rose Dionne, 84 West St., $327,000.
Theodore Robert Rusiecki to Nadine Marie Thomas, trustee and Theodore Rusiecki Irrevocable Trust, 20 Dunham Ave., $100.
Vincente E. Acevedo to Jacqueline Mary Gallant and Bernard Junior Gallant, 76 South St., $345,000.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Gloria J. Paape and Catherine A. Pycko to Manchester Enterprises Llc, 31 Fox St., $185,000.
Manchester Enterprises LLC, to Hugo L. Segura Hernandez and Maria Medina, 22 Primrose St., $380,000.
Michael K. Kennedy and Kimberly A. Kennedy to 3-D Home Improvement LLC, 54 Hill St., $261,000. Pah Properties LLC, to Sarita Oli and Kushal Babu Ghimire, 67-69 Bliss St., $460,000.
Thomas W. Adamczyk and Robert P. Adamczyk to JW Real Estate Holdings LLC, 19 Norman St., $450,000.
WESTFIELD
358 MLC LLC, to Adam Boggs, 57 Meadow St., $270,000.
Century Properties LLC, to Dong L. Zou and Juanming Zou, 54 Court St., $375,000.
George J. Sobczyk to Yauqoob Liyaudeen and Ashiq Liyaudeen, 19 Tow Path Lane, $485,000.
Gerard M. Farrelly, trustee, and Farrelly Family Realty Trust, trustee of, to Edward J. Kralles and Avery I. Seyer-Wetzel, 78 Heggie Drive, $366,000.
Hyman G. Darling, representative, Lois M. Barnes, estate, and Lois J. Barnes, estate, to Robert Apple and Alyssa Apple, 202 Falley Drive, $345,000.
Kenneth J. Kordana and Janis M. Kordana to Brandi Lynn Church and Patrick Ralph Church, 19 Simmons Brook Drive, $565,000.
WILBRAHAM
Alice L. Dawson to Plan Hampden Homebuyers LLC, 401 (k), trustee of, and Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, 200 Crane Hill Road, $420,000.
Joseph T. Dilk and Wendie L. Dilk to Timothy Hutchins and Donna Hutchins, 155 Monson Road, $535,000.
Lewis Riopelle Jr., and Raquel Riopelle to Erik J. Brennan and Alexandra C. Brennan, 6 Old Carriage Drive, $487,000.
Reich
North-facing slopes are ideal for planting peaches and apricots to delay their flowers to when there’s less possibility of a later spring frost snuffing them out.)
Another way to warm the ground for early spring planting is to grow plants in raised beds. In raised beds the soil warms early because it’s more exposed to ambient air temperatures. Raised beds are well-drained, so dry more quickly; it takes more heat to warm a wet soil than a dry soil. Changing the color of the soil surface affects its temperature. Black plastic mulch is unsightly, but it does warm the soil. Hide the plastic’s ugliness with a layer of bark chips and the plastic’s warming effect will be lost. In climates such as ours, where the soil is just marginally warm enough for vegetables like peppers, melons, and eggplants even in summer, the plastic mulch improves growth if left in place the whole season.
A top layer of compost on the ground darkens the soil in a more attractive manner than black plastic, though the effect on soil temperature is less dramatic. Compost does, of course, confer other benefits to the soil, such as improving the soil’s physical structure and providing essential nutrients. These benefits are lacking with black plastic. All these techniques warm the soil a little faster than it would otherwise. You can measure the effect with a soil thermometer, but a thermometer is not mandatory for determining when to sow seeds. The soil slowly but surely warms up at about the same rate each spring, so you can sow by calendar dates, subtracting a few days if you deliberately hasten soil-warming.
Since the soil temperature and spring blossoms are influenced by the same general warming trend, even better is to sow seeds according to what perennial or woody plants are in bloom. For instance, you might plant peas just as the forsythias blossom, and corn according to the traditional indicator — when oak leaves are the size of mouse ears. A soil thermometer should register about 40 degrees in the first case, and 50 degrees in the second.
The secret to a refreshing cocktail or mocktail might be growing in the garden
By Jessica Damiano Associated Press
IF YOU ENJOY A TASTY, REFRESHing summer cocktail or mocktail, why not grow your own? No, you’re not likely to grow the spirits — although they do come from plants (vodka from potatoes, tequila from agave and so on). But you can grow other ingredients that make those spirits delicious.
Tips for growing mint and other flavorful herbs
Mint is the easiest herb to grow. It’s so easy it may take over your garden if you aren’t careful, so plant it in a pot and keep the pot away from the soil. Place the pot in full sun and water it regularly. In a few short weeks, you’ll be able to pluck its leaves to liven up your lemonade or mint julep. If you want to get creative, experiment with a few different varieties. My favorite is spearmint, but peppermint is classic. Chocolate mint, pineapple mint and apple mint each have their charms, named for the scents and flavors they impart. There’s even a specialty variety called Cuban mint, an authentic choice for mojitos. Basil, too, is available in several cocktail-worthy varieties. Genovese, the Italian variety often paired with tomatoes, works equally well in beverages, as do lemon and cinnamon varieties. Plant them in full sun and provide water, but account for your climate and take care not to over- or underwater them. Remove flower stalks, if they appear, to prevent the leaves from turning bitter. Lemon verbena smells heavenly and pairs as well with a gin and tonic as it does with sparkling water. Most herbs don’t usually require supplemental nutrients, but lemon verbena benefits from monthly applications of organic liquid fertilizer. Water plants
when the soil begins to dry out; overwatering may lead to root rot. When I have guests, I often muddle sage leaves with 1 ounce each of vodka and ginger liquor, then add to a glass with 4 ounces of ginger beer, and pineapple and lime juices to taste. It’s as simple as can be — and just as impressive. For the most concentrated flavor, harvest herbs in mid-morning, after the dew has dried but before the sun gets too hot. In my garden, that means around 10 a.m. Place them, stem side down, in a glass of water indoors, out of direct sunlight, until happy hour.
Strawberries, cucumbers and heat
Don’t forget the strawberries (bonus: The plants come back every year in horticultural zones 4-9) and cucumbers,
could easily feel like dungeon drudgery. Vaughan countered the effect with the “sunny, cheerful” Bombazine by Farrow & Ball alongside Morris & Co. wallpaper. “Using yellow in large doses takes a certain confidence, and I always appreciate a bold statement,” Vaughan said in an email.
both mandatory components of a proper British Pimm’s cup, one of my favorite summertime cocktails.
I make mine by packing a highball glass with thinly shaved cucumber, sliced strawberries, mint and a couple of sliced mandarin rounds, then topping it with 1 1/2 ounces of Pimm’s No. 1 liquor and 4 ounces of lemonade or lemon-lime soda.
And if you like your drinks spicy, muddle a red-ripe slice of jalapeno with lime juice and pour a shot of tequila over it, then add your choice of mixer. Or drink it straight.
I’m not judging you. I’m just the garden lady.
Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter.
Citrona by Farrow & Ball
“I really wanted to infuse something yummy and citrusy on our ceiling in there in our dining room,” said Betsy Lanphier, founder of Philadelphia firm Elizabeth Swift Interior Decoration, of her family’s home in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. “That’s such an otherwise formal space with the picture molding, and dining rooms can have that feel of ‘stuffy.’” Her zingy solu-
tion: Citrona by Farrow & Ball. “We had stark white walls, and we wanted that pop to really just add to the ambiance. The ceiling, that light just glows off of it. It rides that line of yellow and green, but it’s very cheery and has a level of sophistication to it, I think because it edges into that chartreuse.”
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans is a design and travel writer in Colorado.
An example of Benjamin Moore Sunflower. (NOAH WEBB)
A Pimm’s Cup cocktail made with fresh mint, strawberries and cucumber on Long Island, N.Y. (JESSICA DAMIANO VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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