CELEBRATING LANCASTER COUNTY'S PEOPLE, SCENERY,

HERITAGE, STYLE & POINT OF VIEW SINCE 1987.

Garden

Dogscaping … Plants to Avoid

As you set out to buy plants for your garden this spring, check your list to make sure your choices are dog-friendly, as many ornamental plants can pose major dangers ...Read More

Dogscaping

The arrival of spring will undoubtedly inspire us to get outside and once again enjoy our gardens and backyards. Many of us will do so in the company of a ...Read More

Prehistoric Conifers

At this time of year, when I hear of 6-year-olds telling Santa they’d like to find T-rex action figures under their holiday trees, I’m reminded that there are different types ...Read More

The Pandemic of the Garden: Annual Invasives

October 2020 The coronavirus lockdown has provided an opportunity for us to spend more time in our gardens. Weeding is an expected chore, obviously. But, analogous to a virus, some weeds ...Read More

Tulip Poplars and Butterflies

Enough with doom and gloom! Let’s discuss a widely growing native hardwood tree that has not been threatened by any pests or diseases. I’m referring to the tulip poplar, Liriodendron ...Read More

Supporting Monarch Butterflies

Readers who have been sheltering in place as of late should have no lack of diversions – spring is typically the busiest time in our gardens. Staying close to home provides ...Read More

Sunshine and Shadows

Now that spring has arrived, it’s time to renew and revamp our gardens from the ground up. What follows are some suggestions for small-scaled groundcovers that are ideal for edging ...Read More

The Plight of the Native Ash Tree

One of our most valuable native trees, the ash, is being infected and killed by an imported wood-boring bug called the emerald ash borer,  Agrilus planipennis. The infestation, which has ...Read More

Shade-tolerant Groundcovers

Groundcovers include a diverse group of plants that often have great individual beauty and can stand on their own as specimens or accent plants in a border. Combined with more ...Read More

No-Fuss Annuals

Now that your beds have sprung to life, it’s time to fill in the bare spots. I’m providing a list of no-fuss annuals that provide pops of color, attract pollinators ...Read More

13 Must-Dos for October 2023

In the opinion of many, October is the unofficial start of the holiday season, as it entails decorating, social gatherings,

Erin Gerlach: Fearless DIYer

Erin Gerlach discovered a “passion for construction” when she and her husband, Justin, purchased their first home and found themselves

Kitchen Design: A Classic But Modern Choice

It was inevitable. Our love affair with all-white kitchens seems to be waning. Peruse home-focused magazines, blogs and internet sites

Celebrating Our Agricultural Roots

Beginning in late August in Elizabethtown and continuing through early October in Manheim, fair season remains a time-honored tradition in

Spice It Up With Saffron

No doubt, you’ve seen the small packets of saffron at the checkouts of local supermarkets and specialty stores. I would

Isaac’s: Cheers to 40 Years

The year was 1983. Sally Ride became the first American woman to go to space. We were listening to Michael

Fall is For Planting

Gardening season is not quite over. Fall is the perfect time to divide perennials and plant new trees and shrubs.

Before or After I Do: Viva Las Vegas! 

Vegas and weddings. Synonymous, right? But, what about bachelor/bachelorette getaways and honeymoons?  My trip to Vegas last year was a blur. As