2008 Spring Guide by Hersam Acorn

Spring

2008

GUIDE

TriState Pennysaver News Vermont News Guide Yankee News Guide Berkshire PennySaver News

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We offer a great selection of pottery, seeds, potting soil, manure, peat moss & mulches Hanging baskets • Annuals • Perennials

Our Strawberries are Looking Good! Farmer’s choice of Vegetable Plants A full line of Produce Our own Maple Syrup, Pancake Mix, Jams, Jellies, Apples and Sweet Cider

Routes 11/30, Manchester Center, VT

802-362-3083

Homemade Fugde • Maple Creamees From our Bakery...Fresh Fruit Pies, Breads, Muffins and Cookies!

Route 30, Newfane, Vermont 802-365-4168

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A Hersam Acorn Newspapers Publication Melissa Miller, cover design Jen Hathaway, page design Berkshire PennySaver 154 West Park Street, Lee, MA 01238 413-243-2341 Yankee News Guide 20 Cleveland Road, Dalton, MA 01226 413-684-1373 TriState Pennysaver News 109 South Street, Bennington, VT 05201 802-447-3381 Vermont News Guide 99 Bonnet Street, Manchester, VT 05254 802-362-3535

Renee Tassone, General Manager

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Vermont Covered Bridge Museum By Telly Halkias

BENNINGTON, Vt. - Completed in 2003 with an exterior strikingly similar to the Henry Bridge in Bennington, the Covered Bridge Museum has evolved with a three-fold purpose: to document, to educate, and to entertain. It is housed as a wing of the larger Bennington Center for the Arts complex. Its well-designed interior offers a number of exhibits, displays, and diversions to suit tastes ranging from an academic researcher to a family stopping by to let the kids see what all the fuss is all about. Displays address everything regarding these venerated struc-

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tures from their history, technical design, building requirements, integration with man and nature, and even literary appeal. After all, the covered bridge is a mainstay of American folklore. Detailed schematics line the walls, and three-dimensional exhibits pepper the museum with such varying names as The Kissing Bridge, Truss Designs, Posters and Signs, and Edifice Wrecks. One of the most prized spots is a small corner of several paintings and drawings of covered bridges by legendary American artist Eric Sloane. On its west end, a few visitors at a time can sit and view a PBS special on covered bridges, while on the east end a 40-seat rear-projection theater continually shows a 20-minute history of Vermont’s covered bridges, a DVD produced by the Arts Center. In 2007 the Covered Bridge Museum drew nearly 6,500 visitors. People come through its doors year-round, and according to the museum staff, children are particularly interested in its offerings, making it a perfect family destination. The Vermont Covered Bridge Museum is located west of Bennington, just off of Route 9 on Gypsy Lane. Call 802-4427158 or visit benningtoncenterforthearts.org/vtCBM/ Telly Halkias is a freelance writer and editor. E-mail: tchalkias@aol.com

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2008 Spring Guide

Mother’s Day Bouquets (NAPS)—Each year, millions of Americans purchase bouquets of flowers for Mother’s Day—making it one of the top blossom-buying days of the year. And for assistance in choosing these petal-perfect gifts, consumers can consult a handy floral adviser online—one that’s literally blooming with ideas and possibilities. Those in search of fresh-cut flower knowledge can boost their bloom IQ by logging on to a popular flower-education resource. Visitors can research flower varieties—perhaps to find Mom’s favorite—in the flower encyclopedia, discover flower design recipes and even ask questions of the Flower Doctor. “Everyone loves flowers, even if they don’t know the names of the various varieties,” says the Flower Doctor, Bridget Behe, Ph.D. “Once you learn about flowers, you grow to appreciate and love them even more.” Favorite Flower Varieties 1. Roses— These timeless, beautiful flowers come in many shapes, sizes and colors, including three popular types: sweetheart, spray and hybrid tea. 2. Gerbera Daisies—This cheerful blossom—available in over 160 colors—is like a burst of sunshine in any bouquet. 3. Lilies— Available in white, cream, yellows, reds, pinks and bi-colors, these fragrant flowers are a popular addition to dramatic bouquets. 4. Alstroemeria—With multiple blooms per stem, this long-lasting flower can make a bold statement with only a few stems. 5. Carnations—As one of the longest-lasting fresh-cut flowers, carnations are a proven favorite for bouquets. Picking Out Petals When selecting flowers from a retail florist or flower market, look for stems with upright, firm petals and buds beginning to open. Yellow, spotted or drooping leaves are signs of age. Here are a few other flowerselecting tips: • Smell the water. It should smell fresh and clean. • Look at the stems. They should be clean and not slimy. • Forgo any flowers that may have breakage in the stems. To learn more, you can visit www.flowerpossibilities.com and check out the flower reference guide, which has an encyclopedia, information on varieties of flowers and a section about the care and handling of cut flowers. In addition, the flower recipes section is filled with creative ideas to get you started making a gift or bouquet. There are many possibilities when creating a Mother’s Day bouquet, and an online resource can help consumers choose. 2008 Spring Guide

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Local Attractions Apple Barn & Country Bake Shop Route 7 South, Bennington, VT 05201 888-827-7537 www.theapplebarn.com

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Featured on The Food Network’s $40 A Day, Good Morning America, & Ron Hazelton’s House Call, The Apple Barn has become a must stop in Bennington. Inside, the rich aromas of fresh-baked goods mingles with the tart perfume of newly-picked apples. Outside, the world’s only Pumpkin-Eating Dinosaur carefully guards Vermont’s oldest cornfield maze, made up of 225,000 stalks of corn, which offers inexpensive family fun as visitors learn about all that Vermont has to offer. The maze turns into a Spooky Haunted Maze during Halloween weekends. From picking succulent berries in the summer to a full schedule of free children’s programming every weekend during the fall, The Apple Barn is guaranteed to provide a tapestry of warm family memories.

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2008 Spring Guide

American Museum Of Fly Fishing Historic Route 7A Manchester, VT 802-362-3300 www.amff.com

Bennington Museum 75 Main Street, Bennington, VT 05201 802-447-1571 www.benningtonmuseum.org

The American Museum of Fly Fishing, home to the world’s largest collection of angling art and anglingrelated items, brings the history of fly fishing alive for anglers and others. Our renovated and custom-built museum, located just south of the Orvis Flagship Store on Historic Route 7A, houses an impressive exhibit gallery space, a library and reading room, a museum store, and other resources. We hope our collection of facts and artifacts transports you to your most treasured angling destination – perhaps a secret stream you’ve known since childhood, a favorite rod & reel club, or the well-worn pages of a favorite fly fishing novel.

Outstanding collections of American furniture, paintings and glass; military history and historical artifacts; tools, toys, dolls and much more. Grandma Moses Gallery & Schoolhouse; Bennington Pottery Gallery. Changing exhibitions listed on our website.

Bennington Center For The Natural & Cultural Arts Route 9 West Road, Bennington, VT 05201 (802) 442-7158 www.benningtoncenterforthearts.org Four Fine Art Galleries, Native American Arts, Oldcastle Theatre Company, Vermont Covered Bridge Museum

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MASS MoCA

By Telly Halkias

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Many locals credit the establishment of MASS MoCA with the cultural resurgence of North Berkshire County. What was once a vast array of industrial buildings and warehouses took on the vision of the future in 1986, and now in its 22nd year, it’s safe to claim that all expectations for its potential have been exceeded, with a limitless future. The former Arnold Print Works, later the Sprague Electric Company, now hosts a year-round assortment of multiple visual and performing arts. Its calendar features a cornucopia of choices

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from solo musical acts such as the recent performance by guitarist Howard Fishman, or the just viewed Left Behind in Louisiana/ South of Ten/New Orleans Furlough film documentary series that examined different perspective of the recovery efforts from Hurricane Katrina. In addition, the facility also hosts popular dance parties as well as other gala events. MASS MoCA patrons, whether local or from out of town, have grown accustomed to this type of diversity in cultural programming. In addition to such offerings in the performing arts, the North Adams centerpiece also boasts a robust exhibition schedule in the visual arts, with a major emphasis on the expression of modern and contemporary shows. An upcoming example is the fall 2008 exhibit Sol LeWitt: A Wall Drawing Retrospective, which will consist of 100 works covering over an acre of wall space and will be assembled from worldwide collections. All in all, MASS MoCA is a Berkshire jewel not to be missed. MASS MoCA is located on 87 Marshall St. in North Adams, Mass. Call 413-MoCA-111, or visit massmoca.org. Telly Halkias is a freelance writer and editor. E-mail: tchalkias@aol.com

CD’S & RECORDS NEW, USED & IMPORTED AT DISCOUNT PRICES OUT OF PRINT LPs FOR THE COLLECTOR 131 WATER STREET WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS.

413-458-5229 • Open 10-6 Mon.-Sat. www.toonervilletrolleycds.com

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The Bennington Battle Monument 15 Monument Circle, Bennington, VT 05201 802-447-0550

Bennington Potters 324 County Street, Bennington, VT 05201 800-205-8033 www.BenningtonPotters.com

The Bennington Battle Monument, dedicated to the famous Battle of Bennington that took place during the Revolutionary War in 1777, is a 306’ stone obelisk opened to the public in 1891. Open 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week, mid-April to October 31st.

At Bennington Potters, we’ve been creating beautiful Vermont stoneware for more than half a century. We’re known by collectors and cooks for sturdy bakeware, bowls, mugs and dinnerware durable enough for everyday use. All our pottery is safe for ovens, microwaves, freezers and dishwashers - perfect for busy lifestyles. Like to see how it’s made? We offer Pottery Tours daily, year round, so come visit the largest working craft pottery in the U.S. Learn about pug mills and forming presses, secret clay recipes and “slip”, back stamps and “burlaping”. Our store has an amazing selection of Vermont gifts, regional foods, handmade stoneware and unusual home accessories. While you’re there ask about the history of this fascinating building, in use on this site for over 100 years. With so much to see, you’ll want to plan a road trip to Bennington Potters today!

Clark Art Institute 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA 01267 413-458-2303 www.clarkart.edu In 1950 Sterling and Francine Clark chartered the Clark Art Institute as a home for their extensive art collection. Opened to public in 1955, the Institute has built upon this extraordinary group of works to become one of the most beloved and respected art museums in the world, known for its intimate gal2008 Spring Guide

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leries and stunning natural environment. One of the few institutions in the United States that combines a public art museum with a complement of research and academic programs, including a major art history library, the Clark is now a leading international center for research and discussion on the nature of art and art history. Building upon the foundersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; legacy, the Institute has recently unveiled its master plan for the 21st century, which fosters the Clarkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to providing space for its expanding research and museum programs while maintaining the unique character of its beautiful rural setting.

and the story of the Lincoln familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love affair with Vermont. An historic home, gardens, trails, woods and farm set on 412 preserved acres of quintessential Vermont landscape. Open daily June thorugh October, 9:30 to 4:30 Thursday through Monday, November through May, 11:00 to 3:00 $10/Adults, $4/Youth, Children under 6 and members free.

Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home PO Box 377, 1005 Hildene Road, Manchester, VT 05254

802-362-1788 info@hildene.org www.hildene.org

His father was born in a log cabin and was called from the humblest rank in life to preside over our nation during the most momentous period of its history. One generation later, Robert Todd Lincoln, the only surviving child of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln became chairman of the Pullman Palace Car Company; the largest corporation in America at the turn of the 19th century. He built his Georgian Revival mansion in the scenic Vermont village of Manchester in 1905 and it became home to Lincoln descendants until 1975. It is the great American story 10

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2008 Spring Guide

The Bennington Battlefield Route 67, PO Box 163 Grafton, NY 12082 518-686-7109 May 1 thru Labor Day: daily 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Labor Day-Veterans’ Day: weekends only 10 a.m.-7 p.m. The Battlefield Visitor Center is open from 1-4 p.m on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from Memorial Day to Columbus Day.

Hemmings Motor News Car Lover’s Oasis 216 West Main Street, Bennington, VT 05201

Enjoy true old fashioned service at our pumps: need your oil checked? air in your tires? Visit the free 25 vehicle display and shop in our car lover’s oasis.

Phone: 802-447-9652 www.hemmings.com

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Park-McCullough Estate Gardens - Events 1 Park Street, North Bennington, VT 05257 Phone: 802-442-5441 www.parkmccullough.org This 1865 Second Empire “summer cottage”, is one of the finest Victorian mansions in New England. Home to two Vermont governors, its 35 rooms retain many original furnishings. Grounds include scale-model playhouse, carriage barn with carriages, gardens and glasshouse grapery.

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North River Winery 56 Colgate Heights, Bennington, VT 05201 Phone: 802-442-9463 www.northriverwinery.com In September 2001 we opened our Bennington tasting room and retail shop at Camelot Village. Stop in and sample international award-winning wines and browse our eclectic selection of wine-related merchandise. We also offer personalized labels for any upcoming special occasion you may have. Located in the brick cottage at Camelot Village.

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Robert Frost Stone House Museum 121 Route 7A Shaftsbury, VT 05262 Phone: (802) 447-6200 www.frostfriends.org Home of American poet Robert Frost in the 1920s, where he wrote “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”, on a hot June morning. The museum features educational exhibits on the poet’s personal and literary history and the woodcuts of Frost’s illustrator, J.J. Lankes. The dining room, where “Stopping by Woods” was written, is totally devoted to the poem. The property is highly evocative of Frost’s poetry with birch trees, stone walls, fields and woods and some of his original apple trees.

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2008 Spring Guide

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2008 Spring Guide

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2008 Spring Guide

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2008 Spring Guide

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Old First Church Rte. 9 and Monument Avenue (Office, 1 Monument Circle) Bennington, VT 05201 Phone: 802-447-1223 www.oldfirstchurchbenn.org We are the oldest church in Vermont, and our 1805 building is perhaps the finest example of post-colonial church architecture in New England. Awed by the elegance, simplicity and light of the sanctu-

ary, visitors have an idea of what makes the building so well loved by the regular congregation. Worship is at 11:00 a.m. (9:30 in July and August); or Open Church tours are weekends, Memorial Day Weekend through June (Sat., 10 a.m.-noon; 1-4 p.m.; Sun., 1-4 p.m.); and daily, July 1 to mid-October (Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-noon; 1-4 p.m.; Sun., 1-4 p.m.). The adjacent cemetery dates from Bennington’s earliest days and contains the graves of Robert Frost, and Revolutionary, British and German mercenary soldiers.

Oldcastle Theatre Company Route 9 & Gypsy Lane Bennington, VT 05201 Phone: 802 447-0564

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www.oldcastletheatreco.org

Oldcastle Theatre Company celebrates over 30 years of quality professional theatre. An Actor’s Equity Company in residence at the beautiful Bennington Center for the Natural and Cultural Arts, Oldcastle is renowned for presenting exciting new theatre works as well as comedies, drama, musicals and American classics. The season runs from June through October. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Wednesday and Saturday at 2 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m. The Box Office is open from noon to 5 p.m. on non-performance days and noon to 9 p.m. on performance days. Closed on Mondays.

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2008 Spring Guide

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Southern Vermont Arts Center Yester House Gallery P.O. Box 617, West Road Manchester, Vermont 05254 802-362-1405 info@svac.org Yester House, once the 28 room Georgian Revival mansion and centerpiece of the former Gertrude Divine Webster estate, was purchased as the permanent home for the Southern Vermont Artists, the forerunner of today’s Southern Vermont Arts Center, in 1951. Placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1988, Yester House Gallery now houses the Southern Vermont Arts Center’s administrative offices and its major annual and invitational exhibitions; the mansion’s former entrance foyer, salons, bed chambers and sitting rooms now comprise ten beautiful galleries featuring for sale the art of more than 600 artists.

Did You Know?

(MS) — President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first official Mother’s Day on May 9, 1914. This proclamation was particularly meaningful to Ana Jarvis, who several years prior had started a campaign to establish a national Mother’s Day holiday to remember her own mother who had recently died. Jarvis wanted a day where all mother’s — past and present — could be honored. Today, Mother’s Day is a popular holiday, where gifts and cards are sent around the world. The official flower for Mother’s Day is the carnation. Pink carnations are for living mothers, and white carnations are for those who have passed on. TF085802

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2008 Spring Guide

Spring Cleaning Is in the Air By Cindy Inman AKA “Ask Cindy How” www.askcindyhow.com

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(MS) — As we emerge from the frost of winter and begin to dare allow ourselves to think of the renewal that spring brings, let’s prepare ourselves to restore our homes as well. Of course, traditionally this is referred to as “Spring Cleaning.” It’s the time to begin the process of exchanging winter clothes for spring, clean out fireplaces and generally declutter our living space. Well, while we might not place these tasks in the category of fun and sport, if we organize the approach and the process, we can certainly minimize the pain to achieve renewed life. Organization is critical. Remember the old saying “a stitch in time, saves nine.” I recommend taking out some quality time to decide: • what you want to accomplish • during what time frame you want to accomplish everything • whether you will use temporary cleaning support beyond the norm for your home • or will you need to hire professional

support. If you are considering temporary support, the most important consideration needs to be whether there will be appropriate supervision or not. I have considered using temporary employees for special projects, but have opted not to do it if I feel that I don’t have adequate supervision. It can be a counterproductive experience to have someone standing around either not knowing what to do or doing the wrong thing. My Web site www.askcindyhow. com shares details about hiring professional help. While you are continuing your assessment related to what is to be accomplished, another question is how detailed your cleaning will be. Usually, after smoke from the fireplace and fumes from the furnace have settled in all winter, a detailed approach is what is required. With all this in mind, my recommendation would be to section the house into separate projects over a period of time. Depending on the normal work requirements of the home, you can set-up either one or two day special Have a plan of attack before tackling spring project schedules. As a general rule, for continued on page 20 spring cleaning projects.

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continued from page 19 me to have my crews detail clean an average kitchen when it has gotten away from the homeowner, it takes more than one person a few hours. To detail clean means to remove everything from the refrigerator and clean it out completely. It means to clean ovens with oven spray (yes there is oven spray for self-cleaning ovens). It also means washing and wiping down walls that have accumulated grease over the winter when more cooking occurred when the family stayed indoors. Organizing yourself within your domain for a total spring cleaning could easily take a full day. It is also important to have the right equipment for the tasks at hand. I invite you to visit my Web site at www. askcindyhow.com to find tips on cleaning various areas of the home as well as what supplies, equipment and solutions to use. For instance, as you would prepare your furniture for polishing, one would use microfiber cloths as they literally draw dust and hold on to it. Next, you can polish the furniture using a new cloth. In the kitchen, you will need to use a degreaser to wipe down cabinets and counters and then rinse with water using a damp terry cloth towel. Oh yeah! I can feel the clean in the air already. Good luck and Happy Spring Cleaning. TF083589 Your friend in the cleaning industry, Cindy

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2008 Spring Guide

Spring Garden Fixes Safely Fend Off Furry Friends (ARA) - Spring is here and summer’s a heartbeat away. The arrival of spring also brings families of groundhogs, rabbits, squirrels, deer and other troublesome animals, each ready to pounce and plunder your garden, digging burrows where they’re not wanted, and otherwise coming into conflict with their human neighbors. But these creatures don’t have to be the enemy of our gardens, and trapping them won’t solve their relationship problems with humans. As we all are well aware, the arrival of

spring brings the wildlife out of hibernation, and most likely right into our back yards and gardens. As spring is sprung, we suddenly are faced with long gardening to-do lists and a wide variety of pesky critters. As a rule of thumb, it is far better to prevent wildlife damage than to wait until it occurs and try to combat it. This spring, Messina Wildlife Management can help you protect your beautiful back yards and your gardens with a full line of continued on page 22

Did You

KNOW? ��

(MS) — Memorial Day is an annual holiday celebrated in the United States on the final Monday in May.Theholidaycommemorates service men and women who died in military service to their country. Originally, the holiday honored Union soldiers who fought and died during the American Civil War. However, after World War I the holiday was expanded to commemorate all those who died in military service. Each year, a national moment of remembrance occurs at 3 p.m. EST. While the day is meant to honor fallen veterans, some living veterans remain upset about the observation of Memorial Day. That is because Memorial Day no longer takes place on May 30, a practice the ended years ago. Some veterans believe changing the date of Memorial Day to the last Monday in May was solely an effort to create a three-day weekend for employees across the country. To many veterans, this undermines the true meaning of the day, which many believe is more widely viewed as the unofficial start of summer instead of a day to honor those who gave their lives fighting for the country. These sentiments were expressed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in a Memorial Day address in 2002. TF085762 2008 Spring Guide

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Spring Garden Fixes Safely Fend Off Furry Friends

OMRI certified (100 percent) organic animal repellents. The products are all easily applied in a ready to use spray-on bottle. They dry clear, are all pleasant smelling, and work for 30 days before reapplication is needed, no matter the weather. The full product line can even be used on edibles, and none of the products cause harm or physical irritation to the animals they repel. The products work by smell and taste, repelling pesky critters from your backyard, and they’re all pleasant smelling and safe to humans.

Pesky Problems

1. Groundhogs: During the spring, summer and early fall, the Marota monax, also known as the Woodchuck, Whistlepig, or Groundhog, is a voracious, wild herbivore. It’s the groundhog’s goal to eat as much as possible which puts him on a collision course within your garden. Groundhogs are tunnel boring pests that can cause damage to your garden in two ways. First, they eat vegetables in the garden, attacking both the root crops and above ground crops. A second problem with tunneling rodents is the mass disruption of root systems, this weakens and can even kill the plants. 2. Rabbits: These furry creatures seem to multiply at the advent of every spring. They come out to feed overnight and in the predawn/ dawn hours. Rabbits are accountable for severe damage to woody plants in your home landscape. The damage can be identified by the

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characteristic appearance of gnawing on older woody growth and the clean-cut, angled clipping of young stems. Distinctive round droppings in the immediate area are a good sign of their presence. Luckily, 90 percent of the rabbit’s diet is grass. Those of us that have rabbit damage would swear that 90 percent of the damage they cause is to our gardens and expensive flowers! Rabbit damage can be identified by the clean, angled cut on the food source in question. The browsing of a rabbit will usually be no higher than 2.5 feet above ground. 3. Deer: For non-gardener’s, there’s a captivating fascination with spotting a deer in a field, or perhaps in your yard. For gardener’s, it can be quite the opposite. You love the sight of deer, anywhere but not in your garden. Yet, they seem impossible to keep away. Deer are responsible for a considerable amount of damage to plant and vegetable gardens. To determine if your flowers and vegetables are disappearing due to deer damage look closely at the half eaten plants. If you see a jagged, rough edge you can be sure the damage was done by deer as they have no incisor teeth and tear at the food source, leaving tell-tale signs of their presence. 4: Squirrels and Chipmunks: These cute, furry, funny creatures can be quite destructive when it comes to your gardens and landscapes. Both ground squirrels and chipmunks are burrowing animals. Their burrow entrances are always open, unlike those of pocket gophers who plug theirs with soil. Ground squirrels and chipmunks can be seen foraging for food during the day. In nature, they feed on green leafy material during the summer and switch to seeds and grains during the fall and winter. One of the biggest complaints about squirrels and chipmunks is their attraction to wild bird feeders. They not only devour the feed they scare the birds away. For most animals scent and taste are the primary senses that attract them to food sources. If you disrupt the animal’s sense of smell and taste you have won the battle against the constant parade of critters in your landscapes. Visit www.messinawildlifemanagement.com for more information on safe, effective pest repellents. Courtesy of ARAcontent

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2008 Spring Guide

Take a Walk on the Wildﬂower Side! (ARA) - Springtime. Time to start thinking about your flower beds and curb appeal. If you’re tired of the same old annuals, or too many choices leave you bewildered where to begin, this spring consider thinking outside the planting box. Plant wildflowers. Lots of them. In a world dominated by red geraniums, pink begonias and yellow marigolds, wildflowers possess a simple grace and elegance that will enhance any garden or landscape. Wildflowers can magically transform a bare patch of soil into a glorious garden. They constantly color your landscape all season long. No matter your soil or sunshine, wildflowers are the answer to beautiful, bountiful blooms that keep the garden alive with a continual dazzling display of color. Wildflower gardens are gaining popularity for a variety of reasons:

* They require little maintenance. Native plants are already well suited to your location. * Wildflowers offer a diversity of unusual foliage shapes and sizes and colorful blooms. * They can be grown in hardto-maintain areas – corners, along fences, slopes that are difficult to mow or water. * Wildflowers attract a number of garden-friendly visitors, such as birds and butterflies. Wherever you live, choose a location that gets six to eight hours of full sun and has good drainage. Most wildflowers can grow in heavy clay or less than fertile soils. The key to growing a hearty wildflower patch is to start with a good seedbed. * Remove any existing weeds or grasses. * Till the top 1 to 2 inches of soil. Tilling deeper than that will stir up continued on page 26

Draw From Spring’s Spectacular Color Palette

(ARA) - As the brilliant sights and sounds of spring once again emerge, those of us who have endured yet another long, cold winter can hardly contain our excitement and anticipation of warmer months ahead. In our enthusiasm, many of us instinctively turn our attention to sprucing up the inside of our homes. If you’re planning on completing a spring redecorating project, consider drawing your inspiration from the vast array of bold and breathtaking colors spring provides. “Each season is associated with various signature colors,” says Peggy Van Allen, Pratt & Lambert Paints’ color marketing and lead specialist. “If you’re considering refreshing the look of a room and want to draw on the great outdoors for inspiration, spring offers the most expansive and versatile color palettes to choose from. It’s an ideal time to incorporate the season’s colors into the decor of any room.” Van Allen goes on to say that a simple and effective way to incorporate color is to paint one transitional wall, as opposed to the entire room. By doing this, you can pair your seasonal decor items – such as throw pillows and area rugs – with the newly painted accent wall. This adds a dramatic change to your room in a minimal amount of time. This spring, to help you successfully bring the outdoors inside, Pratt & Lambert Paints offers the following color-inspiration tips:

Flower Power

During spring new life is sprouting up all around us, especially in flowerbeds. When redecorating, consider looking at the colors popping up in your own backyard. Daffodils are some of the first flowers to bloom --use them as inspiration and paint your walls a bright yellow such as Ale (Pratt & Lambert Paint color 12-9). If you prefer more muted tones, choose a paler shade of yellow such as Naples Cream (Color 10-4) to subtly open up a space.

The Grass is Always Greener

In addition to the beautiful colors generated by perennials, spring’s green foliage and vegetation can also be incorporated inside and used as a calming interior backdrop. Whether you want to use a bold, emerald paint color, or prefer to make a more subdued impression with a medium-green hue like New Glarus (Color 21continued on page 24 2008 Spring Guide

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Draw From Spring’s Spectacular Color Palette

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20), painting your walls with a shade of green will ensure your interior space projects a clean, fresh feeling.

color, like Sesame (Color 12-29), as a backdrop can further enhance the room’s soothing atmosphere.

Natural Beauty

Perfect Pastels

Integrating color schemes from nature into your decor doesn’t necessarily mean the inside of your home needs to look identical to your outdoor landscaping. Bringing the outdoors inside can also be accomplished by using more natural, earth tone colors found in nature. Your home can easily be turned into a calming sanctuary by drawing color inspirations from the likes of bamboo and cork, then pairing them with bright red accents. Use Wild Cherry (Color 4-19), Sepia Brown (Color 719) and Tarragon (Color 8-24) to turn your home into a natural, springtime haven.

Beyond the Sea

Imagine the cool, spring air blowing oﬀ the lake or ocean. Now, translate that emotion into your décor. It may be easier than you think. To turn a room into a relaxing, seaside retreat consider using deep shades of blue like Swedish Blue (Color 26-15) or Captivating (Color 24-14). Accenting it with a cool, neutral

These soft shades are synonymous with spring. Lighter shades of pink, blue, yellow and green can be found throughout springtime decorations. To make a lasting impression try carrying those colors over into your decor by using a mint shade, like Mistletoe Kiss (Color 20-26). Or, use a delicate shade of pink like Blush (Color 31-3) to transform any room in your home into a cheery and welcoming space. With so many paint color options available, and so much color inspiration to draw from, it’s never been easier to bring your home’s interior back to life after a long winter. And, by following these helpful color tips, you can further ensure you’ll have an attractive, inviting home that’s freshened up for spring and all the seasons to come. Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Create Your Own Backyard Oasis

(MS) — Just imagine ... Imagine a private getaway, with a cool libation at your fingertips, lush grass beneath your feet. The happy, heavenly trill of songbirds. Luxurious sunshine. Imagine a soothing sojourn where you might cleanse away the stress and tension that builds up throughout each hectic workday. What would you pay for such a slice of pleasure? A fat chunk of change, no doubt. As if you weren’t tense enough already! Well, hold on there, Stress Monkey. There is an alternative, and it isn’t a budget-buster. You can actually create your perfect getaway in the comforting proximity of your own back yard. Now try imagining a little bit more. Picture yourself on a slowly Beat stress and slip into utter warming spring relaxation — right outside your morning cradled in the door.

soft cocoon of a well-crafted hammock. Nice, huh? The built-up stress and tension melt away from your body as your muscles slip into something a little more comfortable — pure serenity. But not just any hammock is right for the job of serious relaxation. You need to find the one that best fits you. Comfort is essential, but there are also durability and strength to consider. The HammockSource has got it all tied up on every count. The Greenville, N.C., company is the leading manufacturer of Hatteras Hammocks® and Pawleys Island® hammocks, and both sought-after brands include their own collections of 100% DuraCord® hammocks. DuraCord®, a fabric nearly identical to cotton in its sumptuous feel, is able to withstand the unpredictable weather of the great outdoors. On the one hand, the Pawleys Island® brand offers the comforting look and feel of the traditional rope hammock. It’s informal. Laid-back. Classic. But maybe that kind of heavy casual just isn’t your thing — maybe style itself is your style. If it’s something more modern and sophisticated that you prefer, consider the Hatteras Hammocks® Dreamer Collection (lots of cool blues and greens), or maybe the Entertainer Collection (fiery reds and warm tones). In a word, classy. You just shouldn’t have to work so hard in order to relax. All you really need is a few minutes to spare, and a gently swinging slice of paradise. So stop imagining already, and start getting yourself into a hammock. Rest assured, your life will thank you. For more information, visit www.hatterashammocks.com, www. thehammockcompany.com, or www.pawleys.com.

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Take a Walk on the Wildﬂower Side! thousands of dormant weed seeds and the wildflowers will struggle to get established. * When planting wildflower seeds in a new garden area, don’t fertilize unless your soil is extremely sandy; wildflowers don’t need fertilizer. They are used to growing in average soils. If you’d like to try your hand at growing wildflowers, you need to start with good seeds and the right mix for your geographical location. Ousidepride.com has done all the work for you offering a wide variety of wildflower seed mixes created specifically for your geographical region: Remember, a good wildflower mix contains both annuals and perennials. This gives the garden a wider variety of colors, heights and seasonlong blooms. The Gulf Coast areas have special environmental conditions that makes this blend especially well suited for its conditions. This mix consists of perennials and annuals that adapt to moist conditions and tolerate rainfall as well as sunny conditions and extreme temperatures.

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21West Road Old Bennington | VT Rte 9-W 1.3 miles east of US 7 802.447.3500 | fourchimneys.com

continued from page 23 Midwestern Wildflower Mix is made up of 26 species chosen for their lasting blooms as well as their rugged ability to withstand the extreme temperatures of the Midwestern climates. The mix is approximately 50 percent annual and 50 percent perennial wildflowers. Northeastern Wildflower Mix is designed specifically for the special needs of the Northeast. This attractive wildflower mix is made up of 19 species of which one third are annuals and the remaining are biennials or perennials. Southwest Wildflower Mix is specifically designed for areas which have special needs, such as long, hot, dry summers or other similar conditions. This mix will do very well if planted in early to late spring, or as a dormant seeding in fall. The mix consists of annual and perennials. Most people know a gardening guru-type, but the majority of gardeners are admittedly shy to try new plants, or blame themselves for less than stellar results. Wildflowers will change that and give gardeners fabulous flowers that get great results with minimum maintenance or fuss. This spring is the time to go “wild” right in your own back yard. For additional information on OutsidePride’s unique wild flower mixtures that are specially formulated on the basis of climatic conditions (rainfall, temperature range, humidity) and elevation; blended to give the widest possible range of colors and periods of bloom, visit www. OutsidePride.com. Courtesy of ARAcontent

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2008 Spring Guide

J.T. DUFOUR DESIGN LLC

MARCH 18, 2008

NEWSLETTER

Timber frame

a place of solitude, comfort and char�

TIMBER FRAME \�tim-b�r\\�fr�m\

Where does one go to nd solitude, comfort and charm; a welcoming rs� impression or statement? answer:

Introducing j.t.Dufour Design LLC’s newest endeavor, timber frames a la cart�. For those of you looking for an enhanced entry way, mud�room porch or garage this could be the look you have been unable to master. We proudly would like to re� introduce ourselves; we are already an

established business here in town locally known as “Bath & Tile” located at 5032 Main street for the last three years next to the Manchester’s chamber of commerce.

A shelter �om th� elements or a sanctuary to contemplate. Old �orld hand cra� and ski�s with knowledge, and years of combined experience, implemented �ith the tools of today.

If you are looking for a locally hand cut timber frame of quality and skills unequalled please stop by.

Feedback/ comments.... ...we are most pleased with our “new kitchen” it was nice working with you both. ...Ashley, EOB ...in short, something like “the intelligent solution”; “innovation in design and installation”; “engineered solutions” could in a nutshell, describe your excellent approach to your business and customers ...Cal, Danby VT

5032 Main Street, Manchester Center, VT 05255 Phone 802 362 0075 Fax 802 362 1175

�John Dufour�

NEW P

RODUC LINES: T

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Now until April 30, 2008 on qualifi ed Toro equipment. No down payment required. Min fi nance charge is $1.50/mo. Subject to credit approval by GE Money. See dealer for complete details. Participation optional. Prices are based on MSRP. 1Finance charges accrue from date of purchase at 1.9% and waived if financed amt paid in full within 6 mos. Financing may be extended at 1.9% APR for 36 equal payments of 2.8638% of promo balance. 2Reduced payments for fi rst 24 months with a 9.99% APR. Low intro payments of $29/49/79/119 for min. amounts fi nanced of $1500/2501/5501/9001 respectively. After 24 months, payments will be based on 3% of outstanding balance at 9.99% APR. 4Finance charges accrue from date of purchase at a variable APR of Prime + 13.95% and will be waived if fi nanced amt paid in full within 6 mos.

Manchester Power House 67 Taconic Business Park Road Manchester Ctr 67 Taconic Business Park Road • Manchester Ctr 802-362-0230 / 800-870-2087 �� vtpower1@comcast.net 802-362-0230 / 800-870-2087 • vtpower@comcast.net

Manchester Power House

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