IT’S PROBABLY NO surprise that the tea trolley emerged in Victorian England. Just the words “tea trolley” can conjure up an image of a delicate cart laden with floral china and shining silver plate (probably resting on crocheted lace doilies), pushed by a primly uniformed servant into an ornately furnished room where aristocratic women perch on uncomfortably carved mahogany chairs.
Like many upper-class English fashions, the tea trolley spread to the United States, where it received a new spin in the 20th century: With Prohibition ending in the 1930s, the tea trolley was repurposed as the bar cart or cocktail cart. This was also when the style we now call mid-century modern emerged. Scandinavian design was particularly popular, with clean lines, simple shapes and light woods.
This cart, made of birch with white enameled wheels, was designed in 1948 by Alvar and Aino Aalto, the Finnish husband-and-wife team that co-founded the furniture company Artek. An Eldred’s auction described it as a “tea trolley” rather than
Like many upper-class English fashions, the tea trolley spread to the United States, where it received a new spin in the 20th century.
a cart. The old-fashioned name didn’t decrease its appeal, as it sold at the auction for $2,650.
Q. I was given two glass shoes before my grandmother passed away in 1983. One is a tall boot in dark green, one is a shorter boot in opaque yellow. The green one says, “Made in Taiwan.” Do they have any value other than sentimental?
A. Glass shoes have been made since the 17th century. The earliest examples were made as drinking vessels. By the 19th century, various glass containers like salt cellars, toothpick holders, finger bowls, perfume bottles or inkwells were made in the shape of shoes. They were often collected or sold as souvenirs. The fashion continued into the early to mid-20th century. Some well-known American glass companies like Fenton made shoes in various colors
and patterns. After World War II, the United States was importing inexpensive decorative glassware made in other countries, including Taiwan. Some reproductions of older glassware are made in Taiwan. Your glass shoe marked “Taiwan” is probably one of these reproductions. The main value of your glass shoes is most likely sentimental.
Q. I have a lot of first-edition Beanie Babies and Bears. I’m wondering if I can get in contact with someone to help me price and sell them.
A. The Beanie Babies fad exploded in the 1990s, and a resale market appeared almost immediately. While it hasn’t reached the heights of the original craze, the resale market is still active, especially with 1990s nostalgia on the rise and increasing in the toys of the decade. There are several online resources
Lee Reich | In The GardenNot all flowers are ‘perfect’ but in the eye of the gardener, they might be
OUT OF THE BLEAKness of winter wells up imaginary fruits — plump, brightly colored fruits that please the eye, perhaps the palate. This vision no doubt is spurred on by pictures online and in nursery catalogues that keep arriving in my mailbox.
Besides paying some money and putting plants in the ground, pollination usually is needed to make this vision a reality. Pollination is the transfer of pollen from male parts of a flower (the stamens) to female parts of a flower (the pistils), and is a necessity in order for most plants to form fruits. Effective pollination only can occur between flowers of the same type of fruit (usually within a species, sometimes between species). Therefore, crabapple flowers can pollinate crabapple flowers, but cannot pollinate pear flowers. Pollen is transferred by wind, insects (especially bees), or when the mere opening of a flower causes stamens to rub against pistils. Just how pollen is transferred varies with the type of fruit.
To the botanist, a “perfect” flower is one with both stamens and pistils. But not all plants have perfect flowers. Some plants have flowers
which are either staminate (male) or pistillate (female). If both sexes are on the same plant, the plant is monoecious (derived from Latin, meaning “one house”). On the other hand, if individual plants have only male or only female flowers, the species is dioecious (this time meaning “two houses”). Holly is an example of a dioecious plant, and a male plant (nonfruiting) is needed to supply pollen so that a female plant can set fruit.
Even a plant with perfect flowers may need special accommodation in the form of “cross-pollination.” The female floral parts of “self-sterile” plants are finicky, and refuse to set fruit unless dusted with pollen from stamens of a different clone of that fruit. A different clone is represented by a variety with a different name, or by a seedling.
Apple is an example of a plant that needs cross-pollination. A variety such as ‘McIntosh’ will not set fruit unless it receives pollen from either a wild apple seedling, or from a different variety, such as ‘Red Delicious.’ In this example, ‘McIntosh’ pollen will return the favor; the ‘Red Delicious’ or seedling apple also bears fruit.
SEE REICH, PAGE F3
Teatime comes to modern times. Scandinavian modern design gives an Artek tea trolley a sleek, stylish look.
(COWLES SYNDICATE INC.)
for Beanie Baby collectors to research and evaluate their toys. Try tycollector.com, beaniebabiespriceguide. com or beaniepedia.com. Check the tags on each toy; both the cloth tag sewn to the toy (collectors call it the “tush tag”) and the heart-shaped paper swing tag. They will tell you the edition, material, location made, and other information that can affect the price. If a Beanie Baby is an early or limited edition, stuffed with PVC pellets instead of PE pellets, or made in Indonesia instead of China, it is usually worth more. Spelling errors, misprints and other variations on the tag can also increase the value. Online, eBay is an extremely popular place to sell Beanie Babies but be careful: You will see
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F2
For effective cross-pollination, flowers of two different clones must be within a hundred feet of each other and their bloom seasons must overlap. There are ways to get around having to put two different plants in the ground when growing fruits that need cross-pollination. Perhaps your neighbor is growing a suitable pollinator plant. Or, if you know of a suitable pollinator plant that is not nearby, cut off some branches while the plant is in bloom, put the branches in a bucket of water, and set the bucket on the ground under your plant. The bouquet’s pollen will stay viable long enough to pollinate your plant.
Perhaps the most practical alternative is to graft a branch of a suitable pollinator right onto your plant. Your plant, then, will have two different varieties growing on a common root system.
Plants whose flowers can set fruit with their own pollen
them listed with prices in the thousands. Remember: This is only the asking price; it does not mean that a buyer will pay that much. For more accurate values on eBay, look up Sold listings under Advanced Search. You can also search websites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for Beanie Babies collector clubs. If you want to sell your collection at an auction, look for auction houses that specialize in toys, collectibles, estate sales and pop culture.
Q. I have an antique Pullman black leather recliner and ottoman. Can you help me find a value?
A. The Pullman Couch Company was founded in 1906 in Chicago. They are best known for their Davenport bed or sofa that could be converted to a bed. They also made overstuffed
are said to be “self-fertile” or “self-pollinating.” Such plants need no special accommodation for pollination and will set fruit in isolation. Peach and highbush cranberry are examples of self-fertile plants.
Self-sterile and self-fertile are two ends of a spectrum, and many types of fruit plants lie somewhere in between. These intermediate types set some fruits without cross-pollination, but their fruits are larger and more plentiful if their flowers are cross-pollinated. Blueberry is a plant in this category. This whole matter of pollination is greatly simplified in the case of a plant like persimmon, which can set “parthenocarpic” fruits. Such fruits form without any pollination at all. Not only is a pollinator branch or plant unnecessary in this case, but parthenocarpic fruits also are seedless.
Any gardening questions?
Email them to me at garden@ leereich.com and I’ll try answering them directly or in this column. Come visit my garden at leereich.com/blog.
furniture. Pullman became the Schnadig Corporation in 1954. Upholstered reclining chairs were made in the United States by the 1930s. We have seen vintage leather recliner and ottoman sets sell for about $300 to $600. A maker’s label always increases the value of a piece of vintage furniture.
TIP: Dust leather furniture with a dry cloth and vacuum in crevices and edges. Use a leather conditioner about
once a year. If there is spill, wipe up the liquid with a cloth or sponge, wipe with lukewarm water and let it air dry. Do not use soap or soak the stain.
Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel answer 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. 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.
I planted my first peach tree last June, five months before Pantone named Peach Fuzz the 2024 color of the year. How serendipitous!
Today peachy tones are showing up everywhere, from TV backdrops to home furnishings, clothing and brand logos. But for me, it’s not about the trend but rather the sweet, juicy fruit that (I hope) will drip down to my elbows when I take my first bite.
If you’d like to jump on the peachy bandwagon in your garden this season, first familiarize yourself with your horticultural zone to ensure you select a variety of peach tree that’s appropriate for your region.
Armed with that knowledge, research suitable varieties, and decide which types among them you can and would like to grow:
Yellow-fleshed peaches have a balanced, sweet-acidic flavor profile.
White-fleshed peaches are generally softer and sweeter.
Donut peaches, sometimes called Saturn, are flat, discshaped fruits with sweet, white or yellow flesh.
Within those categories are the freestone and clingstone types. Freestone fruits tend to be larger, firmer and less juicy, and their center pits, or stones, are not attached to their flesh. Clingstones are more succulent, sweeter and retain their texture better when cooked or canned, but their flesh is firmly connected to the pit, making preparing them for processing more labor-intensive. Semi-clingstone hybrids offer the sweet
juiciness of clingstones with easy-to-remove pits.
For my garden in the New York suburbs, I selected a dwarf Redhaven peach, which produces medium-size freestone fruits with creamy-textured yellow flesh and nearly fuzzless skin. Appropriate for zones 5-8, it’s also resistant to leaf spot, and tops out at just 15 feet tall, which is perfect for the small garden that borders my deck.
How to grow a peach tree
Select a spot that receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily and test the soil’s pH. Peaches require a reading between 6.5 and 7.0. If your soil is outside of those parameters, amend it as needed. Peach trees also need well-draining, fertile soil. A healthy dose of compost, incorporated into the bed before planting, will improve the drainage of clay, increase
the water-holding capacity of sand and add beneficial nutrients.
When planting your tree in early spring, cut the leader, the central stem at the top of the tree, back to 8 inches above the first side shoot, then trim all remaining shoots to just two buds. If any side shoots are growing from the bottom 18 inches of the plant, remove them, and continue to do this during the tree’s first year as new shoots appear on
that lower portion of the tree.
In the absence of rainfall, water the tree deeply once a week during its first year to support its establishing root system. In subsequent years, the tree may get by on rainfall alone. Use your judgment according to your climate and weather conditions, but be careful not to overwater.
Most peaches are self-pollinating, which means they don’t require another peach
Applications are now available for the Agawam Garden Club’s 2024 scholarship. To qualify for the scholarship, students must be a graduating senior of Agawam High School or a college student who graduated from Agawam High School, planning to attend an institution of higher learning in the fall. Applicants must be majoring in or planning on majoring in one of the following: botany, environmental engineering, environmental science, earths systems, forest management, natural resources, plant soil and insect science, sustainable agriculture, sustainable horticulture or food and framing, turf grass science and management, landscape design and management technology, clean energy, technology studies, waste water or other environmental related studies.
The recipient will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship at the club’s annual June meeting. Completed applications along with transcripts and references must be submitted to Denise Carmody, 40 Primrose Lane Agawam, MA 01001 by April 1. Applications are available through Agawam High school or can be found online at agawamgardenclub.com.
The Springfield Garden Club is accepting applications for a $2,000 scholarship, to be awarded to a graduating high school senior, undergraduate or graduate college student majoring in a fulltime plant science or environmental studies program, such as horticulture, floriculture, landscape design, conservation, forestry, botany, agronomy, plant pathology, environmental control, land management or other allied fields.
The candidate must be a resident of Hampden County, demonstrate financial need and have adequate academic standing.
Scholarship applications must be received by April 1 to be eligible for consideration. For additional information and to request a copy of the application, contact Jane Glushik at SGCscholarship@gmail.com.
The Springfield Garden Club has awarded over $80,000 to more than 50 students during the past 30 plus years.
The Springfield Garden Club is currently hosting “Gardening Basics,” a series of classes on the basics of starting a garden. The next class is “Preparing Garden Soil” on March 9, followed by “Composting” on April 13.
Classes will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturdays at the Shea Building at Forest Park, 300 Sumner Ave. The fee is $10 per class, and tickets are available on Eventbrite, by emailing spfldgardenclub@ gmail.com or by calling 413285-3163.
STOCKBRIDGE
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents its 27th annual winter lecture on March 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. Fergus Garrett will present “Biodiversity at Great Dixter: How a Flower Garden Can Support Some of the UK’s Most Threatened Species.” The lecture is in-person only at Lenox Middle and High School; however, a recording can be sent after the event upon request. Cost is $40 members, $55 nonmembers. To register or for more information, visit berkshirebotanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
LOS ANGELES — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose this week for the third time in as many weeks, driving up home loan borrowing costs in just as the spring homebuying season ramps up.
The average rate on a 30year mortgage rose to 6.90% from 6.77% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.5%.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing
Berkshire Land Co. LLC, to Sean P. F. Burke, 48 Fairview St., $324,000.
J D T Rosati Inc., to Denali Investments LLC, 405 Silver St., $343,000.
J D T Rosati Inc., to Denali Investments LLC, 431 Silver St., $315,000.
J D T Rosati Inc., to Denali Investments LLC, Rear Doane Avenue, $680,000.
NSP Residential LLC, to Vincent M. Canavan and Shannon M. Corbett, 210 Meadow St., $294,000.
U S Bank Trust, trustee, and RCF 2 Acquisition Trust, trustee of, to NSP Residential LLC, 210 Meadow St., $230,000.
Gerald George Guidera Jr., trustee, and Gerald George Guidera Jr Family Trust to Lindsay Goodwin Read and Lindsay Read, 41 Fairfield St., $264,408.
Anke Voss and Robert Naiman to Benjamin Hill Detenber and Nicole Lorraine Draper, 684 East Pleasant St., $603,000.
Dja-Maa Shepp to Gary Toth and Henry Whitlock, 176 Flat Hills Road, $385,000.
Elizabeth A. Lauziere, personal representative, Norma L. Higham, estate, and Norma Louise Higham, estate, to Donna Mollard, 24 McIntosh Drive, $280,000.
John G. Reid and Tracy L. Hightower to Christopher Croteau and Onel Perez, 486 Sunderland Road and
their home loans, also rose this week, pushing the average rate to 6.29% from 6.12% last week. A year ago it averaged 5.76%, Freddie Mac said.
The latest increase in rates reflects recent moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing loans. Stronger-than-expected reports on inflation, the job market and the overall economy have stoked worries among bond investors the Federal Reserve will have to wait longer before beginning to cut interest rates.
Investors’ expectations for future inflation, global demand for U.S. Treasurys
500 Sunderland Road, $545,000.
Stephen R. McMorrow to Stephen R. McMorrow and Kelsey L. McMorrow, Trillium Way, $100.
John J. Kopacz and Sandra L. Kopacz to Gary G. Decoteau, Railroad Street, $74,000.
Leszek Twarowski and Margaret Twarowski to Kyle Twarowski and Danielle Twarowski, 228 Sturbridge Road, $1,060,000.
Valerie A. Williams, personal representative of the Estate of Albert R. Williams to Joshua W. Giard, 58 Tatro Road, $290,000.
UH Storage (DE) Limited Partnership and UH Storage GP(DE)QRS 15-50 Inc., to Mercury Storage 1-B LLC, 499 Montgomery St., $1,802,077.
Soren W. Johnson and Adero K. Willard to Kevin G. Ryan, 158 College St., $290,000.
Jennifer J. Lewis to Bluebird Real Estate Investing LLC, 6 Greenfield Road, $26,500.
Jaclyn M. Predergast and Jaclyn M. Prendergast to Samuel Oseibonsu and Ama Achiamaa, 217 Porter Road, $492,000.
and what the Fed does with interest rates can influence rates on home loans.
“Strong incoming economic and inflation data has caused the market to re-evaluate the path of monetary policy, leading to higher mortgage rates,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.
When mortgage rates rise, they can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford in a market already out of reach for many Americans. They also discourage homeowners who locked in rock-bottom rates two or three years ago from selling.
Silver Snake Properties LLC, to Lindsay Noel Dubois, 63 Phelps St., $330,000.
Krupalu LLC, to SGS Holdings LLC, 5-15 Adams St., $1,100,000.
A-Z Storage & Properties LLC, and Autumn Properties LLC, to NB Main Realty LLC, 422 Main St., and Route 10, $570,000.
Joshua Gosselin and Sarah Gosselin to Harley Colgan Properties LLC, 127 West St., $85,000.
Browndog 90 Realty LLC, to Blake A. Gullett, 22 Maine Ave., $295,000.
Tien N. Brunelle, trustee of the Lewis Investment Trust, to Cole G. Larose, 17 Maple Ave., $326,000.
April Elizabeth Lemieux and Verne S. Lemieux, trustees of the Lemieux Family Trust, to Timothy William Momaney and Sydney Gail Upham, 11 Church St., $342,000.
Brooke G. Schnabel and Santha Parke to Daniel J. Desnoyers and Linda I. Desnoyers, South Chesterfield Road, $4,500.
Laura A. Noyes to Duane Carl Noyes, 161 South St., $270,000.
Kotowicz Custom Homes LLC, to Brett Robert Diamond and Roxanna Pisiak, 127 Maxmillian Drive, $835,000.
Northeast Fasteners Co Inc., to Kimberly Bernier Goldsmith, Taylor Street, $60,000.
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage remains sharply higher than just two years ago, when it was 3.89%.
The cost of financing a home has come down from its most recent peak in late October, when the average rate on a 30year mortgage hit 7.79%, the highest level since late 2000.
The pullback in rates helped lift sales of previously occupied U.S. homes by 3.1% in January versus the previous month to the strongest sales pace since August.
Competition for relatively few homes on the market and elevated mortgage rates have limited house hunters’ buying
Dauntless Path LLC, to Michael Anthony McKelvey and Robyn Diana McKelvey, 110 Cottage St., $278,000.
Nadezhda A. Vozniuk, “fka” Nadezhda A. Filobokova, to Andrew Scott Berg and Cameron Mortimer-Berg, 40 Princeton Terrace, Unit 40 Meadowview Manor Condominium, $160,000.
325 Canton Street LLC, to Greenfield Elizabeth Home Inc., 7 Congress St., $685,000. Joyce Lanciani and Steven Lanciani to Zoe D. Smith and Allison H. van der Velden, 81 High St., $522,500.
HAMPDEN
Susan Arce, Susan Arce-Beaver and Charles Beaver to Paul Michael McKenna, 129 Somers Road, $375,000.
Earl Philip Carlow, trustee of the Earl Philip Carlow Investment Trust, to Flagg Hill Farms LLC, 24 Flagg Hill Road Branch, “fka” 3 Burnt Hill Road, $80,000.
HUNTINGTON
David J. Morrissey to David J. Morrissey and Barbara E. Daly, 3 Maple St., $100.
Frank T. Lucchesi and Francis T. Lucchesi to Anne R. Most, 94 Westmoreland Ave., $415,000.
Joseph B. Thompson and Kristin B. Thompson to John J. Flynn and Mary L. Flynn, 37 Birnie Road, $720,000.
power on top of years of soaring prices. With rates creeping higher in recent weeks, it puts more financial pressure on prospective home hunters this spring, traditionally the busiest period for home sales.
“Historically, the combination of a vibrant economy and modestly higher rates did not meaningfully impact the housing market,” said Khater. “The current cycle is different than historical norms, as housing affordability is so low that good economic news equates to bad news for homebuyers, who are sensitive to even minor shifts in affordability.”
— Associated Press
Plata O Plomo Inc., to Akhmad Abdul-Razzaq and Shaterricka Riche Abdul-Razzaq, 436 Chapin St., $379,999.
Nu-Way Homes Inc., to Glen Lawrence Barrett and Marybeth Barrett, 596A Ryan Road, $549,900.
James S. Ussailis Jr., to Catherine Ussailis, 24 O’Donnell Drive, $112,000.
Walter Warchut to Adam Gladstone, 81 Autumn Drive, $316,000.
Claudia Viele, personal representative, and Robert E. Antil, estate, to Arthur C. Edelstein, 300A Elm St., $525,000.
Cynthia L. Teto and Matthew R. Teto to Matthew R. Teto, Magoon Road, $25,000.
Cynthia L. Teto and Matthew R. Teto to Matthew R. Teto, 237 Magoon Road, $70,000.
Lori A. Barnes and Steven S. Barnes Jr., to Anne Marie Pole, 125 East Road, $400,000.
Inhabitants of the Town of Orange to 153 Quabbin Boulevard LLC, Quabbin Boulevard, $18,000.
Abaigeal M. Duda to B & B Realty Partners LLC, 3205 Main St., $305,000.
Abaigeal M. Duda to Gina Cislak, Main Street, Par A, $5,000.
David M. Ingram and Patricia A. Ingram to William O’Toole Jr., and
When planning for a remodel, it’s important to confer with professionals.
Remodeling can help you fall in love with your home all over again. But a significant home remodel may be one of the biggest investments you ever make, so planning carefully for success is a good idea. Working with a designer before you start the contracting process can help clarify your vision and improve your odds of getting a great job.
Winter is a great time to start planning a remodel. Designers and builders will be less busy so that you can get on their schedule more quickly. Outlining plans as early as possible helps you prepare wisely and budget accordingly.
All renovation jobs have both a design and build phase, but often, the design is handled on the spot by the pro. However, you’ll have separate design and build processes once you get into bigger jobs, such as a complete kitchen remodel or a new home addition. Sometimes, design and build come from the same company. Other times, two separate pros will work together. If you have your heart set on a particular designer or contractor, ask them what pros they often work with on projects like yours.
Design costs can be determined in many ways. Some designers charge a flat fee,
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Tara Ingram, 209 Old Warren Road, $310,000.
Samuel Cobb and Martha Cobb to Kevin J. Serio and Shelby T. Serio, 51 Squier St., $334,000.
Patrick J. Slaney to Patrick J. Slaney, trustee, and Revocable Indenture of Trust of Patrick J. Slaney, 18 Butterhill Road, $100.
Valerie A. Williams, personal representative of the Estate of Albert R. Williams, to Joshua W. Giard, 58 Tatro Road, $290,000.
others an hourly rate. The design cost is often a percentage of the final job itself. You can hire either an architect or a specialized home designer. (In some cases, your state or local regulators may require an architect or structural engineer, especially if the work involves load-bearing walls.) Architects have more education and licensing requirements, so you’ll pay more for an architect. However, that comes with more resources to help you if things go wrong, such as insurance, licensing boards, and experience. A home designer will cost less; in some cases, they’ll have specific expertise for your job, such as kitchen or bathroom renovations.
Quite often, the cost is determined by how involved they will be in the entire project. If a designer supervises construction, for example, expect to pay somewhat more. On average, you’ll pay 7% to 10% of the build’s cost for an architect and 3% to 5% for a designer. When hiring an architect or designer, find out early on what kind of communication style they have. It’s critically important that you communicate smoothly to get the job done. Your job is to let them know what you want. Their job is to visualize a way to make it real. Ask what contractors they work with and what involvement they’ll have once the job is underway.
Angel Villar and Ruth Villar to Muhammad Taqi and Samina Taqi, 47 Jefferson Ave., $300,000.
Annie Salem to Mert Gunaydin and Muharrem Gunaydin, 57-59 Michigan St., $360,000.
Barbara M. Barlow to Jill K. Barlow, 79 Mandalay Road, $230,000.
Brandon J. Miller and David W. Ostrander, trustee, to Unlimited Property Services LLC, 476 Berkshire Ave., $170,000.
Bretta Construction LLC, to Leo Best and Laurie Lauture-Best, 1 Balboa Drive, $565,000.
C & A Realty Co. Inc., to 500 Armory Street LLC, 500 Armory St., $410,000.
Dubs Capital LLC, to Northern Flooring & Remodeling LLC, E S Catharine Street, $21,950.
Home LLC, to Tascon Homes LLC, 15-17 Huntington St., $163,000.
Carol J. Avonti, personal representative of the Estate of Richard S. Stein, to Roberta Z. Miller and Thomas C. Miller, North Laurel Drive, $225,000.
Eric C. Jimmo, Stacy Jimmo and Stacy E. Desforges to Jaydon G. Diamond, 28 Saybrook Circle, $255,000.
B&B Real Estate LLC, to Mark Hager, 41 West Summit St., $183,000.
Susan J. Toppin, Kate S. Kelly and Ayn K. Toppin to Nicole Leadenham, 27 Mountain View Circle, $323,000.
Brenda Barker, Brenda Long, James Barker, Micheline Long, Daniel Long and Jennifer Long to Miguel A. Perez, 9 Wood St., $80,000.
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F4
tree nearby to set fruit. Still, they produce more fruit when planted with a bedmate and do benefit from hand pollination in spring, although this isn’t necessary.
Prune back new stems yearly when the tree is in flower to ensure vigorous new growth. No worries about removing blossoms, as peaches produce
Felix and Melissa Ann Felix, 12 Church St., $160,000.
Julia Lubelczyk to Francis J. Harrington, 9 Campbell Road, $100. Anthony M. Lapete and Amanda L. Lapete to Kristen Alisha Foster, 4 Barnes St., $254,000.
Nicole Nesbit to Amanda L. Lapete and Anthony M. Lapete, 121-123 River Road, $472,500.
William J. McCloskey Sr., and Elaine A. Demers to Drew J. LaValley, 160 Osborne Road, $375,000.
Donald F. Bullock to Michael Sandoval, 230 Greenwich Road, $150,000.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Cig4 LLC, to Steven Thompson, 146 Nelson St., $188,000.
Jason Gobin to Livingwater Capital LLC, 61-63 Woodlawn St., $237,500.
Leo R. Best III, and Laurie T.
Lauture-Best to Christa Nunez, 25 Laurence St., $379,900.
Lorisa S. Jones, Lorisa S. Vann and Terrence Jones to Lorisa S. Jones, 828 Parker St., $138,000.
Lorraine L. Gazda and Julia J. Gazda to Elliot M. Lehane, 161 Verge St., $270,000.
Margaret M. Pilon to Aaron D. Roberson II, 6 Carlos St., $263,000.
Patrick O’Neil and Gina Malvezzi to Josentt Thompson, 261 Connecticut Ave., $299,000.
U S A Veterans Affairs to Daniele Manzi, 48 Kings Lane, $185,000.
Charles W. Smiarowski, trustee of the Charles W. Smiarowski Living Trust, to 282 Hadley Road LLC, Hadley Road, $325,000.
Scott M. Carrigan to Anthony R.
fruit on year-old wood.
In late spring of the second year, cut back the central leader to just above the first wide-angled branch. Select 3-5 scaffold limbs (those that give the tree its vaselike shape) to keep, and remove the others.
Removing old, gray branches, which will not produce fruit, will allow more sunlight into the center of the tree and
Maria V. Duducal to Bella Realty Group LLC, 1304 Elm St., Unit 3C, $145,000.
Andrew J. Martindell to Sandra A. Stevens, 88 Glenwood Drive, $370,000.
DBK Realty Associates LLP, to Sovereign Builders Inc., 1026 Southampton Road, $300,000. Koziar Capital LLC, to Raymaakers Properties LLC, Falcon Drive, Par. A, $350,000.
Nancy C. Godbout, conservator, and Linda Strniste to Congamond Management LLC, 86 White St., $90,000.
Vantage Home Buyers LLC, to Peace I. Ovabor, 140 Meadow St., $392,000.
Zachary A. Coderre to Done Right Homes LLC, 0 Crown Street, $78,000.
Jamecia Estes to Jenna Daniels, 213 Northwest Road, $100.
increase air circulation to discourage disease.
Following package dosage recommendations, apply a 5-10-5 or 10-10-10 fertilizer annually in early spring. It can take two to four years for trees to fruit, but the wait will be worth it. Peach Melba, anyone?
Jessica Damiano writes a weekly gardening column for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter.
he Orchid
Florals
Fashion” is a whimsical mix of fashion and flower creations, a spring-like respite from winter at the New York Botanical Garden.
Above, a fashion-creation inspired by nature from FLWR PSTL, designed by Kristen Alpaugh, in “The Orchid Show: Florals in Fashion” at The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx borough of New York. At left is a fashion-creation inspired by nature from Collina Strada, designed by Hillary Taymour. Below is a flower-creation from Collina Strada, designed by Hillary Taymour. (AP
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The show includes multitudes of colorful, diverse orchids and accessorizing plants. And with the botanical world as muse, fashion designers Hillary Taylour for Collina Strada, Olivia Cheng for Dauphinette, and Kristen Alpaugh for Flwr Pstl created fanciful works that anchor the experience inside the soaring glass of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
On entering, visitors see Dauphinette’s floral dresses on mannequins strikingly arranged on a staircase with mirrors, surrounded by orchids, cyclads, ferns and palms. The outfits are made of colorful living material, including headdresses of
tillandsia, or air plants, and tresses of huperzia, a tropical clubmoss.
Flwr Pstl’s mannequins have a ’60s vibe with colored sunglasses, vibrant colors and iridescent, painted anthurium plants as accessories. Others have a more refined beauty, with one mannequin draped in preserved, orange-painted orchids with a water-lily, hoop-skirt fountain.
The last gallery showcases Collina Strada’s floral fashion using upcycled materials. Creations include an elegant, strapless dress of miniature moth orchids.
Orchids have inspired artists for centuries, and this show encourages you to immerse yourself in their splendor.
The exhibition runs through April 21.
The show includes multitudes of colorful, diverse orchids and accessorizing plants.PHOTO/PAMELA HASSELL)
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