52nd Spring Flower Show underway at Mount Holyoke College, F6
Women have long been at the forefront of gardening, whether passing agricultural traditions from generation to generation, organizing garden clubs and beautification societies, or — in some cases — making significant contributions to science and landscape design.
Some of these plantswomen gained notoriety for their work. Many are not as well known.
Here are several, in alphabetical order, who have left permanent marks on American horticultural history:
Jane Colden
In the 1750s, Colden became the first female American botanist. She is credited with naming and cataloging hundreds of native plants in the Hudson River Valley using Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus’ then-new binomial system of botanical nomenclature. Colden was the first in America to employ the system, which assigns a genus and species to each plant. She also was the first
to describe and name the gardenia. Colden drew each of the plants she named, and compiled her detailed descriptions and illustrations into a manuscript, “Flora of New York.”
Beatrix Farrand
Known as the first lady of American landscape architecture, Farrand designed more than 100 gardens for
‘PRUNE WHEN
the knife is sharp” goes an old saying. Not true. (But it’s never a good idea to prune if the knife is not sharp.) How a plant responds to pruning depends not only on how much is cut off, but also on when the operation is done. The usual advice about pruning woody trees, shrubs, and vines, including that offered above, concerns pruning them in “winter,” which is anytime that they are dormant and, in the case of those that are deciduous plants, leafless. How about pruning at other times?
Sometimes, trees, shrubs, and vines grow very well, too well in fact, so that their stems are crying out to be pruned. Enter summer pruning, often recommended as a better way than winter pruning to quell over-exuberant growth.
In the heat of the latter part of summer, woody plants should be getting ready to prepare for winter. Peering at some shoots of, say, a crabapple after midsummer, I see that rather than unfolding new leaves at their tips, their terminal buds just sit there, fattening up. The plant’s energies have been directed to making shoots thicker and more woody, not longer. Food energy is being stored up in
their stems, trunks, and roots, energy that will be needed the following season to fuel early growth of new shoots and leaves, until new leaves are mature enough to not only feed themselves but also to export food to other parts of the plant.
Although summer pruning generally is not — not! — a good idea, it does have a place in gardening. The deep red color of a ripe apple (a variety that ripens to red) needs a direct hit of sunlight; removing some stems in summer to allow fruits to bathe in increased sunlight results in prettier apples. Don’t count on sunlight to paint the ripe color on every kind of fruit, though; plums, cherries, and grapes color up when ripe whether or not the fruits themselves bathe in light.
Removing a few stems here and there on any plant in summer also lets air in among remaining stems, leaves, and fruits, helping them to dry more quickly following rain or dew and so lessening the threat of disease. Even clipping off just a few leaves, sometimes recommended near clusters of grapes, can be beneficial in this way.
But all this summer pruning is not absolutely necessary.
private estates, public parks, college campuses, botanical gardens and even the White House’s East Garden during the Wilson presidency. In 1899, at age 27, the self-taught Farrand became the only woman among the founders of the American Society of Landscape Architects. And in 1912, when the field was still largely dominated by men,
In this Aug. 22, 1964, photograph, Fannie Lou Hamer, a leader of the Freedom Democratic Party, speaks before the credentials committee of the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, N.J. (ASSOCIATED PRESS, FILE)
This April 1993 image provided by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center shows Lady Bird Johnson posing among wildflowers at the LBJ Ranch in Stonewall, Texas. (PAUL COX / LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER)
More judicious dormant pruning, such as cutting away enough branches on an apple tree to let the sun shine in on all the remaining ones, might obviate the need for summer pruning.
Some styles of growing plants necessitate summer pruning by their very nature. Hedges, for example. My privet or yew hedges can’t keep their shapes without being pruned repeatedly from early spring right through summer.
Espaliers need summer pruning so that the tracery of their stems remains decoratively prominent and each of those geometrically trained branches is thoroughly clothed in fruits as well as in leaves.
And yes, there are times when summer pruning is needed for no other reason than to contain overly vigorous stem growth. Dormant, woody plants respond to heading cuts (shortening of stems rather than their complete removal) just as soon as they begin growing in spring. As the growing season marches on, though, with plants shutting down in preparation for winter, their buds are less inclined to sprout in response to heading cuts. This nonresponse has given rise to the traditional belief that summer pruning is more dwarfing than dormant pruning. Ah, but what about the following spring? That’s when the summer-pruned shoot decides to respond. Plants have an amazing capacity to act however they please no matter what we do to them.
Okay, summer pruning sometimes can be more dwarfing than dormant pruning. Regrowth following summer pruning earlier in the growing season can be pruned again and again, removing food-producing leaves to sap a plant’s energy and dwarf it.
And under certain conditions, summer pruning also can prompt the formation
of flower buds rather than new shoots. That’s the idea behind creating fruitful espaliers. Except that summer pruning might work in one region to set up fruit buds but might not do so in another, where climate, day length, and/or other environmental factors differ. Depending on the summer weather that has preceded and followed my summer pruning, responses of apple trees to pruning techniques from northern Europe that I have attempted to espalier have ranged, right below the cuts, from some die-back to vigorous (unfruitful) growth to, occasionally, the desired swelling of fruit buds.
Response to summer pruning can vary depending on when, during the growing season, a stem is pruned. Not so for dormant pruning; response is relatively consistent no matter when, during this period, a stem is pruned.
I also consider plant health when deciding when to prune. The weakening effect of repeated summer pruning could do in an already weakened tree. My peach tree gets pruned early in the growing season, when just in flower, or right after flowering. Peaches are particularly susceptible to infections at open wounds; early season pruning exposes a stem wound for the minimum amount of time before healing begins. Wounds in summer also heal quickly. The best time to prune a diseased or damaged branch is anytime it’s noticed.
Excerpted from my book “The Ever Curious Gardener: Using a Little Natural Science for a Much Better Garden.” More about pruning can also be found in my book “The Pruning Book.”
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 www.leereich. com/blog.
The public is invited to join in for the 90th anniversary celebration of the Agawam Garden Club on March 12 at the Agawam Public Library, 750 Cooper St. After a short business meeting, club members will share some
history and memories of the past years. Lots of pictures and memorabilia will be displayed. The club’s meetings are open to all and not restricted to Agawam residents.
Applications are available for the Agawam Garden Club’s 2024 student 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 and is 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:
SEE NOTES, PAGE F9
IN 1905, ALBERT EINstein published his theory of special relativity, teaching the world that time is relative. In the science fiction novel “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” author Douglas Adams declared that “Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so.” And in March of every year, daylight savings time begins, reminding us again that time isn’t absolute as we set our clocks ahead an hour.
Historically, there have been many ways to track time and account for the changes in daylight hours that come with the seasons. In some systems, the length of an hour could vary with the time of the year. In 19th-century Japan, stick clocks kept track of days and nights, each divided into six units called “toki.”
In spring and summer, a day toki lasts longer than a night toki, with the opposite in fall and winter. Clocks, therefore, had to be adjustable. Some had interchangeable front plates that could be removed and replaced at different times of the year. Others, like this one, which sold for $5,700 at Cottone Auctions, marked the toki with sliding plates. To a casual viewer, the set of 13 plates down the front of the clock may not be as noticeable as the pierced scrolls and painted flowers and patterns that decorate it. A close look would show that those plates are numbered, and what’s more, they are not evenly spaced.
Q. How can I tell if my Tiffany’s lampshade is, in fact, an original?
A. Louis Comfort Tiffany’s lamps are some of the most famous and desirable pieces in American decorative arts, and they sell for high prices. Unfortunately, this also means that there are many repro -
ductions and forgeries on the market. There are a few ways to check to see if your lampshade is authentic Tiffany. First, check the metal parts for a mark. Authentic Tiffany lamps are marked “L.C. Tiffany” or “L.C.T.” in capital letters. Check for materials like zinc, resin, painted glass, or plastic; you would never see them in an authentic Tiffany lamp. Take a close look at the glass. Authentic Tiffany glass will have tiny specks of color, called confetti glass. Gold-colored glass will have a translucent amber sheen. Fakes or reproductions will have a silver or greenish sheen. Remember that reproduction and “Tiffany-style” lamps can still sell for high prices.
Q. I have a Princess Diana Beanie Baby. Is it worth more now? Are you able to see how much I can sell it for?
A. There is still a resale market for Beanie Babies, although prices are not as high as they were in the 1990s. Princess, the bear designed in honor of Princess Diana, is popular among Beanie Babies collectors and royal enthusiasts. Contrary to popular belief, it was not a limited edition. Proceeds of the original sales would be donated to the Princess Diana Memorial Fund, so the company could not start making the toys without approval from the fund’s managers. It received approval on Oct. 29, 1997. The company wanted the toy in stores in time for Christmas, so they had to limit production. Later shipments had greater production. The Princess bear was retired in 1999. According to tycollector.com, a Princess bear can be worth $7 to $175, depending on its condition and tags. We have seen them sell at
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.
Shelley, cup and saucer, allover red polka dots, gilt trim, scalloped rim, green mark, 2 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches, $30. Mercury glass, candlestick, column stem, knop, urn shape cup, round foot, 14 inches, pair, $190.
Barometer, thermometer, J.L. Casartelli, banjo case, rosewood veneer, Reaumur scale, 19th century, 41 inches, $310.
Firefighting, extinguisher, O.J. Child & Co., copper, brass fittings, stamped plaques, c. 1920, 24 inches, $495.
Picture, needlework, crewel, throne room scene, man and woman before seated king, reverse painted glass, carved and gilt frame, Harriet Webster, 1826, 31 1/2 x 26 1/2 inches, $550.
Stoneware, pitcher, pinched rim, ridged neck, globular base, cobalt blue leaves, impressed marks, 1 1/2, Made for W.M. Grange & Son, Philadelphia, 1800s, 12 inches, $820.
Advertising, sign, Clark’s O.N.T. Spool Cotton, two children whispering, “The Secret Of Good Sewing,” chromolithographed tin, early 1900s, 20 x 14 1/4 inches, $900.
auctions for anywhere from $24 to $120. If you search for Beanie Babies on eBay, you may see much higher prices, but be careful. Those are the prices the seller is asking for; not what buyers will pay. Search for “Sold Items” under Advanced Search to see real sold prices.
TIP: A damaged porcelain
clock face is difficult to repair. It will lower the price of a clock by 20 to 30%.
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
Cultures around the world and throughout history have designed clocks that account for the variation in day length across the seasons. Stick clocks like this one were used in Japan in the 19th century.
(COWLES SYNDICATE INC.)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. Write to Kovels, The Republican, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email collectorsgallery@kovels.com.
The Botanic Garden at Mount Holyoke College is now hosting its annual Spring Flower Show. The show is being held in the Talcott Greenhouse on campus through March 17 and is free and open to the public.
This year’s show is the 52nd annual event. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in vibrant colors; all visitors are also invited to stroll through other parts of the Talcott Greenhouse complex.
“The show will feature thousands of vibrant tulips, cheery daffodils, fragrant hyacinths as well as other spring bloomers all set amidst and in combination with plants from the permanent living collection,” said Tom Clark, the director and curator of the Botanic Garden. “The Flower Show is always a welcome burst of spring-like exuberance in the waning days of winter! We encourage visitors to explore the entire Talcott Greenhouse as it has a rich and diverse collection of plants from around the world.”
During the show, the Talcott Greenhouse will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Naomi Piper-Pell, left, and Ciara Duff enjoy the Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden’s 52nd annual Spring Flower Show, now underway in the Talcott Greenhouse on the college’s campus in South Hadley. They are both Mount Holyoke students.
(DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN)
The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate edged lower for the first time in five weeks, a welcome shift for home shoppers this spring homebuying season.
The average rate on a 30year mortgage slipped to 6.88% from 6.94% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.73%.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also fell this week, pulling the average rate down to 6.22% from 6.26% last week. A year ago it averaged 5.95%, Freddie Mac said.
“Evidence that purchase demand remains sensitive to interest rate changes was on display this week, as applications rose for the first time in six weeks in response to lower rates,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.
Mortgage rates ticked higher for most of February as stronger-than-expected reports on inflation and the economy fueled speculation among bond investors that the Federal Reserve would have to hold off on cutting interest rates longer than expected.
Investors’ expectations for future inflation, global demand for U.S. Treasurys and what the Fed does with interest rates can influence rates on home loans.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday rate cuts are likely to begin this year, but the central bank first needs to see more evidence that inflation is cooling.
The Fed’s main interest rate is at its highest level since 2001.
Despite the choppy trajectory in mortgage rates this year, the average rate on a 30-year home loan is still down from the 23-year high of 7.79% it reached in late October.
David B. Dussault and Patricia J. Dussault to Latina A. Devaughn and Stacy R. Devaughn, 164 Tobacco Farm Road, $525,000.
David E. Kozel, Kristen A. Kozel and Kristen A. Ryan to Andrew Armstrong and Bridget C. Ambers, 19 Lancaster Drive, $500,000.
Gregory Lee Ward, estate, Austin G. Ward, representative, and Elfa A. Ward to Isidro Acosta Jr., and Regina Acosta, 194 Tobacco Farm Road, $459,900.
Joseph Roy Moore and Erica Moore to Emily Ashe, 111 Reed St., $295,000.
PAH Properties LLC, to Gregg DiPietrantonio and Carmen DiPietrantonio, 94 Harvey Johnson Drive, $325,000.
Payden Yates to Brandon Montalvo, 73 Edward St., $377,000.
Suzanne S. Ricardi, representative, Gregory R. Forsman, representative, and Priscilla Forsman, estate, to Robert H. Kerr and Jennifer Kerr, 612 N West St., Par B, $9,000.
Kay Kranick-Weinberg to Nyla M. Dartt, 23 Greenleaves Drive, $280,000.
Maly Mao and Poy Hok to Amherst Community Land Trust Inc., 111 Logtown Road, $410,000.
Fidelis Bridge Loan Venture V REO LLC, to Serena Bouvier, 228 Plainfield Road, $318,000.
John R. Sullivan Jr., and Kevin J. Sullivan to Kevin J. Sullivan, West Street, $100.
Gary S. Krol and Kathleen L. Krol to Kathleen L. Krol, 8 Antin Road, $100.
Dean M. Fay and Shari A. Fay to Amer Alalean and Aisha Y. Al Balaawi, 104 Stedman St., $286,500. Mitchell Szadek and Linda Szadek to Brittany A. Doyon, trustee, and Szadek 2024 Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, 8 Old Fuller Road, $100. Neal W. Gonet to Nicholas Ayala, 46 Rzaza Drive, $86,800.
Roman Tryba III, and Roman F. Tryba to Connor D. Presz and Joseph W. Presz, 505 Mckinstry Ave.,
$232,000.
Wicked Deals LLC, to HandyFlippers Inc., 37 Erline St., $250,000.
Michele D. Crochiere and Michele D. Kenseth to A. Geoffrey Kenseth and Arnold Geoffrey Kenseth, 216 Bryant Road, $100.
Barbara J. Nutbrown and Barbara Nutbrown to Angel Louis Agront and Jessica Roberts, 228 Pleasant St., $230,000.
James A. Rinaldi, estate, and Frank R. Magnani, representative, to John McCullough, 325 Kibbe Road, $295,000.
Karen M. Schmidt, Eileen M. Lavoie, Thomas E. Noel, Daniel M. Noel and Deborah A. Miller to Liam R. O’Donnell, Allisa N. O’Donnell and Allisa N. Evans, 16 Shawmut St., $330,000.
Patrick Ayres and Natashia Ayres to Abigail Caple and Jasmine Caple, 88 Porter Road, $315,000.
Jaime M. Rogers and Liza Manchester to Elizabeth Holland and Julia Wojciechowski, 21 Pepin Ave., $412,000.
Diane J. Miller to Evergrain Orchard LLC, 25 Golden Drive, $205,000.
Floyd D. Hicks to Wendy Kirby, 265 Loudville Road, $100.
Keely Savoie Sexton and Andrew Sexton to Kyle David Cross and Elizabeth Rose Anderson, 15 East St., $400,000.
Cynthia F. Majewski and Daniel M. Majewski to Michael James Winn, 48 River Road, $359,000.
Demi Lambadis and Demi Christine Koukoulas to Demi Christine Koukoulas and Andrew Emmanuel Koukoulas, 75 South Main St., $100.
Michael Graham, trustee, and John J. Curley Revocable Trust, to Anne H. Wood, trustee, Gary F. Wood, trustee, and Wood Family Revocable Living Trust, 4 Deer Brook Drive and 4 Deerbrook Drive, $535,000.
Walter A. Kumiega Jr., to Leo E. Fugler Jr., 12 Truby St., $129,250.
Peter Kelly, conservator, and Christine M. Kumiega to Leo E. Fugler
Jr., 12 Truby St., $129,250.
Mark S. Richardson to Matthew Saba, 171 Leyden Road, $309,000.
Eva M. Babits to Taelour Cornett and Rey Mathiau, 76 Smith St., $225,000.
Robert K. Brown, trustee of Robert K. Brown Revocable Trust, to Elizabeth K. Greene and Perrin C. Hendrick, 30 Green River Road, $525,000.
Brenda Farnsworth, representative, Connie R. Burke, representative, Camille C. Bienvenue, estate, Camille C. Bienvenue Jr., estate, Cam Bienvenue, estate, Shirley A. Bienvenue, estate, and Shirley Bienvenue, estate, to Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Yabela Realty Trust, trustee of, 66 Forest Hill Road, $310,000.
Celeste R. Drake and Brian C. Drake to Celeste R. Drake, trustee, Brian C. Drake, trustee, and Drake Family Trust, trustee of, 280 Chapin Road, $100.
Peter E. Schriber and Susan A. Schriber to Peter E. Bassett, Henry K. Godek, Carly N. Nartowicz, Charles W. Nartowicz Jr., Kristi L. Nartowicz and Jo M. Travis, Flagg Hill Road, $135,000.
Michael A. Benedetto, David P. Benedetto, Carol A. Boyd and Anthony J. Benedetto to Roy St. Andre and Lorie St. Andre, 38 Lake Shore Drive, $677,000.
340 Appleton LLC, to Mango Group LLC, 340 Appleton St., $570,000.
Bryce Gene Menninga and Crystal Kathleen Menninga to Ellen Little, 606 County Road, $289,000.
Gregory K. Hurley and Leejay Hurley to Elizabeth Anne Hurley, 100 Nonotuck St., $250,000.
Holy Ventures LLC, to Devonshire Owner LLC, 48 Holy Family Road, $30,000,000.
Jordan Doucette to Frederic R. Beddall and Kristen M. Sykes, 280282 West Franklin St., $400,000.
Justin Tomasini to Nicolas Feliciano, 1244 Main St., $350,000.
Karen M. Sullivan, estate, and Jennifer A. Nelson, representative, to Julio Fernandez and Jonathan Vega, 71-73 Longwood Ave., $292,000.
Alexander Fenska and Samantha Fenska to Samantha Fenska, 18 Barbara Lane, $20,000.
Katrina Martin and Robert Martin to Amanda May and Jason R. May, 186 Williams St., $397,000.
Samantha Fenska to Maria O. Perales, Alfredo Orejuela and Alfredo C. Orejuela, 18 Barbara Lane, $240,418.
William James Engelberger, representative, William J Engelberger, representative, Catherine Mary Sheehan, estate, Catherine M. Sheehan, estate, Amy Engelberger, Tracy Beauregard and Jennifer Collins to Yeslin B. Gonzalez, 49 Wimbleton Drive, $306,000.
Aem Property Investment LLC, to Michael Bettencourt and Maria Beatriz Alvarez, 30 Lillian St., $320,000.
Joseph J. Banas III, representative, Kathryn A. Banas, representative, Joseph Banas Jr., estate, and Joan C. Banas, estate, to PAH Properties LLC, 0 Athol Street, Lot 11B-2, $125,000.
Massachusetts Trustee LLC, trustee, and 1385 Lyon Street Realty Trust, trustee of, to Amanda McClure and David Conti, 1385 Lyon St., $400,000.
Richard S. Fales and Richard A. Fales to Nicholas R. Fales and Christina L. Fales, 63 Margaret Lane, $281,500.
Rogerio B. Costa, Rogerio Baltazar Da Silva Costa, Maria J. Costa, Maria Jose De Matos Cordosa E. Silva Costa, and Maria Jose De Matos Cardoso E. Silva Costa, to Cherie A. Ptaszkiewicz, 32 Warsaw Ave., $275,000.
David D. Gagne and Tammy R. Habacker, “fka” Tammy R. Moyers, to Fabiana Ataide Campos and Ramon Fernandes De Andrade, 9A Main Road, $216,200.
Andrew Russell Bressette, Russell A. Bressette Jr., Maria Anne Fontaine and Michelle Elaine Winer to Karen A. O’Toole, Bethany Road, $250.
Bretta Construction LLC, to Frank W. Kochanowski and Carly E. Kochanowski, 12 Upper Palmer Road, $649,900.
Dean W. Anderson to Ronald L. Bilodeau, Lisa Bilodeau and Ronald T. Bilodeau, Cedar Swamp Road, Par D, $37,500. SEE
Gary S. Pfisterer to Ronald Stevenson Jr., Shaw Road, Lot 19, $59,900.
John M. B. Wilson to Jeffrey Peristere, 139 Stafford Road, $327,500.
Angela D. Varilly, “aka” Angela D. Barber, and Christopher M. Varilly to Cody J. Celino and Rachel N. Lapointe, 4-6 Depot St., $305,000.
Pamala J. Reipold, “fka” Pamala J. Interlande, to Angela Dawn Varilly and Christopher Michael Varilly, 12 Montague St., $500,000.
Carol T. Anderson, “aka” Carol T. Leaders, and William F. Leaders to Daniel T. Leaders, 21 Old County Road, $131,500.
Ann E. Clukay-Whittier, “fka” Ann E. Clukay, and Bruce W. Whittier to Lori Haselton and Aneil Mehta, 423 Daniel Shays Highway, $200,000.
David A. Hardy to Southampton Consulting Group LLC, 1005 Park Hill Road, $60,000.
Erin G. Pouliot, Erin G. Pouliot, trustee, Barbara J. Ryan Living Trust, Kyle R. Pouliot, Kara J. Monkiewicz and Kara J. Pouliot to David Bond and Faith Kaliski, 54 Pilgrim Drive, $697,025.
ORANGE
U.S. Bank Trust NA, trustee for VRMTG Asset Trust, to Jacobo Delacruz and Sonia Marte, 27 Chase St., 225,000.
Gleison Rocha to Angelo R. Lopez Barahona and Deysi V. Lopez Barahona, 15 West Myrtle St., $355,000.
PALMER
Chenevert Properties LLC, to Carlson Abel and Germaine Abel, 3182-3184 High St., $375,000.
Deborah M. Southworth, Mary A. Wansick and Eldora Parda to Deborah M. Southworth, Foster Street, $15,500.
Robert Hutchinson and Amy Hutchinson to Duane E. Whitcomb Jr., and Joann M. Whitcomb, Country Lane, Lot 3, $70,000.
Isa Wang to Julie Gimbrone and Amanda Elizabeth Lewis, 378 Daniel Shays Highway, $415,000.
Maryjane Trybulski to Timothy A. Pickering, 74 Lake Drive, $600,000.
Mary Lee A. Lachowetz and Steven F. Lachowetz to Joanne Swartz and Michael Kenney, 39C Hillcrest Park, $177,500.
Carol Dineen, Todd T. Dineen, Todd T. Dineen, personal representative, and Paul Dineen, estate, to Joshua D. Sanford and Magdalina K. Sanford, 81 River Road, $386,000.
Bhaskaranand Budhu to Brian Budhu and Ryan Budhu, 45 Bolton St., $100.
Corrine Lavalle to Joshua Breault and Marissa Breault, 28 Maple St., $312,500.
John A. Williams, personal representative, and Marcia B. Williams, estate, to Cyrus Reed Copen and Julia Verde, 116 County Road, $416,300.
SOUTHWICK
Daniel L. Garrity and Michelle L. Garrity to Timothy Fratini and Ashley Fratini, 16 Crystal Drive, $435,100.
David Humphrey and Deborah Humphrey to Rene L. Crete Jr., and Katie A. Hamberg, 23 Congamond Road, $221,000.
Erik Roberts and Michael Roberts to Matthew T. Seklecki Jr., 36 South Longyard Road, $285,000.
Fiore Realty Holdings LLC, to Hamelin Framing Inc., Silvergrass Lane, Lot 13, $140,000.
Giberson Construction Inc., to Hailey Elizabeth Charpentier and Jason Donald Charpentier, 26 Noble Steed Crossing, $550,000.
James McInerney and Sharyn McInerney to Magdalena Czerkawska, 11 John Mason Road, $475,100.
Timothy D. Schmidt, trustee, and Patricia J. Schmidt Living Trust, trustee of, to Viktor Moshkovskiy, 279 South Longyard Road, $225,000.
SPRINGFIELD
AJN Rentals LLC, to Kelnate Realty LLC, 68-70 Massachusetts Ave., $225,000.
Andrew M. Croteau and Jessica Croteau to Cottages by Lorraine LLC, 396 Grayson Drive, $355,000.
Cornerstone Homebuying LLC, to Rachel Jansen, 18 Mark St., $267,500.
Courageous Lion LLC, and Altostra-
tus LLC, to Olmstead Realty LLC, 29 Berbay Circle, $135,000.
Courageous Lion LLC, and Altostratus LLC, to Olmsted Realty LLC, 91 Denver St., $150,000.
Dan A. Labonte, Debra A. Labonte and Priscilla S. Kelley to Stephen C. Moore and Caroline Moore, Roosevelt Avenue, Lot B, $6,000.
DevelopSpringfield Corp., to SFMG Capital LLC, 234-236 Union St., $285,000.
Fortin Investments LLC, to D & E Innovations LLC, 0 Cambridge Street, $50,000.
John P. Ryan to Zachary Larabee and Elizabeth Balch, 66 Hermitage Drive, $405,000.
John Pak to Jason Larrier, 36 Castlegate Drive, Unit 36, $230,000.
Keishla Marie Diaz-Olavarria to Julio M. Santana and Doris A. Santana, 32-34 Rittenhouse Terrace, $385,000.
Advanced Aesthetics Medi Spa LLC, and Advanced Aethestics Medi Spa LLC, to Elizabeth Wangui Wanjigi MS, 146-148 Marion St., $449,000.
Loleta Collins to Christos Notidis, 126 Caseland St., $385,000.
Marina Gonzalez, representative, Pedro M, Gonzalez, estate, and Pedro Gonzalez, estate, to Aliza Abid and Noor Abid, 520-526 Chestnut St., $155,000.
Mary A. Figueroa Torres to Chenevert Properties LLC, 16 Fordham St., $175,000.
MCLP Asset Co Inc., to Michael Simmonds, 63 Margerie St., $140,000.
Michael Simmonds to Post Investment LLC, 63 Margerie St., $100.
RBT Enterprise LLC, to Christopher Flores, 114 William St., $407,000.
Roberto Rivera-Negron to Adianez Lopez-Andujar, 10 Rollins St., $300,000.
Sandra M. Pallotta to Plata O Plomo Inc., 60 Rencelau St., $125,000.
Solo7 Capital & Consulting LLC, to Post Investment LLC, 14 Aster St., $205,000.
Susan Houle, trustee, and Roy Family Trust, trustee of, to United We Care LLC, ES Balis Street, $510,000.
Alan J. Lesser and Tina J. Lesser, trustees of the Lesser Family 2023 Trust, and as trustees of the Lesser Family Trust, to Hskim Sea & Salt LLC, 313 Amherst Road, $620,000.
Jazmin Velazquez, Jazmin Velazquez-Serrano and Anthony Serrano to Anthony N. Serrano, 23 High St., and 21 High St., $100.
David Guerra to R&L Property Investors LLC, 39 South St., $170,000.
Dan Slattery to Ahmet Gunay and Canan Gunay, 483 Cold Spring Ave., Unit 1B, $101,000.
Larkspur LLC, to Toby L. Daniels and Shannon L. Daniels, 77 Wilder Terrace, $380,000.
Laurieann Collins, trustee, Paul Yacovone, trustee, and Yacovone Family Trust, trustee of, to Sean E. Curley and Kathleen E. Curley, life estate, 34 Gibson Way, $400,000.
Nicholas P. Boccio to Frank J. Capuano and Kathleen I. Capuano, 474 Cold Spring Ave., $144,900.
Pavel Panasyuk and Danuta Panasyuk to Lilliya Gennady Salem and Kurt J. Kresge, 511R Elm St., $473,000.
Richard W. LeBlanc to Richard W. LeBlanc, life estate, and Colby E. Quinn, 30-32 Gay Terrace, $100.
Xuesong Luo to Ronilo C. Anglo, 4 Colony Road, Unit 4, $145,000.
Brian R. Knowlton and Jacinthe C. Knowlton to Veniamin Shovgan and Victoria D. Shovgan, 38 Park Circle, $350,000.
James Garcia, Deborah C. Balser, Deborah C. Urban, Christine A. Sico, Linda M. Garcia, Lori D. Bowen and Michael J. Garcia to Tim A. Balser and Deborah C. Balser, 25 Ellsworth St., $216,666.
Jan I. Dickinson and Theresa J. Dickinson to Nadezhda Sergeyevna Tsvor, Vitaliy Aleksandrovich Tsvor, Alla Alekseyevna Tsvor and Aleksandr Pavlovich Tsvor, 2 Big Wood Drive, $466,000.
Jeffrey P. Grabiec and Gwendolyn Grabiec to Michael W. Farrell and Michael Farrell, 80 Alexander Place, $550,000.
Krista D. Chechile to Barbara J. Nutbrown, 23 Pearl St., $302,500.
Manchester Enterprises LLC, to Sarah Anne Elizabeth Welch, 99 Mountain View St., $318,500.
Ricky David Kvitek, estate, and Kim M. Plunkett, representative, to Cora Knurek-Hogan, 4 Birch Lane, $240,000.
Thomas D. Pirnie and Leslie M. Pirnie to Milan P. Peich Jr., and Lyndsay E. Peich, 62 Bayberry Lane, $390,000.
William M. Lamirande Jr., and Kimberly K. Daley Lamirande to William M. Lamirande III, and Ashlie Marie Baker, 66 Barbara St., $303,000.
Brian D. Hayden, personal representative, and Richard J. Hayden, estate, to Garrett Tenczar, 89 Northwest Road, $329,000.
Leon W. Horning and Rhoda S. Horning to Mark Nielsen and Peter Nielsen, 226 Huntington Road, $385,000.
she was hired by Princeton University as its first consulting landscape architect, a position she held for 31 years.
Fanny Lou Hamer
A civil rights and agricultural activist, Hamer founded the Freedom Farm Cooperative in the late 1960s to provide land, livestock and vegetable-growing resources to poor Black families and farmers in Sunflower County, Mississippi. The Cooperative facilitated crop-sharing, self-reliance and financial independence. Participating families were also loaned a piglet to raise to maturity, after which they would return it for mating and give the cooperative two piglets from each litter to continue the program. “If you have a pig in your backyard, if you
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 June meeting. Completed applications along with transcripts and references must be submitted to Denise Carmody, 40 Primrose Lane Agawam, MA 01001 by April 1.
The Springfield Garden Club is accepting applications for its annual $2,000 scholarship
have some vegetables in your garden, you can feed yourself and your family, and nobody can push you around,” Hamer said. Her Cooperative became one of the earliest examples of modern community gardening and a precursor of today’s food justice movement.
Claudia ‘Lady Bird’
Johnson
First lady from 1963 to 1969, Johnson was an environmentalist and early native plants proponent who advocated for preserving wild spaces. She led the effort to secure the passage of the 1965 Highway Beautification Act during her husband’s presidency. The law sought to clear highways of billboards and to plant wildflowers along their shoulders to support plant and animal biodiversity and regional identity. Today, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin honors her legacy.
Carrie Lippincott
To contribute to her family’s income, Lippincott, of Minneapolis, started a seed business in 1886. Calling herself the “Pioneer Seedswoman of America,” she published the first seed catalog explicitly targeted to women, featuring a conversational introduction and illustrations of women, children and flowers at a time when other catalogs were simply text on paper. The pamphlet also was the first to specify the number of seeds included in each packet. The style and format revolutionized how seeds were sold, and were soon emulated by competing seed companies. Business bloomed, and soon, Miss C. H. Lippincott Flower Seeds was shipping seeds worldwide.
Marie Clark Taylor
In 1941, Taylor became the first Black woman to receive
awarded 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, 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. High school seniors, undergraduate and graduate college students are eligible for consideration. For additional information and to request a copy of the application contact Jane Glushik at SGCscholarship@gmail.com. Scholarship applications are to be complete and meet the submission deadline of April 1, to be eligible for consideration.
The Springfield Garden Club’s last “Gardening Basics” class will be held on April 13 at
a doctorate in botany in the United States, and the first woman of any race to gain a Ph.D. in science from Fordham University. As an educator, she applied her doctoral research on the effect of light on plant growth to change the way high school science was taught. She encouraged the use of light microscopes and botanical materials in the classroom for the first time. In the mid-1960s, President Lyndon B. Johnson enlisted her to expand her teaching methods nationwide. Taylor also served as chair of Howard University’s Botany Department for nearly 30 years until her retirement in 1976.
Waheenee
Also known as Buffalo Bird Woman, Waheenee was a Hidatsa woman born around 1839 in what is now North Dakota. She mastered and shared centuries-old
10 a.m.
The last class in the series is “Composting.” Janet Dolder, Springfield Garden Club member and master gardener, will share how to turn kitchen scraps and garden waste into gold.
The class will be held at the Shea Building at Forest Park, 300 Sumner Ave. Tickets are $10 and are available on Eventbrite, by emailing spfldgardenclub@gmail.com or by calling 413-285-3163.
Berkshire Botanical Garden will host a two-day seminar, “Principles of Biological Systems,” on March 16-17 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dan Kittredge will provide an overview of the principles and practices of biological farming. Participation-based with questions and answers, the workshop is designed for farmers, growers, and gardeners of any type. Cost is $175 members, $225 nonmembers. To register or for more information, visit berkshirebotanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
cultivating, planting and harvesting techniques with Gilbert L. Wilson, a minister and anthropologist who studied the tribe in the early 1900s. During visits that spanned 10 years, Wilson, whose work was sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History, transcribed Waheenee’s words with her son serving as interpreter. The resulting book, “Buffalo Bird Woman’s Garden: Agriculture of the Hidatsa Indians,” first published in 1917, documented the Hidatsa women’s methods for growing beans, corn, squash, sunflowers and tobacco, as well as the tools they used and their practices for drying and winter storage. Her advice is still relevant today.
Jessica Damiano writes regular gardening columns for the Associated Press and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter.
Western Massachusetts Master Gardener Associations’ in-person Spring Gardening Symposia returns, beginning March 23 in Westfield, on April 6 in Lenox and April 13 in South Deerfield. For more information, registration forms and/or online registration visit wmmga.org.
The first symposium, “Let’s Get Growing,” will be held on March 23 at Westfield South Middle School. This half-day event will allow attendees to select from a range of topics including “Planting for Birds in Your Backyard,” with Dan Ziomek from Sugarloaf Gardens; “Garden for Life: Using Native Plants in the Landscape,” with Kristen Nicholson from Blue Stem Natives Nursery; “Friend or Foe? Helpful and Harmful Garden Insects and Worms,” with Olga Kostromytska, entomologist form UMass Extension and Stockbridge School of Agriculture; and “Pruning for Better Blooms,” with Jen Werner, horticulturist and retired professor of landscape design management at STCC.
The West Springfield Garden Club announces that two $1,000 scholarships are available for qualified high school seniors or post-secondary students during the spring of 2024. Applicants must be West Springfield residents. Scholarships are available for students with a focus of study in one or more of the following areas: Horticulture, Agriculture, Ecology, Botany, Environmental Studies, Landscape Design or Forestry. Applicants must submit a completed application along with a written one-page document that demonstrates their plans for after graduation in any of the above-mentioned fields and how the grant will assist in their career choice. Application forms are available at the Guidance offices of Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative located a 174 Brush Hill Avenue, the West Springfield High School at 425 Piper Road or online at wwsgardenclub.org.
By C athy Hobbs Tribune News Service
Home is where the heart is and now is a wonderful time to take advantage of opportunities to do quick, easy, at-home projects that may help to create order and calm. Organization tops the list as does creating environments that are calm and soothing.
Looking for some projects to do in your spare time? Here are some projects to help get you started.
• Start in the kitchen. The kitchen is the heart of the house and where people spend a large amount of time. From organizing cupboards and shelves to pantries, refrigerators and drawers, organizing these areas can lead to a greater sense of calm.
• Create an inviting home office. If possible, place your workspace or desk next to a window. Natural light goes a long way in fostering creativity and enhancing your work mood.
• Prepare for warm weather. Warm weather is in place in many parts of the country and just around the corner in others, so now is a good time to prep outdoor items such as furniture and grills.
• Head into the bedrooms. Master bedrooms should be calm and soothing, while children’s bedrooms should feel fun, festive and inviting.
Regardless of your desire, some of the best ways to achieve this are through the use of color, art and texture.
• Implement systems and a schedule. Tired of items or tasks always being on the back burner? Create a weekly schedule in which certain tasks are performed. For example, performing laundry duties on Monday, cleaning your home on Wednesday and planning and executing meal prep on Sunday.
• Finish small repairs. Whether it is that bathroom that needs to be re-caulked or that small area that needs a bit of touch up paint, taking on small repairs will lead to a more finished home.
• Change light bulbs. Switching from lower wattage bulbs to those with higher wattage is an easy, quick
and affordable fix.
• Perform routine maintenance tasks such as checking for leaks or minor damage around your home. Additionally, check major appliances and systems that power your home.
• Pack and purge. Now is the perfect time to get rid of any and all excess.
• Evaluate and create a game plan. Sometimes the best road to complete all of the items on your home “to do list” is to create a plan and execute in segments.
Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design home staging expert and shortterm rental/vacation home designer with offices in New York City and The Hudson Valley. Contact her at info@ cathyhobbs.com.
John & Jackie
M.R. Russo Company
