Home and Garden, and Real Estate- March 24, 2024

Garden centers trying to keep COVID-fueled growth going, Page F2

IN THE GARDEN: If you aren’t already growing some vegetables, now is a great time to get your garden started, F4

PILLOW TALK: Spring is the perfect time to refresh our living spaces with vibrant patterns and colors, F6

GARDEN NOTES: F3

ANTIQUES: F10

WMASS DEEDS: F11

Two green thumbs up Garden

centers working hard to maintain that pandemic momentum

By M AE ANDERSON Associated Press

Garden centers enjoyed a pandemic boom, particularly with millennials, as people looked for outdoor activities during lockdowns. Now the question is, will those wannabe green thumbs stick with the habit?

In 2022, 80% of U.S. households took part in lawn and gardening activities, a five-year high, according to the National Gardening Association’s 2023 National Gardening Survey. Spending on lawn and gardening activities rose to an average of $616 per household in 2022, an increase of $74 from 2021.

Danny Summers, managing director of The Garden Center Group, which tracks sales of about 125 centers across the country, said sales are up by about 25% compared with 2019. But the sales totals flattened out between 2022 and 2023.

The spring season is crucial, because garden centers can make about 60% of sales during the 12 weeks of spring, according to Summers. That’s particularly true for centers in the North since there are fewer months to plant.

To regain the sales momentum, garden centers must navigate a number of challenges as another spring season kicks in. Chief among them are volatile weather and higher costs for labor and plant materials, which in turn has forced the companies to raise prices for customers.

One positive development: Younger households, particularly the 18- to 34-year-old age group and 35- to 44-year old age group, have seen larger increases in spending than older households, a trend that Summers thinks has legs.

“Our garden centers are just serving a new need that we don’t see going away anytime soon, because this new audi-

“Our garden centers are just serving a new need that we don’t see going away anytime soon, because this new audience is very much grounded in nature and plants and gardening.”

Danny Summers, managing director of The Garden Center Group

ence is very much grounded in nature and plants and gardening,” he said.

At Flowercraft Garden Center, a San Francisco garden center that is in its 50th year of operation, houseplants, vegetable starter plants and citrus trees are selling well, said general manager Lydia Patubo.

Since the spring season is so short, garden centers are at the mercy of the weather. Patubo said last year’s unprecedented storms in the area put a dent in business. San Francisco saw record rainfall of nearly 34 inches during the 2023 “water year,“ which ended in September. That was good for an area suffering from a yearslong drought, but bad for garden center business.

“It was a rough year,” Patubo said. “So, I’m hoping (this year) for less rain, better business,” she said.

As spring kicks into gear, Patubo said smaller items – such as 4-inch plants or six plants in a pack — are selling better than bigger 1- to 15-gallon plants because customers are spending less due to higher prices and inflation.

“The smaller stuff sells remarkably well, it’s the bigger stuff that I need to move a little faster,” she said. That affects her ordering from dozens of growers in California. “So, my ordering is way down, but the ordering for smaller products is way up.”

At the East Coast Garden Center in Millsboro, Delaware, co-owner Chris Cordrey said weather is also a concern,

Centers enjoyed a pandemic boom and sales have remained above 2019 levels but they’ve plateaued, and now garden centers are facing higher costs and ever more volatile weather.

(TASSANEE VEJPONGSA / ASSOCIATED PRESS)

particularly because so much of the center’s business is compressed into a four-month period between March and June.

“We got a lot of rain last year, so that made it difficult,” he said. “If you miss a Saturday during the busy time when it’s raining or cold out, then that really hurts your sales overall.”

While according to the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration, 2023 was overall the third-driest year on record, parts of the country saw above average rainfall. Meanwhile, there were a record 28 separate weather and climate disasters in 2023 that caused an estimated $1 billion in damages, such as heat waves, drought, wildfires and floods, surpassing the record 22 the U.S. had in 2020. All of those can affect plants.

Higher costs are another issue.

“What we’re used to paying labor has increased tremendously,” Cordray said. He hasn’t hired fewer workers,

with a staff of 200, but he created a new recruitment position and added recruitment software to help retain staff.

“And our garden supplies

across the board have increased drastically. … So we’re definitely seeing a lot of increasing in our costs,” he said.

Top right, an employee carries a tray of plants at East Coast Garden Center on March 13 in Millsboro, Del. Bottom right, Lettuce is displayed at East Coast Garden Center. Garden

AGAWAM

Student scholarship

Applications are now available for the Agawam Garden Club 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 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: 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

LENOX

Garden symposia

Western Massachusetts Master Gardener Associations’ in-person Spring Gardening Symposia next symposium is April 6 in Lenox and April 13 in

South Deerfield. For more information, registration forms and/or online registration visit wmmga.org

The second symposium, “Spring Into Gardening,” will be Saturday, April 6 at the Lenox Memorial Middle School and High School in Lenox. This half-day event will allow attendees to select from a range of topics including: “Starting a Vegetable Garden” with Ron Jujawski, Horticultural consultant, author and educator; “Compost Happens” with Jodi Callihane, from Ward’s Nursery: “Ornamental Alternative: Replacing Invasives with Beautiful Natives for a Healthy & Beneficial Home Habitat” with Cornell University Master Gardener Christine Ferrero; and “Living Walls” with WMMGA Master Gardener, Shari Petrucci. For more information, registration forms and/or online registration, visit wmmga.org

MONSON

Guest night

Monson Garden Club is sponsoring its guest night program April 1 at 7 p.m. at First Church of Monson on High Street.

Bob Whitney will host a presentation on floral design. This program is open to the public with light refreshments to be served. A suggested donation of $5 will give guests a chance to take home one of the arrangements made during the presentation.

SPRINGFIELD Student scholarship

The Springfield Garden Club is accepting applications for its annual $2,000

scholarship, to be awarded to a graduating high school senior, undergraduate or graduate college student majoring in a full-time plant science or environmental studies program.

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 must meet the submission deadline of April 1 to be eligible for consideration. The Springfield Garden Club has awarded over $80,000 to more than 50 students during the past 30 plus years. Funds for the scholarship are raised at the annual plant sale, to be held this year on June 1 from 9

a.m. to noon at Forest Park on Sumner Avenue.

Gardening basics

The Springfield Garden Club’s final “Gardening basics” class on the basics of starting a garden. will be April 13 at 10 a.m.

The last class in the series is “Composting,” to be presented by Janet Dolder, Springfield Garden Club member and master gardener.

SEE NOTES, PAGE F14

Prepare spring garden for homegrown veggies all season long

FOR ANYONE WHO isn’t growing some vegetables, now is a good time to start a vegetable garden.

A garden will provide pleasant and interesting diversion, some exercise, a chance to be outdoors, the need for less frequent trips to the market, a good family project/activity, and some savings of food dollars. And the experience of — wonder of wonders — watching seeds sprout and grow into plants.

Growing vegetables is easy.

Seeds have been practicing sprouting for millions of years. That’s what they do. Sprout. And plants have been doing likewise.

Paying attention to some basic plant needs will make your garden even more successful. As far as soil, don’t worry about fertility or acidity for now. The most important consideration is drainage. That is, does water move down through the soil or does it just sit in place for a long, long time.

What’s a “long, long time?”

If you really want to know, cut the bottom and top off a coffee or similar, straight-sided can, and set the can into a hole a

few inches deep, pushing it into the soil (not if it’s frozen) in the bottom of the hole. Fill the can with water, let it drain, then fill it again. If the water level drops slower than 1 inch per hour, drainage is poor. Find another site or make raised beds.

No backyard or front yard in which to grow vegetables? No problem. Grow them in a tub or flowerpot. Pay attention to drainage even if your “garden” is a tub or a large flowerpot. The container must have drainage holes in its bottom to let water drain out. And you’re going to fill that container with “potting soil,” not with dirt from your garden. Water can’t drain well through garden soil in the confines of a container, which is why potting soils have, among their ingredients, perlite, vermiculite, or other mineral aggregate to speed water flow.

Whether in a container or in your front or back yard, vegetables need sun, about six hours of direct summer sunshine daily.

Next, ready the ground. For most newbies, that means transmuting a patch of lawn

Lee Reich | In the Garden

This

Spring is the season to refresh your pillows

By K atie L aughridge Tribune News Service

As we welcome the arrival of spring, it’s the perfect time to refresh our living spaces with vibrant patterns and fresh fabrics. Although bunnies and tulips reign supreme when you think of decorating for spring, fabrics offer a plethora of options to infuse color and personality into your home decor. From soft pastels to bold florals, the possibilities are endless.

It can seem daunting at first, but with a little creativity and guidance, mixing patterns can transform a room into a lively and dynamic space.

Start with a focal pattern. Choose one standout pattern as the focal point of your room design. This could be a large-scale chinoise, a bold geometric print or an intricate damask. Once you have your focal pattern selected, you can then layer in other patterns to complement and enhance it.

Selecting a focal pattern is a pivotal step when it comes to pattern mixing in interior design. Your focal pattern serves as the anchor of your room’s aesthetic, setting the tone for the entire space. When choosing a focal pattern, consider selecting one that speaks to your personal style and reflects the mood you want to create in the room. This could be a bold floral print that adds a touch of whimsy, a classic stripe that exudes timeless ele-

gance, or a vibrant geometric pattern that injects a modern flair. The key is to choose a focal pattern that resonates with you and sets the stage for the rest of your design.

Once you’ve selected your focal pattern, use it as a guiding force when selecting complementary fabrics and patterns for the room. Your focal pattern will dictate the color palette and overall style direction of the space, so be sure to choose fabrics that complement and enhance its aesthetic. Consider incorporating fabrics with coordinating colors or complementary patterns that play nicely with the scale and style of your focal pattern. By selecting a focal pattern and building your design around it, you can create a cohesive and visually appealing space that reflects your unique sense of style. Use solids as grounding elements. Solid colors act as anchors amidst a sea of patterns, providing visual relief and preventing the room from feeling overly busy or chaotic. Incorporating solid colors into your pattern mixing can help ground the space and prevent it from feeling too overwhelming to the eye. Solid colored pillows work as lovely companions to their patterned counterparts without stealing the spotlight. Using solid

To offset higher costs, he had to raise prices; for example, a flower in a 1-gallon pot, a standard size, had sold between $5 and $5.50 but he had to raise that to between $6 and $6.50.

So far, customers are taking the price increases in stride. Container gardening — putting plants in containers in areas where ground space is limited — newer “dwarf” size plants and fruit trees and bushes like blueberries and raspberries are popular.

“People are enjoying growing their own food and then harvesting their food,” he said. Even though his sales have plateaued since the pandemic, he feels the 34-year-old garden center is in a good spot.

At Ooltewah Nursery and Landscape Co. in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which has been in business for 35 years, sales boomed during the pandemic and haven’t slowed down since.

Vegetable and fruit plants are big sellers, including tomatoes and eggplants, said general manager Kat McGraw. Because of the garden center’s location — two hours from both Atlanta and Nashville — a lot of retirees have relocated there, and they have time to spend on their gardens.

Still, weather has been a challenge there too, including last year’s drought and deep freeze, not normal for the area. A lot of plants were damaged.

Like elsewhere, costs have risen across the board, including costs for delivery

and trucking, potting soil and even the wind chimes found in the gift shop.

“Everything has increased over the last two years,” McGraw said. “I don’t know of anything that hasn’t.”

But that hasn’t discouraged her customers from spending, she said. The

mild climate in Tennessee, weather events aside, lets people garden eight or nine months out of the year.

“People are still putting a lot of time into their yards, they all want a nice yard, and that’s where they spend a lot of their time,” she said.

At times, saving money for a down payment and closing costs can be a challenge. That’s

Above, a border of Beacon Pink Lipstick impatiens on Long Island, New York, The plants are

DAMIANO VIA AP)

Right, Noel Santana tends plants at Flowercraft, a garden center in San Francisco. (HAVEN DALEY / ASSOCIATED PRESS)

CURRENT PRICES

Identifying glass is no easy task

GLASS CAN BE NOtoriously difficult to identify. Signatures, if there are any, can be faked, molds can be reused, and glassmakers often imitated one another’s decorations. Stiegel-type glass is an excellent example.

We know that Henry William Stiegel came to Philadelphia from Germany in 1750. We know he had a glasshouse in Manheim, Pennsylvania, from 1763 to 1774. Confirming that a piece of glass came from his glasshouse is nearly impossible. To begin with, the glass he made was similar to what was made in Germany at the time: thin-walled, moldblown glass decorated with enamel or engraving. The same type of glass was made by other American glassmakers and imported from Europe.

In the 20th century, copies were made as giftware. To further complicate matters, some collectors doubt that Stiegel actually made any multicolored enamel glass, like this cologne bottle that sold at the Conestoga Auction Company Division of Hess Auction Group for $312. The auction described it as “Stiegel-type” instead of attributing it to Stiegel or any other glassmaker.

Q. I have a very old microscope that is beautiful, and it still works. It has been in my family for at least 100 years. I would like to sell it and I am not sure how to proceed. It has a French inscription reading “C. Verick, eleve special de E. Hartnack, rue de la Pax cheminerie 2 Paris.”

A. Your microscope was made by Constant Verick, who lived from 1829 to 1892. He worked for Edmund Hartnack before starting his own business in 1866. Both Verick and Hartnack were highly regarded microscope

Watch for “style” or “type” in descriptions of antiques. Glass like this enameled cologne bottle is usually called “Stiegel type” because it is virtually impossible to tell whether it was made by Henry William Stiegel or another glassmaker. (COWLES SYNDICATE INC.)

makers in the 1860s and ’70s. Antique microscopes with a known maker can sell for about $250 to $500 at general antiques auctions. Usually, the more information (maker, date, etc.), the higher the value. The original box, slides and other “extras” also increase the value. If there are any antique shops or auction houses in your area, check to

see if they sell microscopes or related antiques like binoculars, scientific instruments or medical equipment. You can search online or check ads in antiques publications for collectors or clubs specializing in antique microscopes or scientific or optical tools. You can also check medical supply companies; some of them also deal in antique equipment.

Q. What is the value of a Lionel train set with accessories from the 1930s?

A. The Lionel Manufacturing Company started in New York in 1900 and quickly earned its place as one of the bestknown makers of model trains. They introduced the Standard Gauge train, which has 2 1/8 inches between the rails, in 1907. They were made until the 1930s. “O” gauge train sets, measuring 1 1/4 inches between the rails, were made by the 1930s. The 1930s Lionel train sets, usually called “pre-war” by collectors, often sell for about $100-$500 at auctions. Large sets in excellent condition with original boxes can sell for over $1,000. Individual accessories can sell for about $10 to over $100. Condition is usually the most important factor. Trains with chipped paint and signs of wear will sell for lower prices, even if they are in working condition. There are many publications and price guides that specialize in collecting toy trains. “Lionel Trains Pocket Price Guide, 1901-2024” (Kalmbach Media) is a handy reference. You should be able to find it at your local library. The Train Collectors Association is another great resource. Check it out online at www.tcatrains.org

TIP: Shallow nicks and rough edges on glass can sometimes be smoothed off with fine emery paper.

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. We do not guarantee

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.

Toy, top, spinning, Marvel Super Heroes, Secret Wars, hero and villain, pull strap, on card, Fleetwood Toys, 1984, 10 1/2 inches, $35.

Soft paste, tea caddy, short neck, molded shoulders, blue trim, yellow flowers, molded columns at corners, England, c. 1800, 5 x 4 inches, $85.

Poster, Maine Steamship Company, black and white print, steamship John Englis on water, frame, 33 x 47 inches, $155.

Delatte, vase, light blue, art deco enamel, black, turquoise, gilt, flat rim, signed, Delatte Nancy, c. 1920, 15 3/4 in. $500

Silver-Mexican, chocolate pot, dome lid, Queen Anne style, turnip finial, tapering body, gooseneck spout, wood handle, monogram, Tane, mid20th century, 8 1/2 in. $575

Furniture, chair, Windsor, poplar, mixed wood, comb back, four arrow spindles, writing arm, full bamboo spindles, plank seat, ochre paint, c. 1800, 46 x 40 in. $675

Rug, Turkish, flatweave, red field, allover multicolor squares, geometric motifs, braided fringe, wool, 20th century, 14 feet 10 inches x 6 feet 2 inches, $1,095.

Music, guitar, acoustic, Sunburst, KG-11, Kalamazoo, Gibson, chip board case, 1933-43, 39 inches, $1,250.

Nautical, binnacle, brass hood over compass, red and green navigator balls, oil lamp, porcelain burner, mahogany base, maker’s plaque, Kelvin & Hughes, 49 1/2 inches, $1,490.

Porcelain-Chinese, vase, Famille Rose, Hu shape, globular, millefleur, deer’s head handles, raised foot, red seal Qianlong mark, c. 1900, 13 x 10 1/2 inches, $1,920.

the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Questions that are answered will appear in Kovels Publications. Write to Kovels, The Republican, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels.com.

Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting

30-year US mortgage rate climbs back up to nearly 7%

By A LEX VEIGA Associated Press

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed back to nearly 7% this week, pushing up borrowing costs for home shoppers with the spring homebuying season underway.

The average rate on a 30year mortgage rose to 6.87% from 6.74% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.42%. The average rate is now just below where it was two weeks ago.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose this week, pushing the average rate to 6.21% from 6.16% last

Deeds

AGAWAM

Alex P. Jez and Dylann Jez to Marcin Kosinski, 14 Regency Park Drive, 14B, $165,000.

Andrew J. Fox to Joyce M. St. John, 1 Beekman Place, $228,000.

Ellis L. Langone to Michael G. Shepard, Maureen S. Shepard, Michael J. Shepard and Heatheranne Shepard, 417 Shoemaker Lane, $450,000.

Gregory R. Forsman and Suzanne S. Ricardi to Mila Sinigur, 612 North West St., $309,900.

Jeremy Daunais to Emin Mammadov, 23 Fenton St., $308,000.

Joyce M. St. John, representative, and David F. St. John Sr., estate, to Mark Don Realty LLC, 441 Silver St., $350,000.

Michael A. Luciani to Colin James Robinson and Sharon Huang, 35 Mill St., $309,500.

Michael Shepard and Maureen S. Shepard to Jacob Rodriguez and Natalie Rodriguez, 45 Southwick St., $365,000.

Silver Snake Properties LLC, to Nora Wine, 28 Center St., $330,000.

SM Real Estate Investments LLC, Michael Curtis and Jessica Fontaine to Mary Kaeding, 3D Sabrina Way, Unit 3D, $479,900.

AMHERST

Nancy M. Gordon and Edward M. Gordon, attorney-in-fact, to Edward

week. A year ago it averaged 5.68%, Freddie Mac said.

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.

“After decreasing for a couple of weeks, mortgage rates are once again on the upswing,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

Investors’ expectations for future inflation, global demand for U.S. Treasurys and what the Federal Reserve does with its short-term interest rate can influence rates on home loans.

After climbing to a 23-year

M. Gordon, trustee, Richard M. Gordon, trustee, and Nancy M. Gordon 2015 Trust, 27 Pease Place, $100.

Christopher Shanky, trustee, Julia Feeney, trustee, and Christopher Shanky & Julia Feeney Revocable Trust to Christopher Shanky, trustee, Julia Feeney, trustee, Christopher Shanky & Julia Feeney Revocable Trust, Samuel Shanky and Nicholas Shanky, 610 East Pleasant St., $100.

Jenifer E. Lynn and Jennifer L. Summers to Denis R. Bruno, 21 Pine Grove, $295,000.

Robert D. Marx, trustee, and Revocable Indenture of Trust of Robert D. Marx to Ana Dominique Villalobos, 48 Ridgecrest Road, $516,000.

Lincoln Avenue Partners LLC, to Fern & Co LLC, 89 South East St., $450,000.

Mei-Shu Shih, personal representative, and Mei-Yau Shih, estate, to Gee Hyun Kim, 11 Winston Court, $320,000.

Justin C. Ching to YG Pond LLC, 8 Hillcrest Place, $542,000.

Jonathan A. Hite to Elizabeth J. Simon, Bedford Court, $100.

BELCHERTOWN

Linda L. Hanscom to Gregory P. Hanscom, 690 Gulf Road, $100.

Pamela G. Kozlowski and Walter M. Kozlowski Living Trust to Pamela G. Kozlowski, trustee, and Walter M. Kozlowski Family Trust, 400 North Liberty St., $100.

John H. Peters Jr., to Terry D. Bushorr, 230 Jabish St., $100.

high of 7.79% in October, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage has remained below 7% since early December. Rates eased amid expectations that inflation was cooling enough for the Fed to begin lowering its shortterm interest rate by this spring. But a spate of stronger-than-expected reports on inflation, the job market and the economy in recent weeks dimmed that outlook, sending mortgage rates higher through most of February. Many economists expect that mortgage rates will ultimately ease moderately this year, but that’s not likely to happen before the Federal Reserve begins cutting its benchmark interest rate. On

Wednesday, the central bank kept its rate unchanged and signaled again that it expects to make three rate cuts this year, but not before it sees more evidence that inflation is slowing.

“The Fed’s announcement that it is holding interest rates steady for now was not unexpected, but it does mean that mortgage rates are going to remain higher for longer,” said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS.

The U.S. housing market is coming off a deep, 2-year sales slump triggered by a sharp rise in mortgage rates and a dearth of homes on the market. The overall decline in rates since their peak last fall has helped lower monthly

Mariah McCaughey to Elizabeth I. Moody and Robert Jacques Jr., 786 Franklin St., $364,000.

BERNARDSTON

Bruce R. Hietala to Rebecca Harrison and Austin Mille, 90 Church St., $259,000.

Drenna M. Mahaney to Alexander J. Wahlstrom and Amber E. Wahlstrom, 213 Northfield Road, $350,000.

BUCKLAND

Sarah Ludwig White, personal representative of the Estate of Marian Louise Woodsome, “aka” Marian Woodsome Ludwig, to Tara Mason and Edward Whitaker, 11 Rand Road & Route 112, $320,000.

CHARLEMONT

Rotima SA Inc., to Margaret M. Hobbs, 480 West Oxbow Road & East Oxbow Road, $480,000.

CHICOPEE

896-900 Prospect Street Inc., to Daviau & Robert Properties LLC, 1682 Memorial Drive, $325,000. Brady Williams to Adam Cutter, 49-51 Harrison Ave., $410,000.

Brian P. Cooper, Daniel M. Cooper, William E. Cooper Jr., and Marguerite M. Cooper to Shannon Parncutt and Carmen Aversa III, 40 Piquette Ave., $295,000.

Donald J. Duda to Alycia Beavis and Allen Carlson, 403 Britton St., $298,000.

mortgage payments, providing more financial breathing room for homebuyers facing rising prices and a shortage of homes for sale this year.

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes rose in February from the previous month to the strongest pace in a year. That followed a month-tomonth home sales increase in January.

Still, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage remains well above where it was just two years ago at 4.42%. That large gap between rates now and then has helped limit the number of previously occupied homes on the market by discouraging homeowners who locked in rock-bottom rates from selling.

Edward Bernat and Gregory Bernat to 895 Meadow Street LLC, 895 Meadow St., $100.

Joao A. Ferreira to Tavernier Investments LLC, 757-759 Chicopee St., $250,000.

KMAK LLC, and Bernash Realty LLC, to Vicky Esteves, 50 Lorimer St., $280,000.

LeClerc Holdings LLC, to 19 Ellen Street LLC, 591 Grattan St., $650,000.

Nexus Apartments LLC, to Josue Escobar and Hayley Gaudiosi, 196 Clarendon Ave., $290,000.

Roberta Nubile, representative, and Rosalia Nubile, estate, to Joseph R. Conway, trustee, and Mack NA Servicing Trust, trustee of, 15 Riverview Place, $60,000.

Victor J. Garriga to Arlin R. Troncoso, 389-391 Front St., $572,000.

COLRAIN

US Bank NA, trustee for Mortgage Equity Conversion Asset Trust 2011-1, to Giselle Harrington, 15 Griswoldville St., $127,000.

DEERFIELD

4 Industrial Drive West LLC, to Norava Deerfield LLC, 4 Industrial Drive West, $1,400,000.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Barbara A. Reich, trustee, and 52 Melwood Avenue Nominee Trust, trustee of, to Daniel Tarbell, 52 Melwood Ave., $358,500.

David T. Bourbeau, representative, and Karen E. Callahan, estate, to

Meghan K. Godfrey and Daniel J. Marchia, 17 Holy Cross Circle, $395,000.

Desiree Miller to Brianna Fenney, 115 LaSalle St., $221,000.

John J. Ernst and Laurie B. Ernst to Amy Santarelli Wealth Management LLC, 180 Denslow Road, Unit 4, $136,000.

Minh Thanh Chau and Daniel Tuong Luu to James R. Stevens Jr., and Theresa L. Stevens, 15 Linden Ave., $320,000.

EASTHAMPTON

James M. Leveille and Karen Leveille to Nicholas Leveille and Christopher Leveille, 16 Robin Road, $100.

Arthur L. Hill and Patricia L. Hill to Diane C. Wauczinski, 15 Zabek Drive, $335,000.

ERVING

John L. Whitney to Rogers Real Estate Solution Inc., 62 East Main St., $111,000.

GILL

Deborah Smith, personal representative of the Estate of Donald Raymond Gould, “aka” Donald R. Gould, “aka” Donald Gould, to Dana D. Gheorghita and Deonisie Gheorghita, 65 Ben Hale Road, $250,000.

GRANBY

Giuliana P. Davidoff, Ronald W. Davidoff and Ronald J. Davidoff to Ronald J. Davidoff, trustee, Giuliana

Blue is color of spring

By C athy Hobbs Tribune News Service

When one thinks of spring, what colors come to mind?

Perhaps pink, yellow and of course blue. Blue is not only one of the most popular colors, it can also be an ideal color for spring.

Looking for ways to utilize blue into your spring décor?

Here are some tips.

• Use tints tints, tones and shades of blue. It is OK to mix — for example, to pair light blue and indigo.

• Integrate blue accents through elements such as artwork.

• Look to accessories such as toss pillows, throws and

Reich

CONTINUES FROM PAGE F4

to a vegetable garden. There are two options. The first is the traditional one, turning over and mixing up the top few inches of ground to kill existing vegetation and leave a surface in which you can plant seeds. Do that, using a shovel, garden fork, or rototiller as soon as the soil is dry enough to crumble, not wad up, when squeezed gently in your hand.

Wait two weeks for Mother Nature to work her magic decomposing some of that existing vegetation. Or, rather, part of her magic.

After two weeks, dig up the ground again, this time adding some compost or fertilizer. You could dispense with the compost or fertilizer this season if whatever was growing there before digging looked vibrant. Wait another two weeks, and when you’re ready to plant, use a garden rake to tickle the surface of the ground and crumble it.

Digging up the ground may be a nice way to get your blood pumping on a spring day, and may even give you a feeling of righteousness, but there’s a better, quicker, and easier way, to prepare the garden site. There’ll also be less weeds in weeks to come.

Deeds

Blue accents help to add a pop of color in this family room space. (PROVIDED PHOTO / TNS)

vases as a way to infuse blue into a space.

• Don’t be afraid to use black. Black can help to make certain shades of blue look richer.

SEE

For option No. 2, you will need a supply of compost and either wood chips, straw, sawdust, or wood shavings. This option is easy: just cover the garden area with newspaper, four sheets thickness and overlapping, and then wet the newspaper to keep it from blowing away. Mark out 3-foot wide beds and 18 to 24” wide paths with string, and lay an inch or more of compost in the bed areas, and enough of the wood chips, straw, sawdust, or wood shavings in the paths to cover the paper. You’re all set to plant!

In most places, but not everywhere, a fence is needed to fend off rabbits. Two-foot high chickenwire (“poultry netting”) will do the trick.

What to grow is a matter of taste. Kale, collards, and Swiss chard offer maximum nutrition and a very long harvest season. For some homegrown calories, potatoes and sweet corn. For rounding things out with great flavor, tomato, eggplant, pepper, cucumbers. Think about what you want to grow, look at seed catalogues, order seeds, and when we next cross paths, I’ll say something about timing.

Any gardening questions? Email questions to garden@ leereich.com. For more gardening tip, visit: www.leereich. com/blog.

P. Davidoff, trustee, and Ronald & Giuliana Davidoff 2024 Family Trust, 2 Burnett St., $100.

Alfred Shattleroe and Dicky Matos to Yamirelis Matos, 209 West State St., $100.

GREENFIELD

City of Greenfield to Greenfield Savings Bank, 402 Main St., $10,000.

Anderson & Dolby LLC, to Frst Strength Properties LLC, 306 High St., $650,000.

HADLEY

Rosemund LLC, to Michael David Thomas and Karen Ann Thomas, 3 Adare Place, $865,000.

HAMPDEN

Fumi Realty Inc., to Ian Edwards and Sara Edwards, 261 Chapin Road, $395,000.

HATFIELD

Kirit Kumar I. Patel, Kiritkumar I. Patel and Sobhna Patel to 92 Hatfield LLC, 20 West St., $1,300,000. Center School LLC, to Kathryn A. Baker and Kimberly L. Emery, 58 Main St., $525,000.

HEATH

John C. Gary to Edward B. Watt, Avery Brook Road, $15,000.

HOLLAND

Herbert F. Seymour III, to Kepler Despeines and Vanessa Bernadeau, 63 South Cottage Road, $385,000.

HOLYOKE

Alaska Assets LLC, to MA Real Estate Holdings LLC, 130 Middle Water St., $475,000.

Alfred Shattelroe to Gail L. English, 210 Suffolk St., $20,000.

Holyoke City to WF Real Estate Holdings LLC, 394 High St., $30,000.

HUNTINGTON

Lawrence E. West and Linda A. West to Stan Properties LLC, 20 Blandford Hill Road, $53,000.

LONGMEADOW

James A. Most and Anne R. Most to Joseph Carl Ruddeforth and Ernesto Gabriel Gonzalez, 141 Englewood Road, $739,000.

Todd N. Ottman, representative, and Claire E. Ottman, estate, to Frank Di Benedetto, 28 Connecticut Ave., Rear, $9,985.

William M. Fitzgerald Jr., to Timothy A. Lucier and Jennifer B. Wilson, 723 Shaker Road, $233,000.

LUDLOW

Ashley Rourke and Andrew Rourke to Kevin P. Geissler, Kevin Geissler and Gabriella Pires Santoro, 1352 Center St., $550,000.

CTC Property Holdings LLC, to Matthew Nye, 150-152 Sewall St., $375,000.

Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Cioccolate Realty Trust, trustee of, to Rebecca Hulsey, 1535 Center St., $319,987.

Jeannette I. Reopel to Michael Henry and Lucindy Napoli, 35 Bluegrass Lane, $363,000.

Thomas Lennon to Thomas Frederick Hodgins, 13 Lilian St., $147,500.

William P. Koscher to Heath J. Racela and Seema S. Racela, 51 Bridle Road, $529,000.

MONSON

Maaz Ahmed Siddiqui and Sheikh M. Ali to Joshua Stoddard, 3-5 Lincoln Place, $415,000.

Robert B. Webb and Mary Webb to David Canelas, 226 Wilbraham Road, $425,000.

MONTAGUE

Arthur E. Belanger, Jr. and Edward O. Belanger, trustees of the Arthur E. Belanger & Rita E. Belanger

Irrevocable Family Trust, to Albert Emond and Jodi Marie Emond, 12 Chester St., $335,000.

Christopher R. Shea to Matthew Latkiewicz and Sarah Reid, 76 Park St., $300,000.

Vincent A. Rupp to Maksim I. Chukhnov and Nadezhda A. Vozniuk, 8 Madison Ave., $340,000.

MONTGOMERY

Shelby J. Limoges and William R. Limoges to Chase Chicoine, 67 Pitcher St., $50,000.

NORTHAMPTON

Joseph F. Panzica, Christopher A. Panzica and Edward M. Panzica to Dennis E. Tully, 10 Parsons St., $100.

Dennis E. Tully to Joseph F. Panzica, Christopher A. Panzica and Edward M. Panzica, 10 Parsons St., $100.

Yao Wu to Walter Edward Drenen, 56 Crestview Drive, $340,000.

John Horton and Anne Horton to Kristen G. Brookes and Matthew A. Poage, 61 Bridge Road, $425,000.

Richard R. Korza and Joan G. Korza to Timothy M. Paciorek and Kristen A. Deluco, Linseed Road, $25,000.

Sarah R. Bachrach to Matthew Tuck, 30 Village Hill Road, $294,000.

Emerald City Partners LLC, Amanda J. Allen and Cassandra L. Allen to Denise G. Orenstein, 35 New South St., $425,000.

ORANGE

Kathleen A. Goodrum to Harry E. Foster, 21 Smith Ave., $155,500. M Jemms Orange I LLC, to Vargas & Son Properties LLC, 39-41 Pleasant St., $390,000.

Michael L. Fernet and Rachel A. Fernet to Bryan D. Coleman and Yvette E. Silva, 16 Maynard St., $259,900.

PALMER

Deborah M. Southworth, Mary A. Wansick and Eldora Parda to Pah Properties LLC, Emery Street, $600,000.

PELHAM

Linda L. Hanscom to Gregory P. Hanscom, 45 Shutesbury Road, $100.

PLAINFIELD

Michael T. Chudy and Kathi M. DiMiceli to Brian M. Fay and Charlene M. Negron, East Main Street, $59,000.

SHELBURNE

Susan F. Durkee and Craig Latham to Amanda H. Dickinson, Patten Road, $25,000.

SOUTH HADLEY

Austin O. Harding IV, and Jennifer Ackerman to Hannah T. Crowl, 33 Pine Grove Drive, $350,000.

Kristiaan S. Krause to Bryan Edward Perlak, 12 Bolton St., $242,500.

Donald E. Baranowski, Dianne I. Baranowski and Diane I. Baranowski to Youngbin Kwak and Joonkoo Park, 14 Cedar Ridge, $646,695.

C. Ryan Buckley, personal representative, C. Ryan Buckley, trustee, Rita M. Lawler, estate, and Rita M. Lawler Revocable Trust to Sean Lawler and Kristen Lawler, Alvord Street and Pine Street, $100.

Barbara Corrigan to Barbara Anne Corrigan, trustee, and Barbara Anne Corrigan Trust, 131 Pine Grove Drive, $100.

PeoplesBank to Francis Real Estate Holdings LLC, 494 Newton St., $590,000.

Pillows

CONTINUES FROM PAGE F6

fabrics on your pillows also allows you the opportunity to further customize them to your taste with various tapes and trims. Your pillows aren’t the only place to incorporate solids for a well-balanced design however, you could use solid-colored furniture pieces, rugs, or draperies to break up the patterns and provide visual relief.

Texture is a pattern too. Textural fabrics, though often one single color, do also offer another pattern option and can add another layer of interest to your pattern mixing. Incorporating different textures alongside your patterns helps to create a rich and inviting room. Mix in textured fabrics like velvet, linen, boucle or faux

Deeds

CONTINUES FROM PAGE F12

SOUTHAMPTON

Steven Hermanson to Haley Reed Pedruczny, 19 Valley Road, $540,000.

Alan M. Wine and Nora E. Wine to Justin James Brown and Brooke Elizabeth Brown, 8 Russellville Road, $434,000.

SOUTHWICK

Aleksandr N. Kolosov and Liliya A. Kolosova to Liliya A. Kolosova, 3739 Point Grove Road, $100.

Giberson Construction Inc., to Ryan McLane and Taylor McLane, 22 Noble Steed Crossing, $649,000.

Hamelin Framing Inc., to Jada Homes LLC, 3 Tall Pines Trail, $145,000.

Vanessa Filiault to Aga Brothers LLC, 234 Sheep Pasture Road, $170,000.

SPRINGFIELD

Armando Torres, Flor De Maria Ticllas and Flor D. Torres to Millicent Ugochukwu Olisenekwu, 20 Beaudry St., $370,000.

Chapin Center RE LLC, and Gary M. Weiner, trustee, to Massachusetts Detox Holdings LLC, 200 Kendall St., $2,562,000.

Christian Wiernasz to Edward Denehy Jr., 73 Lorimer St., $215,000.

fur to add depth and dimension to your space without getting too pattern-crazy. Consider scale when pattern mixing. One of our favorite ways to mix patterns is by incorporating different scales — for instance pairing large-scale florals with smaller geometric prints or classic stripes can create a visually stimulating and

harmonious composition.

When it comes to mixing patterns in interior design, considering scale is crucial to achieving a harmonious and visually pleasing result. Scale refers to the size of the patterns relative to each other and the overall size of the room. A general rule of thumb is to mix patterns of varying

scales to create visual interest without overwhelming the space. For example, pairing a large-scale floral print with a smaller geometric pattern can create a dynamic contrast that adds depth and dimension to a room. Similarly, incorporating patterns of similar scales can create a cohesive and balanced look, especially in smaller spaces where too many large-scale patterns may feel overwhelming. There is something to be said though, of bending or breaking the “rules” and mixing all small-sale patterns, or pairing stripes with more stripes to achieve different looks — all can be done in a tasteful way. Stick to a cohesive color palette. And our final tip of the day is an underrated, but exciting way to mix patterns. One way to ensure that they mix harmoniously is to stay

within the same color family when selecting your fabrics and finishes. By sticking to a cohesive color palette, you can prevent the space from feeling disjointed or overwhelming, allowing the patterns to coexist harmoniously while still adding visual interest. Color palettes can be made of soft, quite neutrals or loud, bold colors. or anything in between — all of them can guide you as you play with patterns for your spaces. Incorporating pattern mixing and spring fabrics into your home decor is all about embracing creativity and expressing your personal style. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different combinations and have fun with the process. Whether you’re drawn to bold and eclectic designs or prefer a more subtle and understated look, there’s no wrong way to infuse your home with springtime charm.

Diane M. Greco and Diane M. Orson to Diane M. Orson, 51-53 Windsor St., $100.

Diane M. Greco and Diane M. Orson to Diane M. Orson, Windsor Street, Lot 33, $100.

Diane M. Orson and Diane M. Greco to Diane M. Orson, 54-56 Dexter St., $100.

Elizabeth A. Atwood and Bryan P. Atwood to Vantage Home Buyers LLC, E S Monson Ave., $27,000.

Errol W. Campbell to Alliance Associates LLC, 347 Orange St., $150,000.

Iris O. Perez to Shawn Harvey, 45 Orlando St., $250,000.

James P. Myers, trustee, Deborah M. Myers, trustee, James & Deborah Myers Living Trust, trustee of, and Linda A. Goodman to Ryan Stead, 60 Intervale Road, $349,900.

John L. Sedgwick and Teresa Sedgwick to Renovagent LLC, 194 Sumner Ave., $100,000.

Juan R. Rodriguez to Allied Property Management LLC, 251 Jasper St., $98,999.

Junior Properties LLC, to Craig Davis-Lawson and Camille Sims, 69 Appleton St., $320,000.

Kempton Pollard Jr., to Real Estate Investments Northeast LLC, 15 Cedar St., $225,000.

Kenneth T. Martin Jr., to Pah Properties LLC, 24 Capitol Road, $159,000.

Lachenauer LLC, to PB07 Wale LLC, 4 Rogers Ave., $297,000.

Mark Klaman, trustee, and KA Realty Trust, trustee of, to T5 MA RE

LLC, 1267 Boston Road, $850,000.

Mason Capital Ventures LLC, to Selina Vasquez Cruz and Francisco Ruvier Matias Ortega, 28-30 Kendall St., $438,000.

Melissa M. Russell to Kenneth Torres, 403 Parker St., $250,000.

Natalya Gavel to Maggi Predmore, 63 Gates Ave., $415,000.

Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., trustee, and Morgan Stanley Home Equity Loan Trust Series 2007- 2, trustee of, to Adem Demir, 4 Langdon St., $175,000.

Richard A. Rimondi to Louis W. Rimondi III, and Shallan Koldys, 98-100 Samuel St., $45,000.

Roberto Ocasio Cruz, representative, Celsa Cruz Sierra, estate, and Celsa Cruz, estate, to Emmanuel E. Colon, 25 Brookline Ave., $295,000.

Ronald A. Watt and Theresa McLeod to Luz Stella Gomez, 19 Hillcrest St., $277,000.

Round Two LLC, to Angelique Rodriguez, 153 Princeton St., $280,000.

Sarah M. Milbier, representative, and Mary Rose Corigliano, estate, to Teresa Sedgwick and John L. Sedgwick, 24 French St., $260,000.

Two Riveras LLC, to Radhame Brito, 11-13 Ainsworth St., $335,000.

SUNDERLAND

Susan L. Friedman, “aka” Susan L. Friedman-Radetsky, and Jack Radetsky to Joshua J. Kenney, 11 Plumtree Road, $1,200,000.

TOLLAND

Tina M. Palmieri, Tina M. Dirubba and Angelo Dirubba to Angelo Dirubba, 184 Fox Den Road, $100.

WALES

Diane L. Blais and Jeffrey R. Blais to Craig Rahemba and Tara R. Rahemba, 15 Grove Point Road, $785,000.

WARE

Russell N. Bergeron and Roy F. Bergeron to Irving P. Rocheford III, trustee, Cheryl A. Rocheford, trustee, and Rocheford Family Trust, Coffey Hill Road, $110,000.

Dennis P. Slattery, trustee, and Dennis P. Slattery Revocable Living Trust to Daniel D. Slattery and Kevin P. Slattery, 27 Morse Ave., $100.

Daniel P. Slattery and Kevin P. Slattery to Kevin P. Slattery, 27 Morse Ave., $100.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Adam M. Ciborowski and Kathleen Ciborowski to Omar Shehzad, 6 Plateau Ave., $265,000.

Aga Brothers LLC, to London Realty LLC, 81 Fairview Ave., $160,000. Brital 1987 LLC, to Jose Rosado-Medina, 201 Circle Drive, $375,000.

Kristy L. Barcia, representative, and Nancy V. Fox, estate, to Katharine E. Reisbig and Max Epstein, 1844 Riverdale St., Unit 1, $195,000.

Lisa S. Judkins, conservator, and

Janet Flynn to Brital1987 LLC, 201 Circle Drive, $224,000.

Ryan P. McLane and Taylor L. McLane to Taylor McGee Tucker and Allison Tucker, 30 Druids Lane, $375,000.

Zaide Soufane to Lisa Carbonell and Geovanni Vazquez, 419 Dewey St., $350,000.

WESTFIELD

Jay M. Bushey, Brittany A. McCabe and Susan McCabe to Brittany A. McCabe and Jay M. Bushey, 200 Reservoir Ave., $100.

Julie McGovern Olearcek, trustee, and Joseph F. McGovern Jr. Revocable Living Trust, trustee of, to Alex Jez and Dylann Jez, 52 Briarcliff Drive, $399,900.

WHATELY

Rachel Estelle Halperin and Daniel Jacob Hurwit to Robert Libon and Kristina A. Mose-Libon, trustees of the Libon Family Revocable Trust, Laurel Mountain Road, $50,000.

Eileen M. Seymour, personal representative of the Estate of Lawrence J. Gregoire, “aka” Lawrence Joseph Gregoire, to Kyle R. Keith, 135 Long Plain Road, “fka” 71 Long Plain Road, $310,000.

WILBRAHAM

Jennifer Smolnik and Carric Michael Smolnik to Austin O. Harding and Jennifer Ackerman, 4 Conifer Drive, $533,000.

Incorporating different textures alongside your patterns helps to create a rich and inviting room. (HANDOUT / TNS)

Blues

CONTINUED FROM PAGE F12

• Pair darker shades of blue with with light colors such as taupe and white to add a sense of contrast.

• Consider using blue as a foundation color. It can be used a “base” color similar to colors such as black or brown.

• Purchase an area rug that contains blue, when looking for ways to make a bold blue color or pattern statement.

• Blend different shades of blue if you are looking for a more interesting and less monochromatic color palette.

Notes

CONTINUED FROM PAGE F3

• Color map blue in a room or throughout a home. The design technique known as “color mapping” involves repeating the same or similar colors in order to create a cohesive color story.

• Consider gray. Whether a light gray or a deep charcoal. Pairing blue with gray is a powerful and intriguing color combination.

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design home staging expert.

The class will be held at the Shea Building at Forest Park, 300 Sumner Ave. The fee is $10 per class. Tickets are available on Eventbrite, by emailing spfldgardenclub@gmail.com, or by calling 413-285-3163.

STOCKBRIDGE

Garden programs

Berkshire Botanical Garden presents these upcoming programs:

• “Painting a Winter Arrangement,” March 27 to 29, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn to paint a floral arrangement in an “alla prima” approach through observation of the subtle nuances of color, temperature and form. Students will be guided each step of the way through demonstration and individual instruction, helping them develop a better understanding of design, color mixing/observation, form modeling, and applying finishing touches. Cost is $235 members, $255 nonmembers;

• “Spring Pruning of Woody Ornamental Plants,” March 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Ron Yaple, owner of Race Mountain Tree Services will demonstrate how to renovate, rejuvenate, and shape shrubs and small ornamental trees for structure, health, and

Just-introduced annuals and perennials will add something new to your garden

By JESSICA DAMIANO Associated Press

I always get an extra spring in my step when nurseries begin stocking the year’s new plant introductions.

2024 brings new annuals and perennials that will make any plant lover bloom from ear to ear. These are some of the standouts.

Ocean Sunset Orange Glow’s orange flowers with yellow centers and hot pink edges are about as cheerful as a flower can get. With the largest blooms of any of the ice plants — and a high flower count per plant — the succulent from Darwin Perennials thrives in full

sun and well-drained sandy soil. Perennial; hardy in zones 5-9. Daylilies are so named because each flower blooms for just a single day. So, what do you call a daylily that blooms for five days? Monrovia calls it the “See You Tomorrow!” Daylily. The yellow blossoms, tinged with green, form clusters on compact plants that grow 20-24 inches tall and wide. Plant in full sun. Hardy in zones 4-11. How about a tasty edible rose?

Proven Winners’ Flavorette Honey-Apricot shrub rose was bred not only for superior disease resistance, but for flavor, too. The upright plants, which grow to 60-96

optimal growth. Plants covered will include viburnums, lilacs, witch hazels, deciduous azaleas, sweetshrubs, crabapples, and ornamental cherries. Participants should dress for the weather, and bring pruners, work gloves, and a bag lunch. There will be some pruners available, provided by Berkshire Botanical Garden. Cost is $50 members, $70 nonmembers;

• “Spring Hoppening,” March 30, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Highlights of the event include egg hunts, a story walk, crafts, pony rides, games, food

trucks, drinks, and opportunities to have photos taken with a rather large and friendly bunny. The garden’s gift shop will be open with garden items for sale. At 10:30 a.m. the first of three egg hunts begins for children 3 and under, followed at 10:45 a.m. with an egg hunt for ages 3 to 6. At 11 a.m. the egg hunt for children of ages 7 through 12 begins. Older children are welcome to come help their younger siblings/ friends. Admission is $10 per person for members, $15 for nonmembers. Free admission for all children under the age

inches tall and 36-48 inches wide in full sun, rebloom all season long without deadheading. And their yellow-apricot blossoms lend a sweet and fruity taste to salads and desserts. Hardy in zones 4-8.

And from Star Roses and Plants, the family of Knockout Roses keeps on growing. Easy Bee-zy, a rounded, bushy plant that grows to 3-4 feet tall and 3 feet wide, rewards with single yellow flowers that attract butterflies and bees with a light, citrus fragrance. Its double orange flowers are tinged yellow and pink. Plant both in full sun for abundant, continuous blooms. Hardy in zones 4-11.

of 4. Registration is recommended. Takes place at Center House. To register or for more information, visit berkshire botanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 W. Stockbridge Road.

WEST SPRINGFIELD Garden club scholarships

The West Springfield Garden Club is offering two $1,000 scholarships for qualified high school seniors or post-secondary students during spring 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 Ave., the West Springfield High School at 425 Piper Road, or on the West Springfield Garden Club web -

site, wwsgardenclub.org

Applicants from WSHS or LPVEC should submit their completed application and written entry to their Guidance office. Post-secondary student applicants can submit their materials directly to WSGC Scholarship Committee, c/o West Springfield Park and Recreation, 26 Central Street, West Springfield, MA 01089. All applications must be received by the scholarship committee by April 12.

The successful candidates will be notified via mail in mid-May.

WILBRAHAM Garden club luncheon

The April meeting of the Wilbraham Garden Club will include a sandwich luncheon on April 4 at noon. A reservation is needed for this meeting. Call Norma at 413-5968173 for a reservation. The speaker for the day will be Bob Whitney, whose topic will be “Stix, Twigs, Moss, Stones & Flowers.” His program will consist of arrangements using items from nature that can be found in your own yard. His finished creations will be raffled at the end of the program.

Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.

Berkshire Botanical Garden.

Antique Cushman Square

Dinnette Table with two Cushman Chairs, $499, Call 413-786-0957 or 413-561-5177

Ashley Recliner, dark blue, 1 year old, $250.00 or best reasonable offer. Call 413-237-5532.

Chifforobe Dresser, New cost $699, 2 years old, Selling for $80. Call 413-583-3740

1,000’s of sports cards, all big stars, at least 50% off. 1950’s to present. BUYING ALL SPORTS CARDS, RETIRED VETERAN Selling at $2.25 per box. CALL 413-596-5783

Amanatoploadwasher,11 mos.old,$325.00.Dryer, $50. Call 413-534-3693

DouglasAuctioneers.com ESTATES-ANTIQUES 413-665-2877

MORTGAGEES’ REAL

WEDNESDAY MARCH 27, 2024

3:00 PM - PITTSFIELD, MA 77 IMPERIAL AVENUEDEPOSIT $5,000

MONDAY APRIL 1, 2024

10:00AM-SPRINGFIELD, MA 88 GLENWOOD STREETDEPOSIT $5,000

THURSDAY APRIL 4, 2024

2:00 PM - ASHFIELD, MA 86 SOUTH STREETDEPOSIT $5,000

TERMSOFSALES:DEPOSITSINTHEAMOUNTS SPECIFIEDABOVEARETO BEPAIDBYTHEPURCHASER(S)ATTHETIME ANDPLACEOFEACH SALEBYCERTIFIEDOR BANKCHECK.ALLBALANCESDUEARETOBE PAIDWITHIN30DAYSOF EACHINDIVIDUALSALE. OTHERTERMS,IFANY, TOBEANNOUNCEDAT EACH SALE.

CALL OUR AUCTION SCHEDULE LINE AT (617) 964-1282 FOR A LIST OF THE CURRENT DAY’S AUCTIONS AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.commonwealth auction.com FOR CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED SCHEDULING INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL SCHEDULING INFORMATION

COMMONWEALTH AUCTION ASSOCIATES, INC. (617) 964-0005 MA LIC 2235