Mix vegetables, flowers for visual appeal in the garden, Page F2
Irecently started my seeds — tomatoes, cucuzza squash, climbing zucchini, golden beets, Florida cranberries, nasturtiums, zinnias, edelweiss, various herbs and Roma beans. They barely fit on my kitchen counter, which becomes a transient nursery every spring.
Come planting time, they also won’t all fit in my 4-by-4foot raised beds, grow bags, Earth boxes or around the arbor I installed last year. But rather than curtail my ambitions, I’ll slip sweet potatoes, onions, extra tomatoes and other edibles into my frontyard flower garden.
The practice of combining fruits, vegetables and herbs with ornamental plants — called “foodscaping” — is worth considering even if you’re not short on space, as it can create visual interest in your beds and borders.
First, some ground rules:
• All plants, whether edible or ornamental, should be grouped according to their sunlight, water and fertilizer requirements. Mixing them up is a recipe for disaster. Don’t do it.
• Even if two plants are sun lovers, consider whether either will grow so large that it shades out the other.
• Follow the spacing recommendations on your seed packs or plant tags. They are meant to accommodate the mature size of plants and thwart fungal and mold diseases that result from overcrowding. This will also
protect nearby ornamentals.
• Your edibles should be easily accessible for frequent pest- and disease-monitoring, watering and harvesting. Ensure a clear path to avoid trampling perennials and annuals.
Vining sweet potatoes are beautiful plants with lush, heart-shaped leaves. They grow quickly to fill bare spots and can be used as an annual groundcover. And their lovely purple flowers are reminiscent of their morning glory relatives. I’ll be planting mine at the front of a border, but they can also be trained to grow up a trellis.
I’ll plant cherry tomatoes near my roses, where they’ll exude the chemical solanine into the soil to protect the shrubs from the fungus that causes black spot, an often-deadly rose disease.
The tomatoes will serve as a visual prelude to the rose hips, which won’t come until later in the season. I strategically selected tomato varieties that are resistant to verticillium and fusarium wilt diseases because roses are also susceptible. I’ve been growing Alliums
(ornamental onions) under my roses for years because they look so pretty together. This year, I’ll add some edible onions and chives to the mix. Aesthetically, they’ll fit right in and hide the bottoms of my leggy rose bushes. As a bonus, they’ll team up with
Above, a photo provided by Brie Arthur shows zucchini and a groundcover of peanuts sharing garden space with ornamental plants like coleus, sunflowers and butterfly weed in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. At left, tomatoes vine their way up hardy, perennial hibiscus in a border edged with basil in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. (BRIE ARTHUR VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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the Alliums to repel degenerate pests like aphids with their aromatic scent.
There are so many other possibilities. You could line a pathway with lettuces or use them as border plants. Lollo Rosa is one of several varieties with eye-catching frilly, red leaves; curled endives, or frisees, have lacy foliage with curly tips. Curly parsley works nicely, too.
Rainbow chards have bold red or yellow stems and interestingly wrinkled leaves with colored veins. Mix them in with ferns, pansies and coral bells.
Rhubarb foliage can add drama to a formal garden when surrounded by low-growing mounded boxwood shrubs.
Underplant pink or orange flowers with purple basil varieties. Amethyst, Dark Opal and the new Prospera Red, which is resistant to downy mildew and fusarium wilt, are three of many options.
Corn is a member of the grass family, so why not put it to work in place of ornamental grasses? Plant a row in full sun at the back of a border, or use just one to fill a bare spot in the garden.
in zones 8 and 9, but certainly can be included elsewhere as an annual.
Corn is a member of the grass family, so why not put it to work in place of ornamental grasses? Plant a row in full
sun at the back of a border, or use just one to fill a bare spot in the garden.
Instead of purchasing ornamental kales and cabbages for fall decorations, why not plant garden cabbages and kale? Although the ornamentals are technically edible, they don’t taste as good. Crop varieties, however, can be served with your Thanksgiving feast.
And that’s something to be thankful for.
This May 24, 2022, photo provided by Jessica Damiano shows chives blooming in Glen Head, New York. Chives are among many edibles that can be used in "foodscaping," a gardening style that includes ornamental and edible plants growing side-by-side. (JESSICA
VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Highbush blueberries are beautiful shrubs with dramatic red fall foliage. Some varieties can reach 12 feet tall. It’s also an excellent stand-in for Burning Bush winged euonymus, which has been deemed invasive along the entire East Coast and in Illinois. It’s winter-hardy in horticultural zones 3-8.
Thyme will form a thick groundcover that’s hardy in zones 5-9. Sage will do the same in zones 5-8. Alpine strawberry is a perennial groundcover everywhere in the continental U.S.
Rosemary lends a perennial evergreen vibe to gardens
Amaranth is an unusual plant with airy red flowers, spinach-like leaves and seeds that can be milled into flour or cooked as a stand-in for quinoa. The plants are annual but tend to reseed, so they typically reappear every year. Carrots’ lacy foliage complements marigolds and provides a feathery contrast to plants with broad-shaped leaves, such as nasturtiums. They also may improve the health of nearby plants by aerating the soil as their long taproots work their way downward.
DAMIANO
Reich | In the Garden
MUNDANE AS SHE may be, I love yew (not mispelled, but the common name for Taxus species, incidentally vocalized just like “you”). Hardy, green year ’round, long-lived and available in many shapes and sizes, what’s not to love? Perhaps that it’s so commonly planted, pruned in dot-dash designs to grace the foundations in front of so many homes.
Still, I love her. For one thing, Robin Hood’s bow was fashioned from a yew branch (English yew, T. baccata, in this case). Two other species — Pacific yew (T. brevifolia) and Canadian yew (T. canadensis) — are sources of taxol, an anti-cancer drug. At a very young age, I became intimate with yew bushes surrounding our home’s front stoop, on which my brother and I would often play. Yew’s red berries, with an exposed dark seed in each of their centers, would give the effect of being stared at by so many eyes. Sometimes we’d squish out the red juice, carefully though, because we
The Monson Garden Club has two $500 scholarships available to high school seniors who reside in Monson and plan to continue school at a two-or four-year college to study in any branch of the life, natural, or environmental sciences. Applications with instructions may be obtained through their school guidance office and are due by April 23.
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents these upcoming programs:
• Wednesday, April 24, 9 to 11 a.m., “Landscape Smartphone Photography.”
Whether your passion is photographing your garden, close-ups of flowers, or broadbrush images of the most beautiful landscapes in the area, this workshop, has been designed for you. Thaddeus B. Kubis will explore floral photography, creative composition and garden photography using smartphones, tablets, DSLR/mirrorless or film photographic systems. This two-hour session will explore how to capture the creative beauty of the Berkshires and surrounding region landscapes, and will include operation of your camera system, creative composition, basic editing, and sharing your creative compositions. Cost is $25 for members, $40 for nonmembers;
• Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m. to noon. “Mindful Beekeeping.” Beekeeper and founder of Bee Resonance Project Asher Silverwolff takes participants on a grounding and calming journey into the inner world of bees. Participants will experience meditation, show and tell, touch and feel and lots of time for Q&A. Silverwolff will share stories of his relationship with bees, how it helps him relax
and stay focused, what the year ahead looks like, and explore together as a group how the Bee Resonance Project might support those interested in taking up the mantle of beekeeping or already keeping bees. Cost is $25 for members, $40 for nonmembers;
• Saturday, April 27, 1 to 2:30 p.m., “Pollinator Paradise.” “Bee-friendly” backyards support lots of pollinators and beneficial insects, which make gardens more beautiful. Master Gardener Chris Ferrero will discuss important pollinators and their needs and habits in a garden. Participants will discover ways to adapt home landscapes to attract and sustain pollinators with a wide diversity of flowering plants for home gardens, as well as learn about the importance of native plants and the role of “nativars.”
Cost is for $25 members, $40 for nonmembers.
To register for these programs or for more information, visit www.berkshirebotanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
Ware Grange’s first gardening workshop of the year, “Getting a Head Start with Annual Flowers,” will be held on Monday, April 29 at 7 p.m. at the Grange Hall at 297 Belchertown Road. The presenter will be Roberta McQuaid, author of the weekly “In the Garden” column for Turley Publications. In this hands-on workshop, guests will learn about easyto-grow annual flowers and leave with two seed packs to grow at home and then plant into their garden. Search “Ware Grange” on Facebook or go online to waregrange. org for more information.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
TALENT RAN IN THE Giacometti family. Giovanni Giacometti, born in Switzerland in 1868, was a painter who studied in Paris and was influenced by Impressionism. He returned to Switzerland and married Annetta Stampa, with whom he had four children. They encouraged their sons, Alberto, Diego and Bruno, in artistic pursuits.
Alberto trained in painting, drawing and printmaking, but he is best known as a sculptor, famous for his tall, thin figures. In 2010, one of his bronze sculptures sold at Sotheby’s in London for over $10 million,
The
setting a record at the time for the most expensive work of art sold at auction.
Diego was also a sculptor and often collaborated with or modeled for Alberto. His own sculptures usually feature animals and similar nature motifs; one of his most famous pieces is a bronze sculpture of an ostrich that incorporates a real ostrich egg. Bruno took his talents in a different direction and became an architect. His creations include the Swiss pavilion for the Venice Biennale exhibition in 1952 and many public buildings, schools and museums around Switzerland.
So when an item is described as “Giacometti style,” like this table that sold at Bunch Auctions for $281, it may not be clear which Giacometti that implies. This table’s cast-metal material, thin lines and abstract organic shapes recall the sculptures made by Alberto and Diego. The presence of branches with visible leaves, complete with birds perching on top, indicates Diego. But remember that it is “Giacometti style;” that is, inspired by the sculptor’s work, not made by him. If it were, it would likely command a much higher price.
It’s your home. We just help.
It’s your home. We just help.
At times, saving money for a down payment and closing costs can be a challenge. That’s where we come in. CIBM Bank has partnered with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago to offer Downpayment Plus. This program offers up to $10,000 in assistance to eligible borrowers, and can help make your dream a reality.
At times, saving money for a down payment and closing costs can be a challenge. That’s where we come in. CIBM Bank has partnered with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago to offer Downpayment Plus. This program offers up to $10,000 in assistance to eligible borrowers, and can help make your dream a reality.
Got a large space? In larger rooms, large scale furniture pieces such as sectional sofas are often needed to help fill space. Sectionals help to define a space and create a clear furniture envelope. Meanwhile, large scale selections such as oversized coffee tables or chairs may help make a large room feel cozy as opposed to cold and cavernous. — Cathy Hobbs, Tribune News Service
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F4
were repeatedly reminded that all parts of the plant are poisonous. (I’ve since learned that the red berries are not poisonous; but other parts of the plant, including the seed within each red berry are poisonous.)
If yew has, for me, one major fault, it’s that deer eat it like candy. Interesting, since grazing on yew can kill a cow or a horse.
Mostly, I love yew because she takes to any and all types of pruning. My father once had a very overgrown yew hedge threatening to envelope his terrace. I suggested cutting the whole hedge down to stumps. Following an anxious few weeks when I thought my suggestion perhaps overly bold, green sprouts began to appear along the stump. A few years later the hedge was dense with leaves, and within bounds.
Although usually pruned as a bush, yew can be pruned as a tree. A trunk, once exposed and developed, has a pretty, reddish color. Deer sometimes take care of this job, chomping off all the stems they can reach to create a high-headed plant with a clear trunk.
As an alternative to being
pruned to dot-dash spheres and boxes, yew hedges can be pruned to fanciful shapes, including animals, or “cloud pruned” (niwaki, the Japanese method of pruning to cloud shapes). Many years ago, I followed the herd and planted some yews along the front foundation of my house, pruning them to one long dash. No dots.
Since then, I’ve converted that hedge to a giant caterpillar and, more recently, tired of the caterpillar and attempted to cloud prune it, not with great success so far. (It’s my shortcoming as a sculptor, not the plant’s fault.) The goal in this case is not the kind of cloud pruning with clouds as balls of greenery perched on the ends of stems. My goal is to blend the four plants together as one billowy, soft cloud.
Facing my kitchen window is another yew, a large one that was planted way before I got here. Its previous caretaker and, up to recently I, have maintained it as a large, rounded cone. Last year I decided to make that rounded cone more interesting, copying a topiary in Britain. The design is in its early stages, awaiting some new growth this year to fill in bare stems now showing in interior of the bush.
Moving on to more pragmat-
Q.
ic pruning ... peaches. No, it’s not too late. In fact, the ideal time to prune a peach tree is around bloom time, when healing is quickest. This limits the chance of stem diseases, to which peaches are susceptible. Peach trees need to be pruned more severely than other fruit trees. As with other fruit trees, the goals are to avoid branch congestion so remaining branches can be bathed in light and air, to plan for future harvests, and to reduce the crop — yes, you read that right — so that more energy and better quality can be pumped into remaining fruits.
To begin, I approached my tree, loppers and pruning saw in hand, for some major cuts. Peaches bear each season’s fruits on stems that grew the previous season. So next, with pruning shears, possibly the lopper, in hand, I went over the tree and shortened some stems. This coaxes buds along those stems to grow into new stems on which to hang next year’s peaches.
And finally, I went over the tree with pruning shears, clipping off dead twigs as well as weak, downward growing stems. They can’t support large, juicy, sweet fruits. Done. I stepped back and admired my work.
I see an online school advertised that’s located in Florida to get certified as an antique collector and was wondering if this would be a good way to understand and identify antiques as a beginner. I watch “American Pickers” and “Pawn Stars” and it seems like they have broad knowledge of items and current pricing trends. I realize that the shows are staged but I am trying to better understand this retail field. Buying online can be a gambler’s auction in which some dishonest sellers use friends to enter and raise the bid amount, so I know it’s not the best way to collect items. When I was a kid, garage sales, antique stores and flea markets abound. They were a great way to talk to sellers and get knowledge. The internet has wiped out a lot of those venues.
A. There are some excellent courses available if you want to become an appraiser, like the Asheford Institute of Antiques, but you don’t need certification to be a collector. You’re right that the best way to learn about antiques is to visit sales and talk to sellers; and you’re also right that there are fewer opportunities to do so in the age of the internet. However, there are also some good online resources. Pick an area or a type of collectible that interests you (say, advertising antiques, tin toys, art pottery, vintage posters, political memorabilia) and look up collectors’ clubs. Many of them have online resources and virtual meetings. Check the Kovels and Antique Trader directories for clubs and businesses in your area. Look into the Kovels online subscriptions for access to more material — we recommend Kovels Knowledge membership for general learning about antiques. Read about professional auctions on sites like LiveAuctioneers, Invalu-
able and Bidsquare. Look for publications and price guides at your local library. And above all, collect what you love!
Q. I have a collection of Willow Angels, Precious Moments and Cherished Teddy figures in the original boxes. I have tried several antique stores in my area and am finding that there isn’t much interest in these items anymore. Before I donate to a thrift store, could you tell me if this is the case? I would like to sell the entire lot instead of individual pieces.
A. You are right. Contemporary collectible figurines like Precious Moments, Cherished Teddies and Willow Angels have little value. These figures are relatively recent, mass-produced and sold as collector’s items, so the market gets flooded. Occasionally, a single very rare or very early figurine might sell for a high price, but general interest is low. Donating them is probably the best option.
TIP: Use protector pads on the bottom of furniture feet. Replace them periodically when they become dirty or very flat.
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 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
LOS ANGELES — Prospective homebuyers are facing higher costs to finance a home with the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate moving above 7% this week to its highest level in nearly five months.
The average rate on a 30year mortgage rose to 7.1% from 6.88% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.39%.
When mortgage rates rise, they can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much
Hassan Saleh to John Edward Cassidy, 108 Franklin St., $280,000.
Lucindy M. Napoli and Michael Henry to Sandra Sarrantonio, 169 Brookfield Lane, Unit 169, $343,500.
Margaret E. Perillo, estate, and Marnie M. Perillo, representative, to NRES LLC, 36 Central St., $160,000.
Mark D. Lussier to Robin Sytulek, 14 Castle Hills Road, Unit A, $348,000.
Our Town Home Buyers LLC, to Rosa Chavez Saravia and Abundio Cortes-Palacios, 239 South St., $350,000.
Thomas Gallagher and Anna Gallagher to Silverbrook Environmental LLC, 148 N. West St., $162,500.
Kristi A. Bodin, personal representative, D. Joseph Bodin, estate, and David Joseph Bodin, estate, to Julius J. Rosenthal, 35 Maplewood Circle, $470,000.
North Pleasant Street Partners LLC, to Gregory Gotlieb, Vladimir Gotlieb and Zina Gotlieb, 80 West St., $420,000.
Theodore A. Hallstrom and Elizabeth L. Hallstrom to Richard Bruce Pierce and Elaine Renaud Pierce, 63 Cherry Lane, $625,000.
Jelb Properties LLC, to Karunamurti LLC, 240 Northampton Road, $600,000.
they can afford at a time when the U.S. housing market remains constrained by relatively few homes for sale and rising home prices.
“As rates trend higher, potential homebuyers are deciding whether to buy before rates rise even more or hold off in hopes of decreases later in the year,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Last week, purchase applications rose modestly, but it remains unclear how many homebuyers can withstand increasing rates in the future.”
After climbing to a 23-year high of 7.79% in October, the
John Francis Perry and Denise Lee Perry to Patrick Loftus, 1300 Federal St., and 1302 Federal St., $253,000.
Steven E. Pomerantz and Elizabeth D. Rose to David R. Muir and Patricia L. Muir, North Liberty Street, $145,000.
Beverly A. Los to Miguel F. Ribeiro and Amy M. Ribeiro, 28 Glenwood St., $180,000.
Derek Scott, representative, Susan S, Scott, estate, and Susan Sophie Scott, estate, to Hannah Lee Enscoe, 1154 Burnett Road, $290,000. Home LLC, to Jonah Holdings LLC, 0 Rose St., $100. Home LLC, to Jonah Holdings LLC, 31 Rose St., $465,000.
Yanjun Yang and Lihui Tan to Angel G. Martinez, 47 Royal St., $372,500.
Michael A. Costa and Susan A. Costa to Sunny Guy and William Valvo, 4A Evans Lane, Unit 12B, Mill Village East Condo. $360,000.
Keith R. Bazinet to Brianna Jackson, 45 Young Ave., $255,000.
Kevin C. Netto Sr., and Jovita B. Netto to Kevin C. Netto Jr., trustee, and Netto 2024 Irrevocable Trust, 20-22 Lyman Ave., $100.
average rate on a 30-year mortgage had remained below 7% since early December amid expectations that inflation would ease enough this year for the Federal Reserve to begin cutting its short-term interest rate.
Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including how the bond market reacts to the Fed’s interest rate policy and the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.
But home loan rates have been mostly drifting higher in recent weeks as stron-
Kevin C. Netto and Jovita B. Netto to Kevin C. Netto Jr., trustee, and Netto 2024 Irrevocable Trust, 1-8 Norton Court, $100.
Kevin C. Netto and Jovita B. Netto to Kevin C. Netto Jr., trustee, and Netto 2024 Irrevocable Trust, 4953 Pleasant St., $100.
Kevin C. Netto and Jovita B. Netto to Kevin C. Netto Jr., trustee, and Netto 2024 Irrevocable Trust, 4042 Ridgewood Terrace, $100.
Kevin C. Netto and Jovita B. Netto to Kevin C. Netto Jr., trustee, and Netto 2024 Irrevocable Trust, 3 Hill Ave., and 48-56 Pleasant St., $100.
Kevin C. Netto and Jovita B. Netto to Kevin C. Netto Jr., trustee, and Netto 2024 Irrevocable Trust, 199 Park St., $100.
Kevin C. Netto and Jovita B. Netto to Kevin C. Netto Jr., trustee, and Netto 2024 Irrevocable Trust, 45 Holyoke St., $100.
Kevin C. Netto and Jovita B. Netto to Kevin C. Netto Jr., trustee, and Netto 2024 Irrevocable Trust, 11-13 Boylston St., $100.
Kevin C. Netto and Jovita B. Netto to Kevin C. Netto Jr., trustee, and Netto 2024 Irrevocable Trust, 1-3 Cherry St., $100.
Kevin C. Netto and Jovita B. Netto to Kevin C. Netto Jr., trustee, and Netto 2024 Irrevocable Trust, 1 Loomis Way and 95 Ferry Street Rear, $100.
Kevin C. Netto to Kevin C. Netto Jr., trustee, and Netto 2024 Irrevocable Trust, 17-19 Prospect St., $100.
Granby
Carol Y. Florence and Raymond C. Florence to Chance Sliwa, 258 East St., $350,000.
Wicked Deals LLC, to Griffin Adam
ger-than-expected reports on employment and inflation have stoked doubts over how soon the Fed might decide to start lowering its benchmark interest rate. The uncertainty has pushed up bond yields.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury jumped to around 4.66% on Tuesday — its highest level since early November — after top officials at the Federal Reserve suggested the central bank may hold its main interest steady for a while. The Fed wants to get more confidence that inflation is sustainably heading toward its target of 2%.
Robtoy and Marasai Alazia Som, 105 North St., $295,000.
Techntech LLC, to Jessica Lynn Flaxington, 10 Southern Ave., $280,000.
Douglas Simon to Brittany Billmeyer-Finn, 4 Michelman Ave., $300,000.
Xianmei Li to ServiceNet Inc., 28 Davenport Way, $627,500.
Carolyn E. Lustenberger and Arthur E. Lustenberger Jr., to Peter Lustenberger, 6 Keefe Ave., $258,000.
Kenneth Raskauskas to Lia Douillet, 4 Center St., $187,500.
Lori L. Beaudry, trustee, Lori L. Beaudry Revocable Trust, trustee of, and Lori Beaudry, trustee, to Timothy James Beaudry, 48-50 Florence Ave., $330,000.
Kenneth R. Henrikson and Joan M. Henrikson to Timothy Mulcahy and Robin Mulcahy, 67 Birchwood Ave., $215,000.
Carol Jean Jorge to Zecarlos Roxo, 53 Stevens St., $322,500.
Edward J. Rondeau and Daniela Rondeau to Brandy E Alexander-Zuber and Caleb Alexander, 64 Kirkland Ave., $335,000.
Whitetail Wreks LLC, to Robert C. Lattanzi and Susan Y. Lattanzi, Balsam Hill Road, Lot 71, $177,150.
The yield was at 4.64% at midday Thursday after new data on applications for unemployment benefits and a report showing manufacturing growth in the mid-Atlantic region pointed to a stronger-than-expected U.S. economy.
Meanwhile, the cost of refinancing a home loan also got pricier this week. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, often used to refinance longer-term mortgages, rose this week, pushing the average rate to 6.39% from 6.16% last week. A year ago it averaged 5.76%.
Sarah Beauchemin and Robert C. Beauchemin to Lauren Czarniecki and Joshua Garneau, 32 Stebbins Road, $385,000.
Amy L. McDonald and Geoffrey R. McDonald to Kevin J. Ovitt, 133 Ripley Road, $430,000.
Kimberley G. Croce, “fka” Kimberley G. Scammon, to Kristen Planeaux, 226 Federal St., “fka” 240A Federal St., Unit 7A, Stoneyside Condominiums, $240,000.
Joanne J. Zabko, Michelle A. Zabko, Paul M. Zabko and Peter J. Zabko to Alison Zabko and Jesse Zabko, 7 Keith St., $240,000.
Dorothy E. Kosewicz, Joseph P. Kosewicz and Deborah O’Neil to Judith A. Gatland and Jonathan R. Lord, 96 High St., $338,000.
Marcel James Viens, trustee of the Marcel James Viens Trust, and Michael S. Johnson and Amelie R. Johnson, individually and as trustees of the Johnson Family Trust, to James E. Koyama and Sheryl A. Koyama, 43 J Street, Unit 3, Heritage Park Condominium. $165,000.
Barbara M. Scher and Barbara Scher to Summerwood LLC, 20 Bridge Road, $750,000.
Joan Ann Niquette, Joan A. Niquette and Jessica M. Crapps, attorney-in-fact, to Erik Kauppila and Ingrid Kauppila, 80 Damon Road, $120,000.
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Theodore Paradise to Michael G. George and Kristen E. Barry-George, 94 Crescent St., $1,185,000.
Michael G. George and Kristen E. Barry-George to Theodore Joseph Paradise, 88 Crescent St., $500,000.
Kevin C. Netto Sr., and Jovita B. Netto to Kevin C. Netto Jr., trustee, and Netto 2024 Irrevocable Trust, 70 Bradford St., $100.
Kevin C. Netto and Jovita B. Netto to Kevin C. Netto Jr., trustee, and Netto 2024 Irrevocable Trust, 68 Union St., $100.
Kevin C. Netto and Jovita B. Netto to Kevin C. Netto Jr., trustee, and Netto 2024 Irrevocable Trust, 27 Hooker Ave., $100.
Kevin C. Netto and Jovita B. Netto to Kevin C. Netto Jr., trustee, and Netto 2024 Irrevocable Trust, 14 Parsons St., $100.
Elizabeth Young and Betsy Young to Michael J. Hoffman and Tara L. McKenna, Fern Street, $162,000.
Elizabeth Young to Kristen Johnson Elde and Ray Gregory Sylvester, 70 Fern Street, $421,000.
ORANGE
Ryan T. King to Todd J. Bernard, 20 Victor Ave., $265,000.
US Bank
Niynzima, 524 South Main St., $262,000.
PALMER
J & M Premier Properties LLC, to JoeJoe Properties LLC, 4293-4295 High St., $180,000.
PELHAM
Robert D. Jackson to Wilson Properties Group LLC, 2 Amherst Road, $190,000.
SHELBURNE
Jennifer Leigh Bauman and Seth Douglas Wilschutz to James A. Most, 10 Maple St., $565,000.
SOUTH HADLEY
Anne E. Isakson and Carol A. Isakson to Anne E. Isakson and Carol A. Isakson, 39 Westbrook Road, $100.
Mariann Millard to Sarah E. Burns and Brian J. Hodgdon, 12 Alvord St., $651,000.
Carol Y. Florence and Raymond C. Florence to Chance Sliwa, 258 East St., $350,000.
Lisa A. Giannetti, Anthony E. Giannetti, Leonard J. Giannetti Jr., and Lisa Ann Giannetti to Leonard J. Giannetti Jr., 28 Michael Drive, $100.
David H. Sabourin, personal representative, and Marylou Sabourin, estate, to Paul J. Stasiak and Darrell F. Stasiak, 207 Alvord Place, $300,000.
SOUTHAMPTON
Trevor H. Young and Angela M. Young to Elisabeth Emmons North and Toby R. North, 5 Parsons Way, $660,000.
Pau J. Gauvin, Paul J. Gauvin, trustee, and Gauvin Irrevocable Realty Trust to Shannon B. Hartford and Ryan Goff, 2 Laurie Drive, $348,800.
Hamelin Framing Inc., to Joseph Hamelin and Susan Hamelin, 765 College Highway, $409,000.
C&C Homes LLC, to Migdalia Leon, 414 Central St., $190,000.
Carlos Dones Sr., Carlos Dones, and Miguel A. Dones to DD&K Properties LLC, 147-149 Cedar St., $200,000.
Christine Wyszynski and Walter Wyszynski to Affluent Circle LLC, 162 Springfield St., $330,500.
Christopher Johnson to Little Eagle LLC, 10 Belvidere St., $115,000.
Earl Andrews to Petrika Jankulla and Elda Haluli, 28 Florence St., $320,000.
Grahams Construction Inc., to Hirving Henriquez, 82 Crystal Brook Drive, $575,000.
Guadalupe Martha Tru jillo De Friedson, Guadalupe Martha Trujillo De Friedson, Guadalupe M. Trujillo De Friedson, and Guadalupe M. Friedson to Sami Ventriglia
Pak Abq Property LLC, 930-934 Worthington St., $300,000.
Trudel C. Allen to MA Orange Pleasant LLC, 50-52 Kensington Ave., $375,000.
Vanity Robert, representative, Jodi Robert, representative, and John Edward Robert, estate, to Dreamwake Homes Inc., 148 Knollwood St., $137,000.
VMC Investments LLC, to Nixilu Romero, 100-102 Middlesex St., $285,500.
Sunderland Rentals LLC, to DNB Properties LLC, 118 North Main St., $485,000.
Sunderland Rentals LLC, to DNB Properties LLC, 153 Amherst Road, $439,000.
Albert F. Casey and Leslie Casey to Charliene Casey, 60 Stafford Road, $187,500.
and Kristen Ventriglia, 119 Maebeth St., $240,000.
Iris M. Valentin to Yannick Shematsi, Ornelie Mukadi and Marck Mukadi, 57 Massreco St., $247,000.
Janis A. Grimaldi to Veteran Stan LLC, 81 Adams St., $197,500.
Jennifer Montalvo to Brandon Loyd, 1402-1404 Worcester St., $331,000.
M. Mistri LLC, to Royal Vibe Homes LLC, 691 State St., $625,000.
Mark S. Goulet and Laurie M. Goulet to Mark Whyte, 15 Lloyd Ave., $345,000.
Michael E. Papamarkakis and Evangelia Papamarkakis to Evangelia Papamarkakis, life estate, Michael E. Papamarkakis, life estate, Kostas E. Papamarkakis and Nondas Papamarkakis, 23 Parkside St., $100.
Morgan V. DiBacco to Glenroy Andre Henry, 221-223 Quincy St., $317,500.
Nancy A. Ainsworth to Erin K. Sullivan and Stephen J. Sullivan, 1964 Parker St., $180,400.
North End Housing Initiative Inc., to Jennifer Marie Rodriguez, 271 Pine St., $190,000.
Raquel I. Rodriguez and Lourdes Rodriguez to Juan Acevedo Vargas, 1128 Page Boulevard, $240,000.
Robin Sytulek, Robyn Sytulek and Carolyn Orde to Joel Matias, 33-35 Los Angeles St., $355,100.
Roy Watson to Jean L. Saint Louis and Fanise Pucard, 58 Willard Ave., $300,000.
SIS Worthington Realty LLC, to
Tony Tucker to Edith Modebe, 45 Aspen St., $100.
Edith Modebe to Dionisio Cepeda, 45 Aspen St., $178,000.
Laurie E. Leduc to Laurie E. Leduc and Ronald A. St. Laurent, 200 North St., $100.
Colin Moll to Koch Real Estate Corp., 29 York St., $335,000.
Jeet Majhi and Harka Majhi to Michael Korric Morgan, 135 Brookline Ave., $284,000.
Coburn A. Watson, Kaylee E. Watson and Kaylee E. Fredette to Devun Nadeau, 21 State St., $280,000.
Marika Theodorakis, trustee, Steven Theodorakis, trustee, Nicholas Theodorakis, trustee, and Harry E. Theodorakis Trust, trustee of, to North Elm Realty Inc., 34-38 North Elm St., $1,500,000.
Paula A. Patterson to Andrzej Barszcz and Magdalena Barszcz, 28 Smith Ave., $170,000.
Kevin C. Netto and Jovita B. Netto to Kevin C. Netto Jr., trustee, and Netto 2024 Irrevocable Trust, Southampton Road, $100.
Kevin C. Netto and Jovita B. Netto to Kevin C. Netto Jr., trustee, and Netto 2024 Irrevocable Trust, 86 Southampton Road, $100.
While renting apartments in San Francisco, Malone Detro often made small changes to the walls or fixtures to match her particular taste and budget.
“There are a lot of ways in which a rental home can feel not like home,” says Detro, founder of Malone, an interior design and architecture firm.
Detro says making cosmetic upgrades, even if you’re renting, can help you feel excited about your living space.
“I think it helps, ultimately, in you feeling proud about your home,” she says.
Renting an apartment or house can mean a shorter commitment than home ownership — and it’s often a more affordable option in major cities. However, renters may feel constrained when personalizing a rented space, especially when the landlord holds your security deposit.
With a little creativity — and your landlord’s approval — there are ways to make your rental feel more like home and still get your deposit back. Here are eight lease-friendly home upgrades, from least to most amount of work required.
1. Personalized floor coverings
Adam Avitable, a comedian who rents in Tulsa, Oklahoma, says “comfort and feeling” are priorities when it comes to updating his apartment. A focal point in his living room is a rug with images of bacon strips, a food he enjoys.
“That’s something people walk in and they’ll notice,” he says.
2. Better showerheads
A new rainfall or massaging showerhead can significantly boost your daily shower experience, and it’s easy to swap with an existing head.
A “For Rent” sign displays outside apartment building in Skokie, Ill., on April 14. Renters can personalize their living spaces for greater comfort and style without jeopardizing their security deposits. Removable wallpaper, rugs and curtains offer temporary yet impactful ways to add color and design. Upgrading cabinet hardware and light fixtures provides a budget-friendly refresh and elevates the overall feel of a room. (NAM Y. HUH / ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Swap again when you move out and take your upgraded showerhead with you.
3. Stylish cabinet hardware
Cabinets are often the focal points in kitchens and bathrooms. Update the look by replacing the knobs, pulls or handles. Choose finishes that complement existing fixtures and faucets. Consider new pulls for the closets, too.
4. Smart-home gadgets
Tech-enabled home accessories can make your rental more convenient. In addition to Wi-Fi-enabled plugs for lamps, Avitable attached a voice-activated smart device to his curtains.
“I just tell it in the morning, ‘open the bedroom,’ and it slides the entire curtain open for me,” he says. “That helps me get out of bed if I’m feeling lazy.”
5. Window flair
Curtains play an important role in
setting the mood of a space. Blackout shades in a bedroom or light-filtering curtains for a living room can add functionality.
“Window treatments are really easy to install yourself,” says Detro, who used tension curtain rods, which don’t require drilling holes and are easy to remove.
6. Brighter light fixtures
Swapping outdated light fixtures with stylish sconces or pendants can elevate the look and feel of a room. Choose fixtures that accommodate bulbs with the correct wattage and store the originals.
7. Removable wallpaper
Removable wallpaper adds pattern and texture to walls without causing permanent damage. Choose a bold print to create an accent wall and liven up small spaces. Peel-and-stick options require precision to apply but shouldn’t leave a residue when removed.
8. Fresh paint
Adding fresh paint to the walls of an old apartment can easily brighten and modernize a rental. Detro suggests choosing neutral colors that are easy to paint over and using furnishings to bring color and character to the room.
Affording home upgrades
Landlords generally don’t pay for upgrades, or for returning the rental to its original condition, which means you’ll likely have to pay out of pocket.
One way to make upgrades worthwhile is to invest in items you can bring to your next home. For expensive purchases, home improvement retailers like Amazon and Home Depot offer payment plans like “ buy now, pay later ” that allow you to pay in installments over weeks or months.
Rental upgrades make sense “as long as there’s an increase in the renter’s comfort and convenience,” says Daniel Pinheiro, a certified financial planner in Falls River, Massachusetts. Pinheiro encourages renters to be intentional with purchases and budgeting, while also saving for longterm goals like buying a home.
Communication is key
Clear communication with your landlord will set expectations and prevent surprises when you move out. “I think that it’s important to know your rights (as a tenant),” says Avitable, “to know what you can and can’t do.”
Before starting any major project, check the lease for any restrictions and get your landlord’s approval in writing. Save receipts or documentation for any upgrades you make in case you want to negotiate with your landlord for items remaining in the rental at the end of your lease.
“I think respect is the biggest part of it,” says Detro, “having respect for the landlord and having respect for your space.”
This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Ronita Choudhuri-Wade is a writer at NerdWallet.
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