How to filter microplastics from tap water
By Jeanne Huber
The Washington Post
Q.How do I find out the quality of my tap water in Fairfax, Virginia, and what is the best way to filter out microplastics? I rent, so I can’t do under-the-sink or over-the-faucet filters, which I understand are the best. Our faucet tap is a hanging one with a spraying feature.
A. You’re smart to start by asking what’s in your water before you shop for a filter because different filters take out different things. Once you know what’s in your water, you can select a filter that takes out what you don’t want to drink. NSF, an independent testing and standards-setting organization that started as the National Sanitary Foundation, has a web page with links to specific filters based on some of the most common chemicals of concern, such as lead. Filters that take out microplastics are in a different category, “401 Emerging Compounds and Contaminants.” Filters listed there remove at least 85% of microplastics ranging from 0 to 80 microns in their largest dimension. Finding out what’s in your water is relatively simple. The Environmental Protection Agency requires all community water suppliers to provide a detailed analysis, known as a Consumer Confidence Report, to customers every July. Fairfax, like many other water suppliers, has posted its 2024 report online. Read the report to find out the levels of lead, nitrates, salts and even uranium in the water where you live. Fairfax Water currently tests for 285 compounds; the 2024 report says most of these were undetectable.
The plastic problem
But the tests don’t cover microplastics, which refers to particles smaller than 5 millimeters long, about the size of a pencil eraser. Obvi-
ously, you wouldn’t expect to see bits of plastic that size coming out of a tap, but microplastics can also be much smaller. EPA researchers set the lower limit at 1 nanometer (for comparison, an average human hair is about 80,000 nanometers wide).
Particles smaller than 1 nanometer are usually called nanoplastics.
Some microplastics are manufactured in a small size for use in consumer products, but a lot of what is now in the environment worldwide comes from breakdown of the plastics that seem to be used for everything these days, including construction materials, food wrappers and clothing made of polyester or acrylic. Rather than decomposing as they age, plastics break up into smaller and smaller particles. Dryer lint, shredded plastic tarps, and bits of discarded food wrappers get into the air and soil and eventually wash into streams and rivers and wind up in oceans — and in drinking water. Microplastics have even been found in well water.
Yet microplastics aren’t tracked in the annual reports water agencies send to their customers. The word does not even appear in the 2024
Fairfax report. Susan Miller, public affairs officer for Fairfax Water, said that’s because there is no EPA-approved testing protocol or standard for microplastics.
The EPA is working on that and began giving grants in 2018 to fund research into ways to identify microplastics in drinking water, with the aim of developing testing methods that are quicker and easier than the complicated laboratory analysis needed now. Other researchers are focusing on possible health effects from ingesting microplastics.
Once there is a good way to test and a better understanding of what level of microplastics should be allowed, water agencies will probably include that information in their reports, just as they are beginning to do for another emerging area of concern: “forever chemicals” known as PFAS, for poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances.
Filter options for plastic
In the meantime, one way to select a filter that will minimize your exposure to microplastics is to go by the size of the particles it removes. There is no mandatory standard, but two independent organizations — NSF and the
Rather than decomposing as they age, plastics break up into smaller and smaller particles. Dryer lint, shredded plastic tarps, and bits of discarded food wrappers get into the air and soil and eventually wash into streams and rivers and wind up in oceans — and in drinking water.
American National Standards Institute, known as ANSI — have established voluntary standards for drinking water and a certification process. Standard 42 limits aesthetic issues — ones that affect the taste, smell or clarity of water — while Standard 53 details chemicals that have health consequences. Standard 42 puts particles into six size ranges. Class I particles are 0.5 to 1 micron, Class II are 1 to 5 microns, on up to Class VI, which are bigger than 50 microns.
Researchers still don’t understand how microplastics affect human health. So
for now, filter manufacturers can treat plastic particles like any other particles, covered under Standards 42 as an aesthetic issue. Any good filter should come with a data sheet that details what it filters out. To avoid drinking microplastics as much as possible, get a filter that removes Class I particles. Under-the-sink and overthe-faucet filters are great because they filter all the water that comes out of the tap. But renter-friendly options for filtering drinking and cooking water also exist.
Brita, which sells a range of filter types — including water bottles, countertop dispensers and faucet addons — lists microplastics on the data sheet for only one of its filters: the Brita Hub, a countertop model.
Any good filter should come with a data sheet that details what it filters out. (ADOBE STOCK PHOTO)
Lee Reich | In the Garden
What are the best-tasting blueberries? Take your pick
I’VE NEVER MET A blueberry I didn’t like. Then again, I have yet to taste a rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium asheii), native to southeastern U.S. and highly acclaimed there. I also have yet to taste Cascades blueberry (V. deliciosum), native to the Pacific northwest. With “deliciosum” as its species name, how could it not taste great? And those are just two of the many species of blueberry that I’ve never tasted that are found throughout the world.
The blueberries with which I am most familiar are those that I grow, which are highbush blueberry and lowbush blueberry. I grow blueberries because they are beautiful plants, because they are relatively pest free, because they are delicious, and because they fruit reliably for me year after year.
I have to admit that highbush blueberries, at least to me, all taste pretty much the same. They have nowhere the broad flavor spectrum of apples. Tasting the same is fine with me; as I wrote, they are delicious. Depending on the variety, the berries do vary in ripening season, size, and other less obvious characteristics. One very important influence on flavor is how they are picked. Blueberries turn blue a few days
GARDEN NOTES
STOCKBRIDGE
Upcoming programs
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming programs. Music Mondays: July 29, Brother Sal Blues Band. Performances run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Food trucks will be available at selected performances. Cost is $15 members, $20 nonmembers; Wednesday, July 31, 10 a.m. to noon, “The Magic of Origami.” Learn
before they are at their peak flavor, which is OK if you’re marketing them and just want them blue. But the best tasting, dead-ripe ones are those that drop into your hand as you tickle a bunch of berries, which makes a good case for growing them near your back door
Lowbush blueberries also taste pretty much the same from plant to plant, but their flavor is decidedly different from that of highbush blueberries, a more metallic sweetness. Few varieties of lowbush blueberry exist, so most plants are just random seedlings anyway. Not to disparage that, though; they’re also all delicious — if picked at the right moment.
My idea that all highbush blueberries taste pretty much the same was recently challenged. New highbush varieties have been bred or selected since this native fruit went, over the past 100 years, from being harvested mostly from the wild to being mostly cultivated.
Over the years I’ve been very pleased with the nine varieties I had been growing, spreading out the harvest season from late June until early September.
Then the new variety, Nocturne, bred by Dr. Mark Ehlenfeldt of the USDA, caught my eye. Besides being
one of the greatest origami projects of all time, a “new” classic: the Butterfly Ball. Easy to fold, slightly challenging to assemble, it looks great all by itself, but when you toss it in the air, 12 paper butterflies float to the ground. For adults and children ages 12 and older. Cost: $40 members, $60 nonmembers. To register or for more information, visit www.berkshirebotanical. org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
their organic acids. Rabbiteyes have mostly malic and succinic acids, yielding a flatter taste profile than highbush fruits, whose citric acid makes for a brighter, sharper flavor.
Other species were also thrown into the mix, including Constable’s blueberry (V. constablaei), a native of higher elevations in southeastern U.S., and contributing late blooming and excellent flavor.
Long story short: Nocturne is significant for being a variety with significant rabbiteye parentage that is winter hardy to well below zero degrees Fahrenheit and late blooming. It has excellent flavor, juicy sweet, and sprightly, and quite different from my other highbush varieties.
billed as having unique flavor, Nocturne was also said to be notable for its jet-black fruits which, before they turn jet black, are vivid red-orange in color. What attracted me wasn’t the fruit’s unique colors, but its allegedly unique flavor atypical, so the description read, of either rabbiteye [which is in Nocturne’s lineage] or highbush.”
So, I called Ehlenfeldt to learn more about the variety. One of the original breeding goals back 25 years ago, when Nocturne’s carefully selected parents were mated, was to get a rabbiteye variety that, blooming later than most, would be less susceptible to spring frosts. Chemically, two significant differences between rabbiteye and highbush blueberries are
Nocturne tastes even juicier than it is. Which do I like better? Neither, I like them all. Nocturne, now in its third year here on the farmden, now has a permanent place in my Blueberry Temple.
Any gardening questions? Email them to me at garden@ leereich.com and I’ll try answering them directly or in this column. Come visit my garden at leereich.com/blog.
Pictured are highbush blueberries, just one of the many delectable species and varieties of blueberry. (LEE REICH PHOTO)
My house smells bad. How can I get rid of the odor?
By Jeanne Huber
Q.How do I cure, not mask, smells that linger in a home from cooking and just living?
A. Have you ever opened the door to a house for sale and been overpowered by the scent of an air freshener?
It’s a sure sign that there’s something else going on — perhaps a damp basement that reeks of mildew.
For truly fresh air, skip air fresheners that add scents and get rid of what’s causing the bad odors, to the extent that’s possible. Then let in fresh, outdoor air. And when that’s not enough, introduce absorbent materials that capture any remaining odors.
Unpleasant odors from “just living” usually have a specific cause: food scraps left for several days in a wastebasket, food that’s gone bad in the refrigerator, a washing machine or pile of laundry that smells like mildew or a gym, a bathroom that smells like a public latrine. There are solutions for each of these.
Garbage smells
To tame the stench from a wastebasket, you can of course empty it more often. Or if that’s a pain, try rinsing especially smelly things, such as wrappers from a package of fish, or enclosing them in a plastic bag that once held bread or vegetables. Don’t buy plastic bags just for this, though; most households accumulate plenty of plastic wrapping that can corral smelly kitchen discards.
Refrigerator smells
If you open the refrigerator and wince at the smell, it’s time to clean it.
• Take out the food and give it a sniff test, or check for visible mold or other signs that it’s too old to eat.
• Clear one shelf at a time, starting at the top.
• Rinse off containers with gummy residue from food that spilled on a refrigerator shelf and clean the shelf before you restock.
• Add lids or another covering to any food that isn’t enclosed to help new bad odors from developing.
• Remove the drawers for vegetables and fruit so you can clean inside and under them, because old spills can make a refrigerator smell bad even when the food inside it is fine.
• Baking soda is very effective at absorbing odors, so once you’ve cleaned and restocked, leave an opened box in the refrigerator to keep off-putting smells from accumulating.
Laundry smells
Laundry smells can come from the laundry itself or from a washing machine.
• To keep laundry sweet-smelling, avoid tossing damp items in a pile or basket unless you plan to do laundry within a day or two. Instead, hang the items or even drape them over a hamper whatever it takes to get them dry.
• The sooner you tackle stains, the easier they are to remove. So, rinse stains or even scrub them with a little soap and water as soon as you notice them; then let the item dry rather than adding it immediately to the laundry pile.
• Many washing machines do not drain completely at the end of a cycle. If you do laundry only once a week, you’re likely to smell a foul odor from that leftover water from a week earlier.
Manufacturers suggest wiping down the basket and rim after the last load of a day, running a cleaning cycle periodically and cleaning the filter (if the machine has one). It also helps to leave the door ajar, assuming you don’t have young children who might climb into a front-loader.
• If you do multiple loads of laundry each week, try
spacing them a couple of days apart. That should flush out the water hidden below the tub before it starts smelling like a swamp.
Bathroom smells
• In the bathroom, a good exhaust fan, used regularly, goes a long way toward eliminating unpleasant smells. To make it most effective, try cracking the door while the fan is running so it can pull fresh air from your house into the room to replace the steamy air it is sending outdoors.
• Wipe down walls after the last person showers and hang damp towels so they dry quickly.
• Urine smells can develop from splashes into the rim or the back of the toilet seat, or even on nearby walls or the floor. A thorough cleaning is the remedy for that. Put on gloves first.
Cooking smells
Removing cooking odors is a bit more complicated, assuming you don’t want to avoid certain foods just because of their lingering smell.
• In good weather, one easy solution if you have access to a deck, balcony or
patio, is to cook outdoors on a grill.
• For indoor cooking, an exhaust hood with a fan that’s vented to the outdoors works better than one that just pulls air through a filter. Upgrading to a vented fan isn’t always possible, so you’ll probably need to work with the setup you have.
• Vented hoods have stainless steel baffles or a metal mesh screen to capture grease particles in the air. Over time, the screens can get so clogged with grease that the fan can’t pull through much air, leaving
your kitchen smellier. Clean the screen, or stainless baffles, by submerging the piece in a sink filled with hot water and hand dishwashing soap. You might want to add some baking soda to help break up grease. Soak about 10 minutes, then scrub with a gentle brush, rinse and leave it on a towel or rack to dry. Some screens are safe to pop into a dishwasher.
• Unvented range hoods have metal mesh filters to capture grease, and charcoal filters to trap odors. If the mesh is a separate piece, you
Special to The Washington Post
These
Results are usually spectacular
By Jessica Damiano Associated Press
FLOWERING ANNU-
als generally bloom nonstop before dying at the end of the year or season. Perennials return every year, providing either season-long color, a burst of blossoms followed by sporadic blooming or a limited show that can last as little as two weeks. And biennials flower only in their second year before calling it quits.
But there’s another group of plants called monocarpics that spend their whole lives growing in size only to provide a single, swan-song bloom before leaving us for the great compost pile in the sky.
Some monocarpic plants, whose name is derived from the Greek for single (“mono”) and fruit (“carpos”), have a cult following among a subset of gardeners who revel in what can be years of anticipation, often throwing parties to display their plant’s once-in-alifetime death bloom.
Others growers, however, can be caught off guard to discover their 30-year-old landscape plant unexpectedly blooming, only to watch it die immediately afterward.
Flowers, of course, have a purpose: to ensure the posterity of their species. After their bloom concludes, plants produce seeds to ensure future generations, which completes their mission. Monocarpic plants have just one shot at this, so, as you might imagine, the effort is often spectacular.
Examples of these one-hit wonders
Take the century plant (Agave americana), whose name is the poster child for hyperbole. Rather than living for 100 years, as its name suggests, the desert plant native to Mexico and Texas and hardy in zones 8-11 has an average
lifespan of just 10 to 30 years. During this time, it grows to about 6 feet tall before sending up a giant flower stalk that can reach 30 feet, frequently shocking its owners. News coverage often ensues.
A 19-year-old American columbo (Frasera caroliniensis) growing at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill bloomed to local fanfare this spring. The unique plants native to the eastern and central United States grow in foot-tall clumps for many years before pushing forth a 6-to-8-foot spike of green, purple-speckled flowers.
Typically sturdy, resilient and drought-tolerant, the monocarpic plant category also includes fishtail palm (Caryota spp.), which can be grown outdoors in zones 9b-10. Capable of exceeding 50 feet in height, the trees produce hanging panicles of beautiful magenta flowers with yellow centers when they are between 10 and 20 years old. The good news is the show can last up to 5 years, after which only the blooming trunk will die, leaving secondary trunks, if present, to take over. Fishtail palms grown as houseplants are not likely to bloom.
Bamboo, the bane of many gardeners’ existence, is also a monocarpic plant. But don’t count on its bloom to end its invasiveness: It can take more than 100 years for some bamboo species to flower, and even then, sometimes their rhizomatous roots push up new plants.
Bananas, too, are monocarpic, but they reproduce by sending up suckers, or small plants, from their roots. After their one-and-only fruit crop is harvested, the main plant is cut to ground level, leaving the suckers to take over.
Sempervivum, a genus of succulents commonly called “hens and chicks” or “house leeks,” are hardy in zones 4-8. They grow in 6-inch-tall,
tight rosettes and multiply by producing a growing brood of smaller rosettes, which in turn make their own. The offshoots, or “chicks,” can be carefully removed from the mother plant, or “hen,” and
Aechmea fasciata, often called “urn plant,” will bloom just once at around age 3. (ADOBE STOCK PHOTO)
It is certified to remove 99.9% of microplastics and other Class I particles. (With a nine-cup reservoir, the Brita Hub lists for $119.99. With a 12-cup reservoir, it’s $179.99. The filter needs to
Smells
can wash that in a similar way. Charcoal filters and combo mesh-and-charcoal filters can’t be cleaned because there is no way to rinse the odor-causing particles out of the charcoal. Bosch, an appliance manufacturer, recommends replacing charcoal filters every three to four months, but the
be changed twice a year, at a current cost of $29.99.) A countertop model would present no issues to a renter.
The Brita Pitcher with an Elite filter and Brita’s Faucet System also are certified to remove Class I particles, but the data sheets don’t mention microplastics. Perhaps that’s because these products were
introduced before the presence of microplastics in tap water became such an issue, while the Hub model went on sale only last year. (Efforts to talk to someone in Brita’s technical department weren’t immediately successful.)
Some Brita filters would not be a good choice for removing microplastics. The
frequency can vary depending on how often you cook and whether you do a lot of frying. Go by what your nose is telling you.
• Covering frying pans with an anti-splatter screen can reduce the amount of grease that gets into kitchen air and thus make a filter last longer.
General odorremoval tips
Opening doors or win-
dows is a time-honored way to get rid of odors and let in fresh air, although it can undercut the effectiveness of heating and cooling systems if those are running. Add window screens if you’re in an area where mosquitoes or other flying insects are an issue.
What if you do all these things and find your home still plagued by foul air? Consider adding a charcoal filter to your heating and air con-
company doesn’t claim any particulate reduction for its standard filter or its reusable filter. And the Brita Bottle, a water bottle with a built-in filter, and the Brita Stream, a pitcher filter that lets you pour water without delay after you fill the container, are certified to remove only Class VI particles.
ditioning system or buy an air purifier sized for a smelly room. To eliminate odors, you need an air purifier that has a charcoal filter (or a combination of a mechanical filter and a charcoal filter). To be effective, the charcoal filter needs to be replaced regularly. Consumer Reports recommends changing it every three months and budgeting accordingly, because a replacement filter can cost up to $50.
planted elsewhere, or be left to spread into a mass planting. It takes roughly three to four years for a mother to sprout an eye-catching, 8-inch-tall stalk bearing a star-shaped flower at its tip before dying. Chicks, however, will continue on their own life paths.
And Aechmea fasciata, a popular bromeliad houseplant often called “urn plant,” will also bloom just once — at around age 3 — studding their stunning, spiked pink bracts with tiny purple blossoms to complement their strappy, silvery-green leaves. As with the others, the mother then surrenders her life, allowing the babies she produces to carry on the family tradition. Ah, the circle of life.
Home Finder
Home Finder
Tolland, MA Welcome to this enchanting 3-bedroom, 2-bath home nestled on a serene, wooded lot within the pond community of Wildwood in Tolland, MA. Featuring a striking floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, the main floor includes a magical rounded main bedroom with large windows overlooking mature trees. Enjoy stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, and the raised back deck perfect for entertaining. The finished basement offers an expansive comfortable space with room for a woodstove and direct walk-out access to the backyard. Two sizable storage areas on the bottom level will keep your bikes, boats, and yard equipment safe from the elements. With a furnace installed in 2016 and updated insulation in 2020, this home combines charm and modern comfort in a picturesque setting. $385,000
Terry and Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting
Charger from early 20th century an example of art nouveau
WITH ITS SOFT colors, flower motifs and asymmetrical twining lines, this ceramic charger, made circa 1900, fits right into the art nouveau movement. However, when it sold for $2,500 at Auctions at Showplace, it was described as “Jugendstil.” German for “young style,” named after the journal Die Jugend, it is the German term for what we call art nouveau.
The style, a precursor to modernism, spread throughout Europe with art galleries like the eponymous L’Art Nouveau, opened by German-born Siegfried Bing in Paris; exhibitions, especially the 1900 Exposition Universelle and, above all, graphic design and illustrations in popular books and periodicals. The movement intended to break down the barriers between fine and decorative arts. It certainly transcended national borders, known as “Art belle epoque” or “Art fin de siecle” in France, “Art nuova” or “Stile floreale” in Italy, “Stil’ modern” in Russia, “Sezessionstil” in Austria and Hungary, “Style nouille” in Belgium and “Modernista” in Spain.
Q. This vase has been in my family since “whenever” and there is no story behind it. It is 9 inches tall, about 6 inches at the opening and 4 inches at the base. The glass is thick with some bubbles. The main picture is “the Dickens house” and the two figures on the side of the house are Sam Weller and Tony Weller. On the reverse is The Fat Boy. I would appreciate any information on it, though I have treasured it in its unknown state since it was passed on to me.
This charger was made by the famous German ceramic company Mettlach in the Jugendstil of the early 20th century. If you think it looks like art nouveau, that’s because it is.
(AUCTIONS AT SHOWPLACE)
CURRENT PRICES
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.
Quilt, patchwork, eight-point star, multicolor, feed sack fabric, peach printed backing, 1930s, 84 x 59 inches, $60.
Coverlet, jacquard, flowers, red bands alternate with ecru and blue, three bird borders, fringe, later top binding, signed, dated, F. Becker, 1839, 100 x 85 inches, $95.
Hawkes, vase, cane panels alternate with frosted flowers, diamond ground, scalloped rim, signed, 10 inches, $120. Clothing, shoes, moccasins, beaded, red, blue, yellow, green, black and white border, reinforced toe, soft soles, First Nations, mid-1900s, 4 1/2 x 11 inches, men’s, $125.
Print, Wyeth, N.C. Map of Discovery, Eastern Hemisphere, Western Hemisphere, celestial and mythological figures in corners, colored, National Geographic, 1928, 16 1/2 x 18 1/2 inches, $165.
Folk art, whirligig, circus, canopy with pennant, two clowns, merrygo-round with four figures, two side propellers with figures, standing elephant, front propeller, red, white and blue, 56 x 33 x 28 inches, $295.
Q. I have some unusual Disney items from my grandmother’s house. They are round, flat pieces either 3 or 7 inches in diameter with character faces on the front. The reverse says, “Exclusive designs of Walt Disney Characters / Made
A. “The Dickens House” is another name for the Dickens Museum, located at 48 Doughty Street in London, where Charles Dickens lived with his wife Catherine from 1837 to 1839. He became a celebrity during that time, finishing his novels “The Pickwick Papers,” “Nicholas Nickleby” and “Oliver Twist.” The Dickens Fellowship, an international society of Dickens fans founded in 1902, purchased the house in 1925. Today, it is a museum, complete with a gift shop called the Curiosity Shop after Dickens’ 1841 novel. We suspect that your vase was a souvenir sold at that shop, although we have not confirmed a date or maker. Similar vases usually sell for under $50.
Expressly For Geo. Borgfeldt Corporation 44-60 East 23rd Street, New York.” I don’t know what they are. Can you help?
A. George Borgfeldt & Co. was an importer and distributor in New York City that operated from 1881 to 1962. In 1930, they were granted the first license to sell Disney merchandise. This included toys, figurines, decorations and children’s dishes. The company sourced them from manufacturers in the U.S., Europe and Japan. Your items may be toys or decorative plates. Disney items marked for George Borgfeldt can be worth hundreds of dollars today. For more information on Disney toys and
their prices, the “Official Price Guide to Disney Collectibles” by Ted Hake (Gemstone, New York, 2005) is an excellent source.
TIP: For emergency repairs to chipped pottery, try coloring the spot with a wax crayon or oil paint. It will look a little better.
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 prod-
Lamp base, electric, figural, parrot, perching on stand, onyx ball, holds cage in beak, painted, green and yellow, cast iron, 15 inches, $440. Stoneware, water cooler, lid, Ice Water, Gothic lettering, cobalt blue, gray ground, allover raised flowers, spigot, salesman’s sample, 1 gallon, 11 1/2 inches, $445.
Furniture, cupboard, pine, painted, blue, red trim, two flower panels on door, monogram, dated, 1813, 19th century, 69 x 41 x 18 inches, $500. Toy, filling station, electric lights, two gas pumps, Sunny Side Service Station, oil pump, water can, pressed steel car, box, Marx, 14 inches, $1,080.
uct. 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 Kovels, The Republican, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email us at collectorsgallery@ kovels.com.
LOS ANGELES
Average rate on a 30-year mortgage inches up to 6.78%
Change marks first uptick in three weeks
By A lex Veiga Associated Press
Mortgage rates inched higher this week, keeping the average rate on a 30-year mortgage essentially flat and near the 7% range it’s been in most of this year.
The rate rose to 6.78% from 6.77% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.81%.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also edged up this week, pushing the average rate up to 6..07% from 6.05% last week. A year ago, it averaged 6.11%, Freddie Mac said.
“Mortgage rates essentially remained flat from last week but have decreased nearly half a percent from their peak earlier this year,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.
“Despite these lower rates, buyers continue to pause, as reflected in tumbling new and existing home sales data.”
After jumping to a 23-year high of 7.79% in October, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage has mostly hovered around 7% this year — more than double what it was just three years ago.
The elevated mortgage rates, which can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, have discouraged home shoppers, extending the nation’s housing slump into its third year. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell in June for the fourth month in a row. And sales of new single-family homes fell last month to the slowest annual pace since November.
Deeds
AGAWAM
Cennet M. Kilic to Kevin Budiyono and Taylor Budiyono, 54 Kensington St., $345,000.
Elizabeth Philip to Jeffrey B. Rondeau and Debra R. Rondeau, 10 Beekman Place, Unit 10, $261,500.
William J. Malone and Elizabeth G. Malone to Patrick W. Regan, 304 Southwick St., $188,000.
AMHERST
Timothy Rohan, Timothy M. Rohan, Richard Steven Kaplan and Richard S. Kaplan to Timothy M. Rohan, trustee, Richard S. Kaplan, trustee, Timothy M. Rohan Living Trust and Richard S. Kaplan Living Trust, 235 Iduna Lane, $100.
Mark A. McDonald and Sharon S. McDonald to Mary Anne Royle, 11 Pine Grove, $398,750.
Anne Marie Messmer and Michael Messmer to Catlin L. Converse, trustee, and Catlin L. Converse Investment Trust, 71 Sand Hill Road, $784,200.
Annie Elizabeth Nelson and Nathaniel Smith to Daniel J. Babineau and Nutcha Wattanachit, 463 Bay Road, $535,000.
ASHFIELD
Amelia D. Maloney to Eva G. Goldman, Bear River Road, $95,000.
BELCHERTOWN
Allison E. Dunn to Michael J. Dannen and Emily C. Dannen, 10 Cobb Lane, $417,500.
Michael J. O’Brien and Vicki L. O’Brien to David J. Knapp and Michelle D. Knapp, Aldrich Street, $70,000.
Bernd F. Schliemann and Bianca Schliemann to Marcus Davis and Amanda N. Cass, 39 Segur Lane, $665,000.
Randall W. Prescott and Carol B. Prescott to John Pyne and Joyce E. Pyne, 23 Segur Lane, $480,000.
BERNARDSTON
Heath Kurra, personal representative of the Estate of Penny L. Kurra, to A Plus Enterprises Inc., 77 Hoeshop Road, 81 Hoeshop Road and Hoeshop Road, $200,000.
BUCKLAND
Ned James and Marilynn L. Zeller to Zachary Livingston,
Cross St., $25,000.
CHARLEMONT
REO 2021-NR4 LLC, to Lin Chen, 2151 Route 2, $229,900.
CHESTERFIELD
Jason Soukup and Tarren Soukup to Noel Nathaniel Morris II, 583 Main Road, $355,000.
Raymond Lequin Jr., and Krislyn T. Lequin to Collin Preftakes and Dayane Andrade Dos Reis, 189 Sugar Hill Road, $462,000.
Shad L. Smith, Shad Smith, Tabitha W. Smith and Tabitha Smith to Shad Smith, trustee, Tabitha Smith, trustee, and Shad Smith Living Trust, 38 Stage Road, $100.
Linda A. Udall and Jeffrey P. Udall to Matthew St. Louis, 33 Farmhouse Road, $475,000.
CHICOPEE
Bretta Construction LLC, to Jose M. Lopez and Jessica Lopez, 44 Crestwood St., $549,900.
Catherine A. Sears to Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Cioccolate Realty Trust, trustee of, 104 Leo Drive, $151,000.
Charles R. Boutilier, Charles R. Boutillier, Sandra L. Boutillier and Sandra L. Boutilier to John Brault and Lisabeth Brault, 37 Harvey St., $270,000.
David A. Bodman and Melissa M. Bodman to Maria Velazquez and Fernando Rebollar, 64 Felix St., $320,000.
Gail A. Carrier, trustee, and Jeanne E Capistrant Family Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Ericka Gonzalez Carrillo, 64 Stewart St., $278,000.
Griffin Burke and Stephen P. Burke to Anil Prathipati, 196 Nonotuck Ave., $360,000.
James B. McCoubrey, representative, Christine Ann McCoubrey, estate, and Christine A. McCoubrey, estate, to Ozkan Yagan, 93 Collins St., Unit E5, $175,000.
Joseph D. Coffey and Marilyn Coffey to Luke Michael Parker and Sarah Parker, 77 8th Ave., $385,000.
Nancy Roy to Brian Brisbois and Janice Brisbois, Hamburg St., $10,000.
Paul J. Abad, trustee, Karen L. Abad, trustee, Abad Family Revocable Trust, trustee of, Sean Francis Abad, Brian Augustus Abad, Eileen Mary Garvey and David Gerard Abad to Good Diggin Real Estate LLC, 11 Mountainview St., $294,000.
Philip A. LaFlamme, Phillip A. LaFlamme and Alyssa E.
LaFlamme to Agnieszka Sulkowska, 312-314 Springfield St., $461,000.
COLRAIN
Charlene Gatker and Paul Gatker to Rama A. Davis, 9 Main Road, $319,500.
CONWAY
Linda D. Bettis, Alan C. Potter, Harold M. Potter Jr., John N. Potter and Wayne Lee Potter to Joan R. Schwartz, 39 Pleasant St., $310,000.
Lucille Jacobson, Amanda Beth Groff, “fka” Amanda Kantor, and Philip Kantor to Philip Kantor, 12 River St., $100.
DEERFIELD
David E. Hayes and Lynn C. Hayes to Courtney J. Andree and Geoffrey D. Naunheim, 53 Eastern Ave., $500,000.
EAST LONGMEADOW
Jeffrey B. Rondeau and Debra R. Rondeau to Philip Nathaniel Hunt and Tiffany Lea Hunt, 32 Sturbridge Lane, $689,900.
Jon Darby Maxwell and Stephanie Anne Maxwell to Jack O’Brien, 20 Westernview Circle, $275,000.
Michael A. Panico to MJ Real Estate LLC, 46 Rear Chestnut Place, $170,000.
EASTHAMPTON
Jared C. Lent, trustee, Devon R. Lent, trustee, and Russell & Deborah Lent Living Trust to Marcus Tenesaca, Amelia Tenesaca and Gary Wilson, 14 Pomeroy St., $325,000.
Carrie F. Bither to Dorina Bajrami, 31 Florence Road, $370,000.
Gregory C. Tudryn, Gregory C. Tudryn, trustee, and Gregory C. Tudryn Living Trust to Mitchell Hubbard and Natalia Pisklak, 10 Emily Lane, $548,100.
Magali Schoulguine and Andrew J. Skelly to Elin A. O’Hara, 51 Phelps St., $384,000.
ERVING
Debra J. Markley, personal representative of the Estate of Frank W. Collis, to Eliza C. Galaher, 11 West High St., $252,000.
GILL
Douglas D. Grant, personal representative of the Estate of Emma E. Grant, “aka” Emma Grant, to EDS Enterprises LLC,
176 West Gill Road, $95,000.
GOSHEN
James Pesuit, James Pesuit, trustee, Eliza Pesuit, Eliza Pesuit, trustee, and Penny Moore Trust to Alisa Wagman, Alisa M. Wagman, Lynn Wagman, Lynn L. Wagman, Kevin Cote and Kevin G. Cote, 16 Washington Road South, $635,000.
Deborah M. Leonas to Adrianne Wurzl, 1 Hemlock Road, $480,000.
Richard D. Chiminello, trustee, Sandra R. Chiminello, trustee, and Chiminello Revocable Trust to David Fradkin and Joan Fradkin, 27 Pond Hill Road, $495,000.
GRANBY
Jeanne M. French to Jason French and Corey French, 119 Maximilian Drive, $100.
Cristina Vlas and Radu Vlas to Daniel Anthony Hynes, 114 Maximilian Drive, $870,000.
Andrea D. Marceau and Jason D. Marceau to Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Targaryen Realty Trust, 562 East State St., $286,500.
Catherine R. Nally to Donna M. Brogle, 2 Granby Heights, $260,000.
Michael A. Hatch and Trisha Lin Frances Dana to Michael A. Hatch, Center Street, $100.
GREENFIELD
Kimball & Kimball LLC, to 103 Conway Street LLC, 103 Conway St., $424,900.
Jennifer E. Scelsi, “fka” Jennifer E. Pride, to Holly L. Gallo and Adam M. Goldstein, 78 Beech St., $345,000.
Mirtha Crisostomo and Albert L. Dragon, trustees of the D&C Realty Trust, to Rachael Wilson, 73 Fairview Street E, Unit B, Pine Hill Park Condominium, “aka” 73B Fairview Street, Unit 15B, Pine Hill Park Condominium, $260,000.
HADLEY
David E. Krock and Sharon Stanton to Bradley Kobylarz and Stephanie Kobylarz, 100 Chmura Road and Bay Road, $1,150,000.
Raymond Conway, personal representative, Brenda L. Novak, estate, and Brenda Novak, estate, to Arthur W. Dahowski, 1 Cemetery Road, $560,000.
Gabriel Elijah Isman, trustee, Margot Simone Isman, trustee,
SEE DEEDS, PAGE F12
Deeds
Georgia Alexandra Hollister Isman, trustee, and Isman & Hollister Irrevocable Trust to Gabriel Elijah Isman, Margot Simone Isman and Georgia Alexandra Hollister Isman, 225 Middle St., $100.
Gabriel Elijah Isman, Margot Simone Isman and Georgia Alexandra Hollister Isman to Erika Andrea Hollister and Seth Isman, 225 Middle St., $100.
HAMPDEN
Omari H. Murray and Lisa K. Murray to Ryan Leal and Brittney Allen, 711 Main St., $340,000.
HATFIELD
Susan M. Burt, personal representative, Barbara Ann Pushkin Vanasse, estate, Barbara Ann Vanasse, estate, and Barbara A. Vanasse, estate, to Peter Fazekas and Victoria Damant, 73 Plain Road, $557,000.
Martin W. Holich Jr., Sharyn A. Holich and Lynda S. Holich to John S. Henderson-Adams and Mariel Lima, 186 North Hatfield Road, $450,000.
Lyle A. LaBarge, trustee, and Leslie & Katherine LaBarge Family Real Estate Trust to Thomas J. Wickles and Brenda J. Wickles, 55 Elm St., $295,000.
HEATH
Joseph V. Russo to Thomas W. Trowbridge, 24 West Brook Drive, $7,000.
Christopher L. Bradway to Richard Iacovelli, 17 & 19 Cheyenne St., $5,000.
HOLYOKE
Andrew J. Black to Jackeline Torres, 1895 Northampton St., $615,000.
Cheryl L. Galazka to Roberto Camacho, Jarvis Avenue, $220,000.
Daryle Lloyd Swatzie and Daryle L. Swatzie to Bethany A. Mulligan, 60 Chapin St., Unit R, $200,000.
Kenneth W. Sarcharczyk, trustee, trustee, Kenneth W. Sarcharczy, trustee, Michael L. Sarcharczyk , trustee, Shelley A. Nash, trustee, and Sacharczyk 2006 Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Denise Sarcharczyk and Joseph Wiener, 17 Pheasant Drive, $165,000.
Kevin C. O’Connor to Crystal Jean Miller, 47 Saint Kolbe Drive, Unit C, $150,000.
Lianne Lareau to Kevin C. O’Connor, 524 Pleasant St., Unit D, $150,000.
Margaro Crespo and Yaniana Mendoza to Elvin Gonzalez Cancel, 492 Maple St., $202,000.
Melissa S. Stearns and Kyle Stearns to Kim Quach, 32 Valley Heights, $315,000.
Michael Krassler, Paul Krassler and Barbara Korman to Scott Family Properties, 911 Main St., $175,000.
Paula E. Rice to Weary Travelers LLC, 31 Sherwood Terrace, $177,000.
Ronald P. Theriault to Linda Huynh and Anh Bui, 1039 Homestead Ave., $475,000.
Sara L. Zahler and William C. Bryan to Roberta Carlon and Tyler Link Lucia, 31 Erie Ave., $340,000.
Thomas E. Baush, trustee, Jill A. Baush, trustee, Thomas & Jill Bausch Living Trust, trustee of, and Thomas & Jill Baush Living Trust, trustee of, to Paula Ellen Rice, 34 Sherwood Ave., $255,000.
LONGMEADOW
Anthony E. Heim and Olivia Heim to Vincenzo Faienza and Kristi Jean Atheneos, 53 Brookwood Drive, $445,000.
Edward S. Ballis and Debora L. Green to David J. Bryson and Lucy Bryson, 127 Ashford Road, $1,190,000.
Mark W. Laskowski and Catherine E. Twohill to Keith Stephen Raho and Joycelin Marie Raho, 21 South Park Ave., $620,000.
LUDLOW
Anabela Cruz to Jose Fernando Santos and Karen Morrissey-Santos, Cady Street, Lot A, $90,000.
Dorota Aldag and Dorota Cygan to Konrad Antoni Pekala, 275 Center St., $330,500.
Fumi Realty Inc., to John Currier, 0 Shawinigan Drive, $285,000.
Kristen N. Bonsall to Kaitlin E. Jordan, 665 Center St., Unit 206, $310,000.
Kyle C. Sorensen and Brian J. Sorensen to Jeffrey D. Hickerson, 1 Charles St., $325,000.
Michelle A. Carner and Michelle A. Hickman to Antonio Vital and Anna D. Vital, 99 East Akard St., $240,000.
S & C Investors LLC, to Jonluc R. Lavoie and Meghan Lavoie, 35 McKinley Ave., $330,000.
MONSON
Bukowski Construction LLC, to Carole J. Putz, 46 Palmer Road,
Unit 8, $489,000.
Roland R. Table and Barbara G. Table to Earl F. Loranger, 230 Palmer Road, $215,000.
MONTAGUE
Kyle Ferguson, “aka” Kyle Daniel Ferguson, and Marilyn Squier, “aka” Marilyn Theresa Squier, to Diego Andres Sharon, 10 Davis St., $375,000.
NORTHAMPTON
Gordon R. Luce and Kathleen Luce to Catherine R. Hodes, 68 North Main St., $525,000.
Michael J. Doherty to Michael J. Doherty and Toni Beth Doherty, 28 Fruit St., $100.
Michael D. Brooks and Marilyn L. Brooks to Francis J. Ladouceur and Margaret A. Ladouceur, 957 Ryan Road, $400,000.
Colin Dean Chickles and Shelda Torres Chickles to Eelin Reily, 25 New South St., $510,000.
Essex Corp., trustee, and Williams Street Land Trust to Ampersand Sprout LLC, 41 Williams St., $1,675,000.
Lydia Sarro and Joseph F. Bartolomeo to Melinda Marie Mason and Randolph S. Yanoshak Jr., 68 Hillcrest Drive, $739,000.
Alisa M. Wagman to Alisa M. Wagman and Kevin G. Cote, 82 North Maple St., $100.
Gary Sienkiewicz, personal representative, Willard M. Johnson, estate, and Gary Sienkiewicz to Emma Bresnan and Reid S. Herreid, 70 Prospect St., $561,000.
Mineral Hills Nominee Trust and Jeffrey M. Siegel, trustee, to Brent Richter and Pamela Joshi, 1089 Westhampton Road, $1,850,000.
Matthew Motamedi to Steven Luzi, 23 Cahillane Terrace, $245,000.
Pil-Won On to Benjamin Thomas Brodie and Claudia Mary Wharton, 705 Fairway Village and Spring Street, $385,000.
Vijay Prashad and Elisabeth B. Armstrong to WMASS Prospect LLC, 281 Prospect St., $725,470.
NORTHFIELD
George J. Zielinski to Kimberly Balk, 568 Four Mile Brook Road, $100,000.
Alan D. Abel Jr., Paul Abel and Marianne Chenoweth to Martha Stinson, 18 West Lane, $150,000.
ORANGE
Kristina R. Vickstrom, personal representative of the Estate of Cynthia V. Wolfe, to Bryan Melanson, 204 Packard Road, $245,000.
Elaine S. Ivanowski to Rachael Gorman and Linus Schultz, 45 Charles St., $232,500.
PALMER
1411 NMain LLC, to SS Enterprises Inc., 1411 N. Main St., $500,000.
Benjamin S. Duby to Benjamin L. Lawlor, 41-59 North St., $335,000.
Carole J. Putz to Kevin P. Quirk, Pamela A. Quirk, Matthew J. Quirk and Daniel W. Quirk, 43 Mount Dumplin St., $580,000.
Daniel Foster and Madison R. Foster to Milan Piva and Jessica Wright, 3020 Pine St., $290,000.
JNB Property Investment Inc., to LBA Properties LLC, 3020-3026 Main St., $439,900.
Michael A. Cust and Stefanie Cust to Nathaniel Hengy and Lauren Perry, 21 Ruggles Court, $305,000.
RUSSELL
Sarah Anne Castro to Deepon Realty LLC, 140 Highland Ave., $105,000.
Thomas N. O’Brien to Christopher R. Ferrari and Molly A. Ferrari, 48 Timberidge Drive, $420,000.
SHELBURNE
John E. Madocks, “aka” John Madocks, to 34-36 Water Street LLC, 34-36 Water St., $400,000.
SOUTH HADLEY
William J. Wheeler and Joanne L. Wheeler to Thomas E. Wheeler, trustee, and Wheeler Family Irrevocable Trust, 9 Crystal Lane, $100.
Lisa M. Morrin to Lesli O’Connell and David Swierzewski, 48 Hillside Ave., $463,500.
Neal Teague and Mary M. Teague to Diana Kathryn Rogers, 273 Pearl St., $570,000.
Meir Weinstein and Cynthia Weinstein to John J. Beltramo and Patricia A. Beltramo, 8 Promenade Way, $600,000.
Laura Meuselbach, personal representative, Kenneth John Williams, estate, and Kenneth J. Williams, estate, to William F. Jerome and Brenda J. Jerome, 41 West Summit St., $210,000.
Antonio Turner to John C. Pietroniro and Sally M. Pietroniro, 14 West Summit St., $355,000.
Martin E. Kearney and Diane M. Kearney to Jose L. Hernandez and Annmarie Hernandez, 151Pine Grove Drive, $360,000.
Richard R. Berard, Karen A. Kosior, Holly A. Wilson and Thomas M. Berard to Martin E. Kearney and Diane M. Kearney, 106 Pine Grove Drive, $430,000.
John P. Pyne Jr., trustee, Joyce E. Pyne, trustee, and Pyne Nominee Trust to Karen R. Bogdanovich and Edmond P. Lonergan, 63 Shadowbrook and 63 Shadowbrook Estates, $579,000.
Harry L. Chandler and Kelli A. Fahey, attorney-in-fact, to Sean Peter Kane, 39 West Summit St., $299,900.
SOUTHAMPTON
Brian D. Slezek and Lori A. Slezek to Nikhil B. Meshram and Jayna Meshram, 118 Middle Road, $555,000.
Robert J. Lemire Jr., personal representative, and Helga Ann Lemire, estate, to Cregg Miller, 64 White Loaf Road, $365,000.
SOUTHWICK
Daniel T. Veale and Anne M. Veale to Jeffrey C. Ouellette, 219 Vining Hill Road, $436,000.
Hamelin Framing Inc., to Burt H. Fahy and Safha M. Fahy, 8 Tall Pines Trail, Lot 25, $170,000.
SPRINGFIELD
Anthony Matthews, trustee, and Yale Realty Trust, trustee of, to NRES LLC, 142-144 Yale St., $160,000.
Real Estate Investments Northeast LLC, and Michael Young to Keturah R. Lockett, 76 Marble St., $258,000.
B S C Realty Inc., to SVL LLC, 78 Hillman St., $200,000.
Beacon Cornerstone LLC, to Ronald Jeanty and Samite Myrtil, 31 Freeman Terrace, $298,700.
BSC Realty Inc., to Guardian Assets LLC, C-9 Kimball Towers, $100,000.
BSC Realty Inc., to SVL LLC, 265271 Dwight St., $250,000.
C Capital LLC, to Ashley Wiggins, 24 Nelson Ave., $240,000.
Ching-Chi Lee to 74 Alder Street LLC, 57-59 Tyler St., $295,000.
Emtay Inc., to Onstar Properties AA LLC, 152 Kensington Ave. $375,000.
Emtay Inc., to Xiumei Ye, 73 Kensington Ave., $465,000.
Hyman G. Darling, representative, and Grace W. Goucher, estate, to Dreampath Homebuyers LLC, 408 Tiffany St., $225,000.
James B. Morrissey Jr., trustee, John Swift, trustee, and ust Springfield Ventures Realty Trust, trustee of, to Katharine Campos Dias, 20 Florida St., $350,000.
Johanne T. Theodat to Ursula De Gracia and Yenit De Gracia, 53-55 Allendale St., $380,000.
Black flowers, sad statues: Gardens are going goth
By K ate Morgan
Special to The Washington Post
Chloe Hurst says she has always been an
“emo, dark kid.” So, when she and her husband bought a small-town bungalow in 2018, she set about “making it the gothic home of my dreams.” Inside, that meant dark wallpaper, intricate mirrors, taxidermy, occult symbol prints and lots of black paint.
Deeds
She also applied that aesthetic to her yard.
“I knew I didn’t want a standard garden,” says Hurst, a 29-year- old graphic designer from Ontario, Canada. “I wanted it to be a little spooky, almost like you’re walking through a cemetery. One of my friends who owns a nursery had these beautiful black petunias, and that was exactly what I needed. I started a collection of all these really beautiful dark plants.”
Hurst is part of a new group of gardeners creating highly personalized and carefully curated outdoor spaces.
“A lot of people got into gardening during covid, so we’ve got a whole new generation that is into the hobby,” says Margaret Shields, director
Jose Juan Salas-Delgado and Jarrisa L. Salas-Delgado to Maria Transito Guaman Castro, 110 Melha Ave., $420,000.
Jose M. Lopez and Jessica Lopez to Jonathan Abreu, 19-21 Daniel St., $380,000.
Julia Polanco to Andrea L. Pires Martins, 73 Villa Parkway, $235,000.
Lucas Giusto, trustee, Dominic Santaniello, trustee, and Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, to Amelya Williamson, Vernon Blake Garcia and Vernon Garcia, 195 Garland St., $215,000.
Maria Laureano, trustee, 86 Malden Street Realty Trust, trustee of, Angel Mojica, Jose Mojica, Grace Santiago and Minerva Colon to Pah Properties LLC, 86 Malden St., $120,000.
Melissa M. Belanger to Donna Marie Garcia, 29 Blanding St., $50,000.
MHI Properties LLC, to Makieu Fatmata Rhida and Ahmed Tejan Bah, 130 Manchester Terrace, $385,000.
Othniel Brown and Beverly G. Brown to Anthony Matthews, trustee, and Yale Realty Trust, trustee of, 142-144 Yale St., $80,000.
Paul A. Jacobs, Ann M. Haggerty-Jacobs and Mary Ann M Haggerty-Jacobs to Emily Le, 35 Spruceland Ave., $435,000.
Rafael Carrasquillo to Rolando Pagan, 2628 Narragansett St., $295,000.
Reina Y. Landaverde and Mario Landav-
of plant breeding at Ball Horticultural Company.
“But they don’t want their grandmother’s garden. They want something that reflects who they are. I think that’s where some of the preference for dark has come in, as this younger generation is looking for things that reflect their identity.”
In Hurst’s case, that identity is “goth gardener.” She started @theg0thgarden, a dedicated Instagram page for her plants, in 2023, and now has more than 225,000 followers. Her garden is also a hit with the neighbors — most of them, anyway.
“The people on my street that know me, they absolutely love it, and the majority of the feedback I get is that people think it’s cool,” Hurst says. “But I also have a
erde to Jennifer A. Couture, 45 Eton St., $289,900.
Renee D. Lewis to Carmela R. Hodgdon, 23 Gatewood Road, $285,000.
Shigen Zhu to Diana Velez, 54 Porter St., $276,000.
Shirley Graziani, representative, Rosaline Horowitz, representative, and Samuel Horowitz, estate, to Emtay Inc., 59-61 Sorrento St., $265,000.
Theresa Karam and Theresa Lynch to Sapataria Coelho LLC, 293-295 Water St., $110,000.
U S Bank Trust, trustee, and Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust 2018-B, trustee of, to Dennis Mullen, 22 Sargon St., $107,400.
Vignesh Nehru to Tanvitha Palace Realty Trust, trustee of, and Vignesh Nehru, trustee, 440 Sumner Ave., $100.
WARE
Mia Gurule to Kalin Elizabeth Deere, 37 Greenwich Road, $300,000.
John W. Sullivan and Elizabeth K. Sullivan to Riley J. Mucha, 325 Old Gilbertville Road, $100.
John P. Hanley and Linda L. Hanley to Travis Stanger and Natassja Stanger, 58 Old Belchertown Road, $350,000.
WENDELL
Anna Kristina Hartjens, trustee of the Hartjens Irrevocable Real Estate Trust, to Cecelia Aldrich and Christy Cobbs, 270 Wendell Depot Road, $330,000.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Anthony M. Savino and Virginia M. Savino to Larkspur LLC, 42 Exeter St, $200,000.
Emily Murawski, representative, and Mary F. Sypek, estate, to Ashley Investments LLC, Ashley Ave., $1,000,000.
Gregory Palanjian to Aga Brothers LLC, 292-294 Main St., $190,000.
Helen M. Bonneau to Koch Real Estate Corp., 166-178 River St., $210,000.
Kevin M. White and Shamis A. White to Labinot Preniqi and Moryn Mendoza, 72 Lennys Way, $659,500.
Koda Penny Realty LLC, to Geoffrey Paul Galvin, Brittany Vasil and Madison Hilbig, 63 Bliss St., $300,000.
Labinot Preniqi and Moryn Mendoza to Sarah R. LaPolice, 258 Ashley St., $330,000.
Patricia Ann Brown to Daniel G. Tenggren, 121 Lincoln St., $232,000.
PHH Mortgage Corp., to Nick M. Zaporozhchenko, 1608 Memorial Ave., $95,000.
Vincenzo Rettura to Peter Torres Jr., 6 Colony Road, $161,000.
WESTFIELD
Corey J. Fournier, Melissa C. Fournier and Melissa C. Pierson to Kyle LaPolice and Destiny Myette, 191 Joseph Ave., $371,000.
David H. Bird and Taralyn Bird to Erik R. Towle and Elizabeth M. Towle, 11 Fawn Lane, $460,000.
Donnell F. Humber and Heather I. Humber to Corey J. Fournier, Corey Fournier, Melissa C. Fournier and Melissa Fournier, 28 Gloria Drive, $660,000.
Mary E. Oleksak to Vantage Home Buyers LLC, 997 Western Ave., $225,000.
Richard H. Stanton III, trustee, Megan C. Stanton, trustee, Richard H. Stanton Iii Living Trust, trustee of, and Megan C. Stanton Living Trust, trustee of, to Donna Janerico and Luke Leszczynski, 147 Tannery Road, $775,000.
Richard S. Gawron and Sharon M. Gawron to Kolleen Jandaczek and Krzysztof Pilichowski, 16 Willow Brook Lane, $576,000.
Sophia Bousquet and Sophia M. Bousquet to Vantage Home Buyers LLC, 16 Holland Ave., $230,000.
TM Properties Inc., to Caio Santiago, 13 Russell Road, $350,000.
WILBRAHAM
Bettye J. Frederic, Michael Frederic, Ramona Ndlovu, Ramona Aberdeen Ndlovu, Samuel Keaton and David Frederic to Joseph Coffey and Marilyn Coffey, 12 Cedar Oak Drive, $480,000.
Patrick S. O’Brien and Katlyn E. O’Brien to Melih Elcin, 416 Soule Road, $403,000. Spectrum Northeast LLC, to Richard L. Shults, 807 Glendale Road, $50,000.
WILLIAMSBURG
Allison Jones to Samuel R. Prickett and Erin Prickett, 67 Chesterfield Road, $130,000.
Chloe Hurst applied the black aesthetic she favors in her home to her yard. (J OVERTON PHOTO)
SEE GOTH, PAGE F14
couple people in town that are very religious, and I’ve gotten fliers left at my door that tell me to seek Jesus, or had people say they’re afraid. But come on: You can’t seriously be afraid of plants.”
A Victorian revival
Goth gardening tracks with a resurgence in “emo” and “goth” fashion and culture (see: Netflix’s hit show “Wednesday”), but it certainly isn’t a new idea.
The Victorians were the original goth gardeners, says Caroline Holmes, an author and garden historian in Britain.
“Once we get into the Victorian era, beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” she says. “And in their gardens, they were expressing that beauty in their own way.” Often, that meant creating outdoor spaces that felt a bit melancholic, with meandering paths, shady hideaways and, in some cases, obvious odes to the departed.
“It’s the start of people having more modest gardens — they weren’t limited to just large estates — and they did things like create pet cemeteries with little monuments
for their animals out in the garden,” Holmes says. The widespread use of statuary — especially mythology-inspired figures — only added to the vibe. Hurst has taken inspiration from the Victorians here.
“I love statues,” she says. “This year, I’ve added a lot of angel statues that look like they’re crying. I’ve got a couple of big urns and trellises. I just got one that looks like a giant birdcage. It’s so weird and I love it so much.”
The plants popular in the Victorian era also lend themselves to damp, dark corners.
“Moss houses were very in fashion,” Holmes says. “It was very popular to have garden buildings that were very dark, with stained glass, and filled with different mosses. There was also a big fern mania. People were very into collecting ferns, and those typically want to grow in the shade.”
Breeding black blooms
Many modern goth gardeners also include shade-loving plants and mirrors or stainedglass decor in their outdoor spaces. But they have access to something the Victorians didn’t: breeding technology that allows scientists to create flowers and foliage in all manner of dark colors.
In 2011, Ball Horticultural
began selling the first black petunias: Pinstripe, Black Velvet and Phantom.
Now goth gardeners can find countless black and other dark-colored plant and flower varieties.
“Black Hero tulips are my favorite,” Hurst says. “They look like peonies, but they’re like a dark purple, almost black. You can also get Queen of the Night tulips, which are a little smaller. In my garden, they’re some of the first flowers every spring.” Hurst also likes black mondo grass and Arabian Night calla lilies for a moody vibe.
Ball Horticultural recently introduced a black variety of angelonia called AngelFlare and the Tattoo Black Cherry vinca, a dark pink flower that looks like it’s been brushed with deep purple ink.
Growers wanting to add even more darkness can look for sweet potato vines in varieties including Blackie, Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Jet Black and SolarPower.
There are also plenty of dark vegetable varieties, such as deep red and purple herbs and lettuces, burgundy broccoli, and tomatoes and peppers in shades of brown and black. Hurst says she’s always looking for the next shadowy plant to add to her garden. “It’s
expensive, and a labor-oflove kind of hobby, but I can’t imagine I’ll ever stop adding to it,” she says. “I’m dying to get my hands on this new black hydrangea [the Eclipse bigleaf hydrangea] with these beautiful dark leaves.”
Shields says her team is working steadily to introduce even more dark plant varieties.
“Plant breeding follows fashion a little bit,” she says. “In the last 10 years, we’ve started to see black walls and doors become popular in homes. Then, you start to see the flowers go that way. Novelty is always what we’re looking for.”
While Hurst is delighted at the goth garden’s popularity, for her it’s less about following a trend and more about creating a space that helps her tell a personal story.
“I always say it’s like gardening on dark mode,” she says. “Don’t get me wrong. I think the more traditional bright pinks and purples in people’s gardens are gorgeous. But I just love that my garden has somehow created this haunting ghost story, almost. That’s my favorite part of building a garden: creating a really cool story with it.”
Kate Morgan is a freelance writer in Richland, Pa.
Wicked Witch coleus in Chloe Hurst’s garden. (CHLOE HURST PHOTO)
Hurst applied the black aesthetic she favors in her home to her yard. (J OVERTON PHOTO)
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9:00 AM-SPRINGFIELD, MA 100 DONBRAY ROADDEPOSIT $5,000
10:00 AM - CHICOPEE, MA 106 MEDFORD STREETDEPOSIT $5,000
TUESDAY AUGUST 13, 2024
3:00 PMNORTHAMPTON, MA 60 EMERSON WAYDEPOSIT $10,000
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
