Temple of Bloom is like the tree of life
By Norman W inter Tribune News Service
THE TEMPLE OF
Bloom is like the tree of life to everyone who gardens for pollinators. It is a more compact form of Seven-Sons Flower known botanically as Heptacodium micronioides. The Temple of Bloom’s native habitat is China where its wild populations are under threat of extinction.
If you live in zones 5a to 9b however, and you are looking for butterflies, bees and hummingbirds, then this is a musthave plant. I started out with a whip of a plant 3 or 4 years ago and this year it reached 10 feet tall with several blooming branches. I am developing mine as a multi-trunked small tree that I am expecting to be about the size of a redbud or medium-sized crape myrtle. Those grown as a wide deciduous shrub, though a little wild looking, certainly have an appeal.
I mentioned the tree of life
at the start and this year’s bloom was a prime example. The butterfly year was pretty incredible March through May. Then once June arrived it was miserable, excessively hot and dry. Though I had an abundance of lantanas, agastache, salvia, zinnias and gomphrena, it just failed to live up to potential. I never even saw a single hairstreak butterfly.
The Temple of Bloom erupts with fragrant white flowers in August and September. Wherever the butterflies had been hiding, they suddenly appeared. Last year it was the White M hairstreak, a lifer for me that showed up with countless others. This year Red-banded hairstreaks, and two that I hadn’t seen in years, the Great Purple hairstreak and the Olive Juniper hairstreak. Then to make it really seem like a wildlife extravaganza, the little Green Anole lizards climbed the tree for their chance at a happy meal.
I am sure the neighbors thought I was a total plant nerd as I sat nearby every day in the soaring heat armed with my Nikon telephoto lens. I admit I was stationed in the shade as much as possible. Yes, I get excited over hairstreaks; there have been five species in the last two years. Each branch tipped in a huge white cluster of blooms will all have hairstreaks at the same time. But there are all sorts of bees, wasps and milkweed beetles. It is not just hairstreak butterflies but swallowtails too.
It was still blooming at the end of September when Hurricane Helene made her trek north. Our area, though spared, did receive a lot of rain and some stiff winds, which pretty much ended the bloom season on my treasured tree. The magic continued however, as the petals fell to the ground they were soon replaced by vivid red bracts, making everyone think the tree switched blooms from white to red.
As winter approaches, the leaves will fall to reveal a tan exfoliating bark. This of course means it will be ever-sopicturesque during the dormant season.
As winter approaches, the leaves will fall to reveal a tan exfoliating bark. This of course means it will be ever-so-picturesque during the dormant season. The question arises how such a trouble-free tree can do all of this; it certainly seems to be horticultural magic.
The Temple of Bloom is thankfully tolerant of a wide range of soils. I can tell you, this tree deserves fertile welldrained soil and irrigation
during periods of drought. You will be rewarded with those fragrant white blooms and a wildlife show of bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and yes lizards too. It will seem over but then surprise you when you suddenly have vibrant red bracts.
Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinter TheGardenGuy.
This cluster of Temple of Bloom flowers has the Great Purple hairstreak and an assortment of bees. (NORMAN WINTER / TNS)
When the bloom ends and the petals fall, each cluster of the Temple of Bloom erupts into a vivid show of red bracts. (PHOTO/COVER PHOTO BY NORMAN WINTER / TNS)
GARDEN
NOTES
STOCKBRIDGE
Upcoming program
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming program: Saturday, Nov. 9, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., “Arranging Dried Flowers.” Join Rebecca O’Donnell of The Quiet Botanist for a morning of flower arranging. Participants will be introduced to a selection of dried and foraged flowers, the necessary tools for harvesting and arranging, as well as drying basics. Each participant will make a medium-to-large bouquet using dried flowers of their choosing. Come with your questions. Bouquets will be hand-tied and wrapped for traveling convenience. However, you’re welcome to bring in your own vase and fill it here during the class. All levels are welcome. Cost $90 members, $110 nonmembers. To register or for more information about this program, visit www.berkshirebotan ical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
WILBRAHAM Garden Club meeting
The second meeting of the Wilbraham Garden Club will be held Thursday, Nov. 7. at St. Cecilia’s Parish Center on Main Street in Wilbraham at noon. A pizza party will be held at no charge. The Wilbraham Garden Club Flower Arrangers Group will be the speakers for the meeting, who will make harvest-themed centerpieces.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@ repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
Why some falls have more colorful foliage
SUGAR MAPLES (ACER saccharum) are now doing just what I expected of them. But not this late here in Zone 5. Color used to peak here in the middle of October; nowadays, with climate change, the peak has been pushed forward to about now.
Some years the color is better or worse than other years. One year the local sugar maples were mostly only yellow, lacking the oranges and the reds that, along with some yellow, really ramp up the blaze of landscapes and forests. That bad showing could be blamed on the weather. To know why, let’s backtrack to summer when, quoting from a section in my recent book “The Ever Curious Gardener, Using a Little Natural Science for a Much Better Garden.”
“Green is from chlorophyll, most welcome in spring and through summer, but not what interests me in fall. Chlorophyll must be continually synthesized for a leaf to stay green. The shorter days and lowering sun of waning summer are what trigger leaves to stop producing it, unmasking other pigments lurking there.
Leaves’ yellow and orange colors are aways present, thanks to carotenoid pigments, which help chlorophyll do its job of harvesting sunlight to convert into plant energy. I offer thanks to carotenoids for the warm, yellow glow they give to gingko, aspen, hickory, and birch leaves.
Tannins are another pigment, actually metabolic wastes, that, all summer, are hidden by chlorophyll. Their contribution to the fall palette are the season’s subdued browns, notable in some oaks and enriching the yellow of beeches.
Because leaves harbor carotenoids and tannins all summer long, nothing particular about autumn weather should either intensify or subdue their autumn show. The only glitch could be an early, hard freeze that occurs while leaves are still chock full of chlorophyll. In that case, cell workings come abruptly to a halt and all we’re
left with is frozen, green leaves that eventually drop without any fanfare.
Autumn color also spills out reds and purples, most evident in red maples and some sugar maples, scarlet oak, sourwood, blueberry, and winged euonymous. Those reds and purples come from yet another pigment, anthocyanins. Except for trees like ‘Purple Fountain’ beech and ‘Royal Purple’ smokebush, whose leaves unfold dusky red right from the get-go in spring, and remain so all season long, in most leaves anthocyanins do not begin to develop until autumn. Anthocyanin formation requires sugars so anything that I or the weather does to promote sugar accumulation in autumn will increase anthocyanin levels in leaves. The weather’s role is to offer warm, sunny days to maximize photosynthesis, and cool, but not frigid, nights to minimize nighttime burning up of accumulated sugars. A
Pennsylvania landscape weren’t sugar maples; they were a variety of Freeman maple (Acer × freemanii). Freeman maples are natural and deliberate hybrids of silver maples (Acer saccharinum) and red maples (Acer rubrum), the silver maple contributing fast growth to the hybrids and the red maples contributing strong branches and red leaf color in autumn.
Trees vary, both as to species and locations, in the amounts of pigments found at various times in their leaves. Red maples, as the name implies, have significant amounts of anthocyanins. In these trees, this anthocyanin is present not only in autumn as the chlorophyll fades, but throughout the growing season. Depending on the amount and kind of anthocyanin, its redness would be more or less masked by chlorophyll during the growing season. Some varieties of red maple, and many varieties of Japanese maple, are red or purplish all summer long.
cloudy, rainy autumn means less red because less anthocyanin is formed, and any that does form is diluted.”
I was recently visiting my daughter in Pennsylvania. As we looked around her neighborhood, I admired the rich, red, autumn color of the trees lining the streets. Red?! How can that be? What about what I wrote about this autumn’s weather and anthocyanin and red leaves in autumn?
Ah, but science takes care of that, too. Those trees in the
The million-dollar question is why a tree would have anthocyanin in its leaves all season long. Various theories have been floated. Anthocyanins do offer protection against excess sunlight, which is why young leaves emerge reddish on some plants. (This characteristic does not correlate with the degree of red in leaves in autumn.) It’s also possible that anthocyanins could ward off pests. Whatever the reason, red or orange or yellow leaves, I’m not complaining. Autumn is still a beautiful season here in the Northeast.
Come visit my farmden at http://www.leereich.com/ blog
lee reich | In the Garden
Sugar maples are among fall’s colorful trees, but what causes the colors? (LEE REICH PHOTO)
Is your living room boring?
By D ina C heney
The Washington Post
IF YOUR LIVING
ROOM
features intricate molding, herringbone wood floors or other architectural details, you can put your feet up and relax. At least from a design perspective, you don’t need to do much to make your space shine. But if your living room — like mine — is devoid of those types of niceties, you’ll need to do a bit more heavy lifting when it comes to style. Just like a blank page can spur writer’s block, a “white box” living room can feel both liberating and restrictive. The options are endless, yet you have no idea where to start. That’s why I turned to design pros, whose ideas gave me the inspiration I needed to tackle my space.
Maximize what you have
Yes, your living room might seem blah. But if you put on your rose-colored glasses and squint hard, you might unearth some less obvious treasures. Maybe the space is flooded with light, includes a window with an interesting shape, or boasts high ceilings. Play up those assets by choosing a white or neutral color scheme to highlight the room’s luminosity, painting the trim around the window a bold hue or installing a large chandelier.
Try an accent wall
Highlight one wall by giving it special treatment, whether it’s with plaster, a dramatic paint color, bold wallpaper or millwork (like shiplap). Or hang large art or an antique mirror. In a client’s living room, Jessica Schuster, of Jessica Schuster Design in New York, installed rustic wood paneling over a wall she’d coated in gray plaster for a moody and modern look.
Dress up your fireplace
I’m planning to add a multitiered marble mantel around
the fireplace in my living room to impart depth and refinement. I can’t build out the wall, so the overlapping layers of stone should help compensate for the lack of architectural detail in the space. In his own Los Angeles home, Orlando Soria, author of “Get It Together!” and host of HGTV’s “Build Me Up,” embellished the fireplace with a mantel he made from four dowels and a pine plank.
Install or simulate trim
Add molding (such as crown or chair-rail), then paint it a contrasting color for a tailored effect. Black trim against white walls brings structure, like punctuation marks on a page. Or if real trim isn’t in your budget, wield paint to lend the illusion of millwork. “Using your trim and ceiling color, paint a four- or five-inch border around the upper portion of the wall,” Soria said in an email. “You can also do this around windows and doors.”
Go bold with your sofa
If you’d rather keep your walls more understated, make your couch the star. To help it pop, choose one with a rich color or an unusual shape. A sofa with a serpentine profile, for example, can soften the angularity of a boxy room. Then complement this anchoring piece with patterned accent chairs and cozy pillows and throws.
Get the built-in look
Flip through a decorating magazine and you’ll see pricey built-in cabinetry in virtually every living room. Fortunately, you can achieve a similar look without hiring a carpenter. Bookcases don’t have to be custom or built-in, Jess Cooney of Jess Cooney Interiors in western Massachusetts, said in an email. Instead, update free-standing furniture by removing or wallpapering doors or swapping out hardware. “For
a bigger project, consider vintage or antique bookcases, which can be refreshed with paint (solid colors or patterns) and stains,” she wrote. Deep tones, like rich navy, will add depth.
Highlight one of the walls in your living room by giving it a dramatic paint color. (ADOBE STOCK PHOTO)
terry
and Kim kovel | Antiques & Collecting
These smashing coin banks are rarely in good condition
FOOTBALL FANS
might consider it a calamity if their favorite team loses. The calamity bank made by J. & E. Stevens in the early 1900s depicts a different kind of football disaster: Insert a coin and the three players’ heads collide.
Frequent collisions over time often damaged the figures, making it rare for today’s collectors to find an example in good condition. The few that still exist are quite valuable. This one, featuring a college football game with a fullback from Yale and two tacklers from Harvard, sold at RSL Auction Company for $8,027. If anything, the bank’s propensity to damage makes it more realistic.
College football in the early 1900s was dangerous. Players did not wear helmets, had little protective gear and often deliberately injured their opponents. Reportedly, more than a dozen players died in 1905 from injuries during games. Football safety became a national issue; President Theodore Roosevelt met with Ivy League football coaches to discuss it. This led to the formation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association, a precursor to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Improved regulations and better protective gear made the game safer. Further improvements are still being made.
Q. Do you have any recommendations on how to determine the value of an autograph I have of John F. Kennedy from 1962?
A. You can consult a local antiques dealer or antiquarian book dealer for assistance. Some coin and stamp dealers also handle autographs. If there aren’t any appropriate dealers in your area, you may want to contact a national auction house that specializes in autographs, like Nate D. Sanders, natedsanders. com; or political and historical memorabilia, like RR Auction,
It’s fitting that a mechanical bank called “Calamity,” featuring football players colliding, is rarely found without damage. Surviving examples are rare and expensive. (RSL AUCTION COMPANY)
rrauction.com, or Hake’s Auctions hakes.com; or even rare books, like Swann Auction Galleries, swanngalleries. com, or University Archives, universityarchives.com
A word of caution: John F. Kennedy was known to use an autopen or signing machine for some autographs. Autographs made with an autopen have lower values than ones made by hand. If you do not know if your autograph was done by hand or made with an autopen, there are professional autograph authenticators who can help you find out.
Q. I look forward to your column in our Springfield, Massachusetts, Republican newspaper. I now have come to realize the importance of antique clocks. They are like a lost child waiting to be adopted, cared for and fed. At one time, I inherited five of them and gave three to my children. The oldest clocks were from the 1890s when there was no electricity and were a treasured necessity for every family. I implore all readers to look in their basements, attics and all
closets for hidden forgotten clocks. Ask your relatives if they know of any clocks. If you find any, then you need to find a skilled clock repair person to confirm they are in fine working order. You might have to ask a good jewelry store for a reference or even a friend who owns one, who they use for service. Perhaps in one of your columns, you can give a short history of the antique clock.
A. Thank you for sharing your appreciation for antique clocks! We have heard the saying “A ticking clock is the heartbeat of the home.” Even the name “grandfather clock” and the song that inspired it capture the sentimentality and family connections these clocks can hold. We often hear from readers who would like to identify or learn the value of inherited clocks. An antique clock can last for hundreds of years with proper care and maintenance. Most people look for clocks to decorate or keep time in a home even if they are not otherwise interested in antiques. A short history of the antique clock is an excellent idea. The trouble
would be keeping it short! The history of clocks is also a history of technology and design. There are many types of clocks, styles and makers to cover. The pendulum clock was invented in the 1600s. Spring technology in the 1700s made carriage clocks, the first portable clocks, possible. Connecticut clockmaker Eli Terry patented a smaller clock mechanism in 1816 and started making shelf clocks by machine. Battery-powered clocks were made by the late 1800s but were not common in the U.S. until the 1930s. If you would like to learn more about clocks, look for books like “American Shelf and Wall Clocks” by Robert W.D. Ball, “The Warner Collector’s Guide to American Clocks” by Anita Schorsch or “Miller’s Buyer’s Guide: Clocks & Barometers” at your library. For more information, or to find clock restorers in your area, look to a collector’s club like the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors, Inc, nawcc.org
TIP: To set the time on a clock, push the minute hand clockwise, never counterclockwise. If the clock chimes, be sure to wait until it stops striking before you advance the hands again.
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 Kovels, The Republican, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels.com.
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. Advertising, matchbook, Fulper Pottery Co., Makers of Stangl Pottery, blue print, striker, map on reverse, c. 1920, 2 inches, $60. World’s Fair, jewelry, bracelet, 1933, Chicago, cuff, illustrated panels, A Century Of Progress, copper, 193, 2 1/2 x 2 inches, $65. Roseville, bushberry, vase, green to brown, twig handles, tapered base, round foot, 9 1/2 inches, $95. Toy, barn, Red Robin Farm, printed brick walls, hinged double doors, removable roof, shingles, copula, Converse, c. 1950, 17 1/2 x 19 1/2 x 10 inches, $200.
Basket, pack, black ash, bentwood rim, fabric straps, adjustable, marked, Albert J. Nicola, Penobscot, Enfield, Maine, $215.
Box, ballot, hinged twopart lid, allover carved texture, painted, black top, green sides, yellow ends, handle on back, early 1900s, 6 x 10 1/2 x 12 inches, $325. Advertising, cabinet, spool, J. & P. Coats, four drawers, molded edge, maple, brass pulls, painted panel, on stand, late 1800s, 34 1/2 x 22 x 24 inches, $530. Rug, Karaja, red field, three center medallions, forest green, ivory, navy blue main border, multicolor flowering branches, gold and salmon guard borders, mid-1900s, 4 feet 5 inches x 3 feet 6 inches, $630. Tiffany glass, vase, gold iridescent, hooked pulled feathers around shoulder, green iridescent, tapered base, Favrile, paper label, etched mark, L.C.T., c. 1896, 5 3/4 inches, $1,070.
Furniture, server, Sheraton, cherry, three drawers over two-door cupboard and bottle drawers, two long drawers below, maple veneer fronts, satinwood inlay, early 1800s, 40 x 44 1/2 x 20 3/4 inches, $1,765.
Average rate on 30-year mortgage in the US rises to 6.72%
By A lex Veiga Associated Press
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. rose for the fifth straight week, returning to its highest level since early August.
The rate rose to 6.72% from 6.54% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday.
Deeds
AGAWAM
Albert J. Woszczyna and Donna M. Woszczyna to Halyna Shveyko, Mychaylo Shveyko and Diana Shveyko, 17 South Brooke Lane, $495,000.
Arnold Tillman and Carolyn Tillman to Rachel L. Krotenberg, 24B Castle Hills Road, $310,000.
Brian L. David to Sergey Mayerov, 171 Regency Park Drive, $125,000.
Charles Fijnvandraat, trustee, Charles A. Fijnvandraat, trustee, and CAF Nominee Trust, trustee of, to Michael A. Oppedisano, 11 Regency Park Drive, $165,000.
Christina C. Cook to Holden Bielanski, 61 Kensington St., $240,000.
Comfortable Living LLC, to Sergey Mayerov, 92 Regency Park Drive, $135,000.
Erin Rand, representative, and Donald Jacobs, estate, to W. Michael Picco, 33 Wrenwood Lane, $272,500.
Florence Kinsley to Aden Ismail, 71 Stewart Lane, $285,000.
Jennifer Lee McElligott and Jennifer L McElligott to Christopher John McElligott and Chris McElligott, 3 White Oaks Drive, $97,500.
Lorie A. Devoe-Marsh, Lorie A. Devoe and Kevin L. Marsh to 695 Mill Street LLC, 695 Mill St., $200,000.
Neil W. Cormier, trustee, and Cormier Family Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Kristin Bushey, 52 Parker St., $270,000.
Philippa J. Owen to Thomas Burns and Thomas W. Burns, 15h Castle Hills Road, $320,000.
Roy B. Ferrell, Maureen L. Wolk and Robert R. Ferrell to Tedeschi Properties LLC, 92 River Road, $235,000.
Stephen P. Giordano to Joseph R. Joyal, 62 Kensington St., $287,000.
Thais Joan Fischel, estate, Thais J. Fischel, estate, and Hyman G. Darling, representative, to Linda
That’s still down from a year ago, when the rate averaged 7.76%.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners seeking to refinance their home loan to a lower rate, also increased this week.
The average rate rose to 5.99% from 5.71% last week. A year ago, it
Cardaropoli, 71 Beekman Drive, $201,000.
Darren A. Wiemer and Penella A. Wiemer to Michael Normoyle, 79 Warren Road, $485,000.
Harry W. Rogers III, to Elizabeth A. Hedlund-Poirier, Holland Road, Lot A, $10,000.
James W. Molett Jr., and Darlene A. Molett to Thomas J. Russo and Tiffany A. Russo, 1172 Dunhamtown Brimfield Road, $471,000.
AMHERST
Mark F. R. Sofield, personal representative, Anne Sofield Reed, personal representative, Sonya Ringwald Sofield, estate, and Sonya R. Sofield, estate, to Steven J. Atlas and Lestra M. Litchfield, South East Street. $300,000.
Barry L. Roberts, trustee, and EV Realty Trust to JAJAM LLC, 178 North Pleasant St., $930,000.
Pavel Machala, Laura B. Machala and Wade R. Elmore to Laura B. Machala, 31 Foxglove Lane, $100.
BELCHERTOWN
Lori A. Gagne and Richard F. Fletcher to Kaitlyn Spiro Minyard and Michael Ryan Minyard, 98 S. Washington St., and 98 South Washington Street, $591,000.
Amy Moran to Walter Pacheco and Nathan Pacheco, 248 Liberty St., $301,000.
Maria Victoria Korolov to Lori Carver, trustee, and C. Marie Trombly Living Trust, 89 Michael Sears Road, $50,000.
Stanley E. Jacobs and Rhonda R. Jacobs to Stanley Jacobs, trustee, Rhonda Jacobs, trustee, and Stanley Jacobs Trust, 91 Turkey Hill Road, $100.
Stanley E. Jacobs to Stanley Jacobs, trustee, Rhonda Jacobs, trustee, and Stanley Jacobs Trust, 428 Michael Sears Road, $100.
Stanley Jacobs and Rhonda Jacobs to Rhonda Jacobs, trustee, Stanley Jacobs, trustee, and Rhonda Jacobs Trust, 27 Old Bay Road, $100.
Leo G. Cakounes, trustee, and
averaged 7.03%, Freddie Mac said. When mortgage rates increase they can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, reducing homebuyers’ purchasing power. Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including how the bond market reacts to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy deci-
sions and data on inflation and the economy.
That can move the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.
Yields have been rallying following a string of stronger-than-expected reports on the U.S. economy.
Newfoundland Realty Trust to Nicholas Jimenez and Sarah Laclair, 80 Michael Sears Road, $312,500.
David Michael Vinsh II, and Josselyn Louise Vinsh to Gary Frain and Lisa LaPrade, 30 Westview Drive, $487,500.
BERNARDSTON
Pavel Belogour and BMFN LLC, to David R. Fletcher and Joy T. Fletcher, 148 Couch Brook Road and Couch Brook Road, $195,000.
Jiaxu He and Feiran Liu, “aka” Ferian Liu, to Dylan D. Johnson and Hannah S. Johnson, Brattleboro Road, $70,000.
BUCKLAND
Susan B. Samoriski, “fka” Susan B. Silvester, and Sarah Elizabeth Silvester, trustees of the Benton Investment Trust, to Ray Charles J. LaMontagne and Sarah A. Sousa, 8 Old Upper St., $975,000.
CHARLEMONT
Casper Martin and Linda Woolford, trustees of the Martin Todd Mountain Road Realty Trust, to Joia Verde LLC, 95 Todd Mountain Road, “aka” 95-97 Todd Mountain Road, $625,000.
James A. Booth and Jeffreye S. Booth to Nina T. Marshall and Douglas S. Mason, 7 Bassett Road, $275,000.
CHESTER
Gershon Ginsberg, trustee, Brian Penn, trustee, Eli Dessler, trustee, and National Heritage Society, trustee of, to Community LD LLC, 0 Bay State Road, $28,000.
CHESTERFIELD
Charles Worpek, Kimberly Worpek, Joseph Worpek and Jeffrey Worpek to Kelvin Tripp, 205 Sugar Hill Road, $130,000.
CHICOPEE
Andre M. Piotte, Monique R.
Piotte and Marc A. Piotte to Paul S. Veresko and Humberto B. Veresko, 210 Johnson Road, Unit 36, $331,000.
Mark Maldonado to Fani Luna, 450-452 Broadway St., $476,000.
Mary A. Brach, Matthew J. Brach and Andrew J. Brach to Mary P. Ledoux, 109 Deane St., $352,000.
Mary P. Ledoux to Ruby Ann Rivera and Juan Rivera, 194 Nonotuck Ave., $400,000.
Patrick A. Chamberlain and Vivian Franklin to Dolores Jarusiewicz, 64 Marion St., $400,000.
Richard P. Kida to Todd M. Hynek, 242-244 Chicopee St., $220,000.
Sherry A. Manyak to Jason Arias and Tony L. Riley, 35 Theodore St., $350,000.
Steven Poirier to Sergio Hernandez Jr., and Anna Hernandez, Peace Street, Lots 218-222, $100,000.
Thomas M. Toepfer to Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Varakas Realty Trust, trustee of, 55 Beauregard Terrace, $163,000.
Vasily Tokarev and Tatyana Tokarev to Ronald Desilvince and Willie Myrlande Jean Pierre, 112 Narragansett Boulevard, $400,000.
CUMMINGTON
Justin J. Wiernasz and Christine E. Wiernasz to Cheryl L. Wildermuth and Peter D. Wildermuth, 12B Swift River Road, $625,000.
DEERFIELD
Stephen de Bruyn Kops to Stephen de Bruyn Kops and Julie S. Chalfant, trustees of the Stephen M. de Bruyn Kops 2008 Trust, 84 South Mill River Road, $100.
EAST LONGMEADOW
Alan Thai, Ron C. Chao and Vanessa Kim Thai to Ilani Marie Ortiz, 1 Laurence Lane, $189,965.
Barbara A. Fenney to Patrick A. Chamberlain and Vivian Franklin,
8 Franconia Circle, $459,999.
Caitlin O’Brien and Caitlin E. O’Brien to Brenda L. Dangelo, 15 Frankwyn St., $385,000.
Ena T. Arel to Nicholas Dowell, 44 Shaw St., $440,000.
Jamie Kilty and Mark Kilty to Jamie Kilty, 191 Canterbury Circle, $100.
Trinh Nguyen and Peter Tran to Aixa Maeliz Lopez, 28 Cara Lane, $465,000.
EASTHAMPTON
Kuber Krupra LLC, to Michael J. Ethier and Michael J. Ether, 41 South St., $216,500.
Ann M. Parizo, trustee, and R.C.S. Irrevocable Trust to Frank D. Starr, 8 East Maple St., $453,000.
Daniel G. Daigle and Ann Marie Daigle to John A. Loos, 99 Hendrick St., $620,000.
Wendy Cook, personal representative, and Charles A. Zink, estate, to Abigail Winchester Moore and Ann Winchester, 10 Concord Drive, $340,000.
ERVING
Michelle L. Fisher and Ryan A. Fisher to Matthew Peter Goulet, 10 Pleasant St., $320,000.
Paula J. Ryan to Catherine-Anne S. Cuff and Christopher M. Cuff, 11 Pratt St., $275,000.
GRANBY
Wilfred F. Robert, personal representative, Lorilee W. Robert, estate, Lorilee A. Robert, estate, Wilfred F. Robert, trustee, and Lorilee A. Robert Revocable Family Trust to John F. Robert and Theresa Marie Robert, 171 South St., $100.
Megan E. Doerle to Margaux Lubin, 42 Granby Heights, $255,000.
Stanley Jacobs and Rhonda Jacobs to Rhonda Jacobs, trustee, Stanley Jacobs, trustee, and Rhonda Jacobs Trust, 52 Porter
Deeds
GRANVILLE
Byard T. Miller to Jennifer Reed, 0 Main Road, $40,000.
Byard T. Miller to Jennifer Reed, 1494 Main Road, $400,000.
GREENFIELD
Scott D. Akers to Rail Baron Realty LLC, 368 Federal St., $680,000.
Street Lumber Corp., to Jennifer D. Sitron and Joshua E. Sitron, 64 Newton St., $179,900.
Janna Walters-Gidseg to Anthony J. Westendorf and Lauren T. Westendorf, 195 Chapman St., $370,000.
Richard Paul Litskoski to Glanee Patel, Bernardston Road, $9,300. Richard Paul Litskoski to Glanee Patel, Colrain Street, $4,000.
Richard Paul Litskoski and Gerry G. Simons to Glanee Patel, Whittam Road, $10,600.
Nathaniel A. Tripp, personal representative of the Estate of Diane Osgood, to Amy E. Kemp, 7 Keegan Lane, Unit 7B College Park Condominium, $186,000.
HADLEY
Wanczyk LLC, to Raymond Russell Rex III, 56 Honey Pot Road, $28,800.
Sally A. Shaffer to Agnes Ting, 193 Rocky Hill Road, $350,000.
John H. Rouse to Jason A. Galvin, 142 Hockanum Road, $110,000.
HATFIELD
Michael J. Fitzgerald, Michael J. Fitzgerald III, and Marilyn A. Fitzgerald to 5-7 School Street LLC, 5-7 School St., $800,000.
Peter C. Pollard to Margot D. Pollard, 26 Elm St., $194,385.
HEATH
Cheryl L. Smith ad Joseph A. Smith to Melissa Britto and Nate Sutton, 4 Waterfall Drive, $285,000.
Krista S. Dubay, Timothy J. Dubay and Shawn M. LaCross to Shawn M. LaCross, Waterfall Drive, $7,000.
HOLLAND
Adam Brote to Bricmore Property Investments LLC, 26 Amber Road, $180,000.
of, to Marcy Eisenberg, trustee, and Marcy Eisenberg Revocable Indenture of Trust of, trustee of, 1 Green Lane, $600,000.
Ginkgo Holdings LLC, to JPN Properties LLC, 295-297 Beech St., $460,000.
Karen A. Bell to Karen A. Bell, life estate, and Nancy L. Roy, 21 Elmwood Ave., $100.
Mary B. Hodgins to Mary B. Hodgins and Joseph Hodgins, 42 Ogden St., $100.
LEVERETT
Benjamin K. Pipkin, personal representative of the Estate of Ronald M. Pipkin, to Stephen Dale Catt and Elizabeth Marjorie Kiebel, 1 Long Plain Road, $580,000.
LEYDEN
Amanda Goodfield and Chrisopher Porrovecchio Jr., to Angeline Flynn and Brody Shepherd, 94 Eden Trail, $325,000.
Patricia A. Bonneau and Stephen C. Kuzdizal to Christopher N. Garmalo, North County Road, $84,900.
LONGMEADOW
Gregory J. Krill, representative, and Betty T. Krill, estate, to Samantha O. Szalewicz and Samuel J. Maxwell, 158 Converse St., $455,000.
Jared Butlin and Sara Mamo to Jonathan L. P. Lee, 55 Pleasantview Ave., $438,900.
LUDLOW
Anibal M. Dias and Maria C. Dias to Elisabeth De Sousa Valadares, 711 Chapin St., $290,000.
Antoni Pietrzykowski to CPN J & Realty LLC, 306 Sewall St., $210,000.
Leonel Goncalves to Elizabeth Mary Bourgoin and Kyle Bourgoin, 232 Munsing St., $755,000.
Richard Tereso and Kenneth Tereso to Matthew Jensen, 447 Center St., $300,000.
Sergio Hernandez and Anna Hernandez to Mitchell E. Goodreau and Sheri A. Goodreau, Dinis Avenue, Lot 10, $155,000.
MONSON
Kelsey L. Larrow and Michael K. Larrow to Natalie M. Page, 123 Stebbins Road, $393,000.
Konchanh Chonmany to Michael K. Larrow and Kelsey L. Larrow, Stafford Hollow Road, Lot #3, $391,000.
MONTAGUE
Dworak and Nancy R. Folbre, trustees of the Nancy Folbre & Robert Dworak 2024 Trust, Chestnut Hill Loop, $100.
Lawna A. Lewis to Daniel Roof and Jessica Scibelli, 8 New St., $288,000.
Linda A. McComb to Alison D. Tracy, 14 N St., $282,500.
Louis Karger, personal representative of the Estate of Howard Robert Karger, “aka” Howard R. Karger, to David Cruz Alcala and Timm Zywna, 704 Fairway Ave., Unit 704 Fairway Condominium. $158,000.
MONTGOMERY
Carol L. O’Brien to Tricia A. Carl and Daniel P. Conroy, 191 Carrington Road, $285,000.
Gilles Rheaume and Gail Rheaume to Jerald Reinford, trustee, and 60 New State Road Land Trust, trustee of, 60 New State Road, $245,000.
Vitaliy Davidenko and Yuliya Davidenko to Roland Barbeito and Allyson Barbeito, 1505 Southampton Road, $550,000.
NORTHAMPTON
Vera D. Beauvais to 64 Riverside LLC, 64 Riverside Drive, $275,000.
Paul E. Holden and Christopher J. Hanley to Anita Melvin, 73 Bridge St., $303,000.
Paloma A. Brum and Pedro R. Brum to Erin Fitzgerald, trustee, and Mara G. Fitzgerald D4A Supplemental Needs Trust, 80 Damon Road, $178,500.
Trumbull Partners LLC, to Tragin Properties LLC, 6-8 Trumbull Road, $775,000.
Sovereign Builders Inc., to Michael Constantino, 29 Sherman Ave., $630,000.
Joseph E. Jewett and Kira E. Jewett to Linda Gregorio and Yakov Kronrod, Westhampton Road, $80,000.
Kevin G. Cote and Alisa M. Wagman to David F. Parker and Ashley E. Cryan, 389 Bridge Road, $460,000.
Scott Carter, Scott Carter, personal representative, Stacie A. Carter, Stacie A. Carter, personal representative, Stacie Carter Brisson, Stacie Carter Brisson, personal representative, and Marianne Keir Carter, estate, to Stacie A. Carter, 3 Pine Valley Road, $300,000.
NORTHFIELD
Michael P. O’Brien to Michelle Guy, 65A Commonwealth Ave., $408,000.
ORANGE
HOLYOKE
Cindy M. Bigras, trustee, and Cindy M. Bigras Revocable Trust, trustee
Robert T. Dworak and Nancy Folbre, “aka” Nancy R. Folbre, to Robert T.
Kimberly A. Hayes Bardsley and Sean Bardsley to Royal Develop-
ment Projects LLC, 36 Canon Lane, $40,000.
PALMER
Brenda J. Thibault to John MacKay, 220 Breckenridge St., $240,000.
Shawn Marcus Desabrais and Jenna Marie Manning to Barbara Louisa Sweinberg, 24 Whalen St., $339,917.
ROWE
David Dvore to Thomas Chiofalo, Potter Road, $5,000.
SOUTH HADLEY
Pheasants LLC, to Cynthia Weir, 41 West Summit St., $200,000. Rozalia Ward, Erno Szerencse and Rozalia Luoma to Q Offers A LLC, 1 Maple St., $210,000.
South Hadley Town to William J. Sordillo, 144 Pearl St., $65,000.
SOUTHWICK
Christine M. Greene, trustee, Susan L. Gemme-Crawford, trustee, and Lionel J. Gemme Revocable Indenture of Trust of, trustee of, to Christine M. Greene, 245 Feeding Hills Road, $255,000.
Dean C. Sleeper Jr., to Jonathan Reyor and Susan Callahan, 10 Field St., $349,000.
Henry J. Koloski, Henry L. Kolaski, Donna Koloski and Donna Kolaski to Jessiam Lopez and Rodney Rosario, 224 College Highway, $408,000.
SPRINGFIELD
1665 Main Street LLC, to Alexa Realty LLC, 1665 Main St., $225,000. Aguasvivas Realty LLC, to Ronal Mazariegos Ramirez and Devin Y. Mazariegos Lopez, 69-71 Ardmore St., $425,000.
Aixa M. Lopez to Angel L. Rodriguez, 403-405 Nottinghan St., $380,000.
AJ Capital Inc., to Alvin O. Ramos-Delgado, 114 Saint James Boulevard, $310,000.
Bridget E. McCarthy to Michael Ferris and Donna Ferris, 37 Denwall Drive, $315,000.
Unlimited Property Services LLC, to Naishalie M. Melendez Maysonet, 219 Morton St., $279,900.
Cuong M. Nguyen to Erelio R. Aguilar Soto and Everilda Nohemi Bautista Orozco, 54 Hebron St., $350,000.
David A. Culliton, conservator, and Robert R. Strauss to Wicked Deals LLC, 297 Breckwood Boulevard, $70,000.
Edna E. Redmond, trustee, and Edna E. Redmond & Ralph S. Red-
mond Revocable Trust, trustee of, to Waseem Mudasar, 105 Hermitage Drive, $305,000.
Eleanor Chestnut Realty LLC, to Springfield Redevelopment Authority, 440 Worthington St., $58,542. Hipolito Resto to Ronni A. Perez Rosario, 541-543 Carew St., $378,000. James Whitney Jr., and Dwayne L. Whitney to Xavier James Cody, Kevin Rankins and Ingrid Delvalle, 253 Stapleton Road, $217,000.
Jeffrey Nashville and Christine M. Russo to Ramon Torres Felix and Lorna Y. Soto Ortiz, 81 Mayher St., $297,000.
Jose Diaz Martinez and Clara Diaz to Clara Marie Rodriguez and Javier Rodriguez, 34 Nantasket St., $290,000.
Joseph J. Piteo Jr., and Randy M. Piteo to Renata Mulder-Grant, 281 Bolton St., $335,000.
Judith Nowak to Jennifer Ann DeCaro, 138 Nassau Drive, Unit 138, $219,000.
Kaitlyn Parent and Douglas Albert Jr., to Yousuf Al-Dulaimi and Jasimiyah Hussein, 69 Monrovia St., $221,000.
Kathryn Graves-Wilson, Kathryn Graves and Alfredo Wilson to Ethan Cordell, 35 Bruce St., $220,000.
Marilyn S. Flowers to Nicola Harrison and Marilyn S. Flowers, life estate, 66 Breckwood Boulevard, $100.
Matthew E. Scott and Nicholas J. Duell to Christopher R. Picard and Meredith L. McGowan, 145 Emerson St., $430,000.
Melvina Jones and Funmilola Awosika to Jada Miller, trustee, and Manhattan Realty Trust, trustee of, 78-80 Manhattan St., $210,000. Nasser Zebian to Nicole Nelson, 29 Kay St., $355,000.
Nikita Chauhan to Akosua Edmond-Kumah, 20 Revere St., $335,000.
Patricia J. Gagnon to Abena Serwah-Ahenkro and Kwabena Osei-Ahenkro, 428 Tinkham Road, $330,000.
Russell T. Cable II, and Liza B. Cable to L&D Real Estate LLC, 155 Maple St., Unit 111, $95,000.
Samuel Aviles to Jayme T. Ryan, 55 Pasadena St., $230,000.
Sergey L. Adamyan to JoeJoe Properties LLC, 41 Dubois St., $120,000.
Stephen D. Strohman, Olivia C. Melaya and Olivia C. Melaya-Strohman to Harmon K. Togba and Grace Togba, 146 Harkness Ave., $296,000.
U S Bank Trust, trustee, and VRMTG Asset Trust, trustee of, to William Brown and Brenda Traver, 1688 South Branch Parkway, $350,000.
Living room
Mix patterns
When picking out wallpaper, drapes, upholstered furniture and other decorative items, include a mix of small-, medium- and largescale patterns.
In my living room, I’ve combined medium-patterned wallpaper with pillows featuring large and small patterns. To keep everything unified, I’ve stuck to the same color scheme throughout.
Think vertically
In home design, the ceiling is often forgotten. But if you show it some love, you’ll enhance the overall space. Try adorning it with wallpaper or giving it a lacquered look via high-gloss paint. “Painting the ceiling a different color, or matching it to the wall color, can add depth and texture,” Schuster said in an email. Susan Yeley, of Susan Yeley Homes in Indiana, added beams to a client’s living room, bringing dimension to the white walls and ceiling.
If your ceiling is particularly high, try integrating vertical elements (like cornice-topped window treatments, screens, sculptures or
chandeliers) to break up the space and add structure.
Use complementary colors
Hues across from each other on the color wheel are like a couple with off-the-charts chemistry: You can feel the charge in the air. Leveraging this dynamic, creator, blogger and interior designer Amber Guyton, of Blessed Little Bungalow in Georgia, has chosen high contrast pairings like blue and gold, or green and purple, for her clients’ living rooms.
Layer the lighting
Although recessed lights are practical, they add nothing when it comes to aesthetics.
That’s why you’ll most likely want to include a variety of light sources to help set a mood and impart a sculptural element, Yeley said. Go for a mix, blending floor and table lamps, sconces and pendants.
Choose a bold rug
Ground your space with a statement area rug, said Thea Bloch-Neal of Curated by Thea in Durham, North Carolina. Patterned or vibrantly hued floor coverings can add visual impact and anchor a room, tying the elements together.
Think of them as “artwork
for the floor,” she said in an email.
Sprinkle in nature
Greenery enlivens spaces, as I found with the large, framed moss panel I hung in my living room.
As another way to inject vibrancy, try snake, ZZ plants or parlor palms, all of which can thrive in lowlight environments, Bloch-Neal said.
Dina Cheney is a freelance writer in Connecticut.
WALES
Stanley F. Banford and Lucy J. Banford to Rachel L. Peto and David P. Hudson, 15 McBride Road, $330,000.
WARE
Charming Colonials LLC, to Charming Enterprises LLC, 5 Pleasant St., and 7 Pleasant St., $100.
Charming Colonials LLC, to Charming Enterprises LLC, 27 Aspen St., and 2 Dale St., $100.
Charming Colonials LLC, to Charming Enterprises LLC, 60 Pulaski St., $100.
Charming Colonials LLC, to Charming Enterprises LLC, 20-22 Walnut St., $100.
Charming Colonials LLC, to Charming Enterprises LLC, 120 North St., $100.
Arielle P. Lask to Robert Leonard Collette, 1 Hillside Terrace, $505,000.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Brian P. St. Amand to Eric David Sprague and Tram Sprague, 45-47 Janet St., $372,000.
Cynthia S. St. John, trustee, and William H. Spring Revocable Indenture of Trust of, trustee of, to Albert Weaver and Jessica K. Dziurzynski, 110 City View Ave., $303,000.
George R. Kelly, trustee, Christopher L. McCoy, trustee, and B&G Realty Trust, trustee of, to North Adams Realty LLC, 685 Union St., $500,000.
James B. Melvin, Kathleen Haddock, Elizabeth Steubing, Maura Vigliano and Thomas Q. Melvin to Norman Wagner, Diana Anziano and James B. Melvin, life estate, 96 Canterbury Way, $435,000.
Jennifer M. Turmel and Jennifer M. Hamre to Judith A. Sutter and Jo W. Chang, 58 Hale St., $344,000.
Lydia M. Lozinski to Morgan R. Vickers, 374 Prospect Ave., $10,000.
Patricia A. Tooley to Julia D. Maloof and Kevin J. Hanley, 19 Sheridan Ave., $355,000.
Richard A. Clark and Lynne Clark to KMAK LLC, and Ryan Randall Realty LLC, 42 Gregory Lane, $250,000.
WESTFIELD
Charles H. Sargent and Linda L. Sargent to Jonathan M. Reardon, 725 Western Ave., $320,000.
Margaret A. Kelleher to Catherine M. Diakolambrianos and Ioannis N. Diakolambrianos, 27 Crescent Circle, $485,000.
Meredith L. McGowan to Nathan E. Osowski, 139 Union St., Unit 22, $270,000.
Michael F. Tierney Jr., to Jovanica Champagne, 22 Pearl St., $355,000.
Michael P. Green and Jennifer J. Green to Devon T. Leal and Brooke Leal, 11 Old Park Lane, $570,000.
WILBRAHAM
AC Homebuilding LLC, to Maureen E. LaFlamme and Keith A. LaFlamme, 94 Sandalwood Drive, $649,390.
John R. Boudreau and Suzanne M. Boudreau to Collin J. Quinn and Marissa J. Falcetti, 2205 Boston Road, Unit O146, $340,000.
Melanie LeBlond Peach and Neil S. LeBlond to Steven J. Becker and Caitlin E. Becker, 14 Leemond St., $425,000.
WILLIAMSBURG
Helen O’Brien, personal representative, Elizabeth Ann O’Brien-Means, estate, and Elizabeth A. O’Brien-Means, estate, to Joshua Seamon-Ingalls and Laura Jeanne Seamon-Ingalls, 42 Brier Hill Road, $576,300.
Rodney Rosario and Jessiam Lopez Acevedo to Raju Bista, 18 1/2 Malone Ave., $300,000. Stephen J. Jocelyn and Catherine L. Jocelyn to Carol Rivet, 419 Southwick Road, Unit R76, $315,000.
Above, a colorful carpet in the living room. At right, a fireplace with a mantlepiece. (ADOBE STOCK PHOTOS)
What’s the best way to remove stains from siding?
By Jeanne Huber
The Washington Post
Q. We recently had our deck redone with Trex boards. They apparently are thinner than our original boards, so now we have a trail of old stain marks on our siding. What is the best way to remove the stain? Can we paint over it?
A. Painting over a stain is often the best way to go, especially in a case like yours, where the stain is old and probably tenacious. Painting is also a good solution when you aren’t sure what caused the stain. In your case, was the stain a penetrating oil-based product or a water-based finish, more like paint or thinned paint?
Spatters of freshly applied deck stain usually can be wiped away using a rag moistened with paint thinner if the stain is oil-based, or one moistened with water if the stain is water-based. But when the stain is old and dry, it’s a different story. You might be able to scrub off old oil stains with a grease-cutting detergent, such as from
Simple Green, diluted with 1 gallon of water per 1½ cups of detergent. Mask off the decking first, then, while wearing gloves, spread the cleaner over a section of the surface with a sponge or brush rather than a sprayer, to avoid getting it on a wider area. You might try scrubbing lightly with a white pad, sold at paint stores, or the kind of non-scratch scrubber you’d use in the kitchen. Rinse thoroughly with water from a hose, then clean the next section. Don’t resort to a power washer, which could damage the surface and perhaps even your new deck. Once the surface is dry, evaluate whether the improvement is good enough.
Dried deck stains can be removed from painted siding with paint or deck-coating strippers, but in a situation like yours, that would also strip off the paint, create an unnecessary mess and add to the work. Plus, because you’re trying to touch up siding, not decking, you don’t need to worry about scuffing through the new paint and exposing the old stains, which might be a worry if you were refinishing a deck.
Do wash the siding boards before painting, though, if you didn’t already try to scrub off an oil stain with Simple Green. When you’re prepping for new paint, it’s probably enough to use a little hand dishwashing soap with water, although Simple Green would also work. Rinse with a hose.
When the surface dries, brush on a stain-blocking primer. In most cases, you could use a primer such as Sherwin-Williams Extreme Block, which comes in both water- and oil-based versions. (The water-based version is $22.49 a quart on sherwin-williams. com.) But check the label before you buy to make sure the primer is appropriate for the type of siding you have. (That’s not clear from the pictures you sent.) Extreme Block is labeled for use on wood and masonry, which means it should perform well on cement-board siding as well as on siding made of wood or wood fibers. If you have manufactured siding and know the manufacturer, call the company for advice. If the siding is vinyl, choose a primer such as Behr’s acrylic interior/exterior
multi-surface stain-blocking primer and sealer ($15.98 at Home Depot), which is labeled for use on vinyl, as well as wood and masonry.
If you’re painting vinyl, one other issue you usually need to consider is color, because temperature changes cause vinyl to expand and contract more than some other siding options. Dark colors absorb more heat from the sun, causing vinyl siding to expand more, so paint manufactures have come up with “vinyl-safe” color palettes made with dyes that minimize heat absorption. But in a case like yours, where you are just trying to match an existing color that’s light, this really isn’t an issue. Any brand of acrylic paint should work fine. To match the color, you might want to start with an online tool, because you can’t bring a piece of the siding with you to a paint store. Most paint companies offer an app that allows you to upload a picture to see a list of closely matched colors from that manufacturer. For the most accurate match, follow up by going to the paint store to get samples of those colors and maybe a shade or two on either side. Bring those home, then compare. Before painting, mask nearby deck boards and any door trim so you don’t smear the paint onto them. As best you can, press the tape down into the edge between the siding and the deck board closest to it. Apply the paint with a brush. Try a 1½-inch angled brush, which will be agile enough to get paint just where you want it and to whisk away any smears on the overlapping edge of the siding board above. You might also want a small roller, if you can find one that’s shorter than the exposed width of the siding boards. Use the roller to get the paint onto the siding quickly, then immediately follow with the brush to even out the surface. Brush each area only once; if you repeatedly go back to make it look more perfect, you’ll probably make it look worse.
After you brush on the paint, wait for it to dry completely (at least overnight). If the color is too dark or too light, ask the paint store whether it can adjust the shade of the leftover paint. Use that for a second coat.
Planting bulbs? Here’s how to protect them from critters and the cold
By Jessica Damiano
Associated Press
IPLANTED MY GARLIC LAST week, and after tucking the 30 plump cloves into their bed, my thoughts turned to protecting them from freezing temperatures and stealth animals that dig them up every year and leave them on the soil surface to mock me.
So, this year, I laid bird netting over the soil (chicken wire would work, too, perhaps better, but I used what I had). Then, I covered the whole thing with about 4 inches of straw. This is good practice for protecting any bulbs you plant, especially those deemed more gastronomically enticing to wildlife than garlic, like tulips and crocuses.
Protect those bulbs
Chicken wire and netting serve as physical barriers that deter digging while allowing sunlight and water to reach the soil. Use landscape pins, stakes or stones to hold it in place or
lifting out of the ground during the freeze-thaw cycles of winter, adds nutrients to the soil as it decomposes and helps to retain moisture. It also cuts down on premature sprouting during winter warm spells.
Straw, not hay
Do not use hay, which is grown as animal feed and, as you know, is for horses. It also contains tall grass, alfalfa, clover or other seed heads that would sprout along with your bulb plants and make a mess of your garden come spring.
Bales sold as Halloween decorations can be made of either hay or straw. You may be able to determine the difference on sight (hay is greenish; straw is yellowish-beige), but it’s unlikely you’ll be able to confirm whether they are organic, free of pesticides or even where they came from. In addition, they might harbor mold or fungal diseases.
attach its outer edges to the wood frame of a raised bed with nails or a staple gun. You can remove it in spring, but this isn’t necessary; shoots and stems will find their way through the openings as they grow.
Straw is a beneficial mulch material that helps regulate soil temperatures, prevents bulbs and plant crowns from
Straw, the stalk of a grain crop that remains after the seeds have been harvested, is supposed to be free of seeds. Still, you might find yourself pulling up a few wheat seedlings, but that would be more manageable than a hay-induced fever dream.
Straw is also less likely to contain pesticides and herbicides, which could harm your plants. Seek out products that are labeled as organic or at least free of pesticides.
I wouldn’t recommend using decorative bales made of either material in the garden, especially around edible plants, but they certainly can be repurposed in chicken coops or to cover dirt walkways, which can get muddy if left bare.
Best fertilizers
Avoid fertilizing bulbs with bone meal, blood meal, fish emulsion or other smelly amendments that could attract hungry critters.Many wildlife repellents deter squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks and other critters from digging up bulbs, but they must be applied repeatedly and I, for one, will not be found spraying my soil in the dead of winter.
Papery skins of garlic bulbs sitting in a garden bed on Long Island, N.Y. Such debris should be removed to avoid attracting hungry wildlife. (JESSICA DAMIANO VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS)
PUBLIC AUCTION
MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE AT PUBLIC AUCTION
Thursday, November 7, 2024
12:00 PM - LUDLOW
73 McKinley Avenue
sgl fam, 1,272 sf liv area, 0.35 ac lot, 6 rm, 3 bdrm, 1 bth, Hampden: Doc. #180119, Cert. #11399
2:00 PM - SPRINGFIELD
1192 Bay Street
sgl fam, 979 sf liv area, 0.19 ac lot, 5 rm, 2 bdrm, 1.5 bth, Hampden: Bk 25121, Pg 33
Terms: Cashier’s or certified check in the sum of $5,000.00 as a deposit must be shown at the time and place of the sale in order to qualify as a bidder. No CASH. No personal checks will be accepted. Cashier/ certified checks should be made out to whomever is going to bid at the auction. The balance to be paid within thirty (30) days at the law offices of Korde & Associates, P.C. 900 Chelmsford Street, Suite 3102, Lowell, MA 01851, Attorney for the Mortgagee. Auctioneer makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information contained herein.
NORTH CHELMSFORD (978) 251-1150 www.baystateauction.com
MAAU#: 1029, 2624, 2959, 3039, 2573, 116, 2484, 3246, 2919, 3092, 3107, 0100030, 3099
ANTIQUE & MID-MODERN AUCTION
FRI, NOV. 8, AT 6 P.M.
Fine art including paintings and prints, sculptures, Mission and other furniture, fine jewelry, gold pocket and wristwatches, leaded lamps, studio pottery, clocks, sterling silver, glass and china, and more.
PREVIEW: THURS. 8 AM - 4 PM & FRI. 8 AM - 6 PM View Numbered Catalog Online www.DouglasAuctioneers.com
Bengal Kittens, female, TICA reg. Shots, health guar., Ware, MA, $1,100, 413-967-4496
Maine Coon mix kittens, 1 male & 1 female $25. & $50. Call 413-575-1389
Pure-bredMaineCoonKittensforsale,14wksold, $1 000. call 413-297-4342
8 weeks, AKC pure bred Boston Terrier Puppies, Call 413-207-4664
Husky puppies 7 weeks old, $250. Call or text 413-658-5862
WhiteGermanShepherd puppiesavailableatthe endofNovember,$650 each, 1 m & 1 f, call, 802-323-2538
AARON POSNIK & CO. INC. Indust & Comm. Auctions 31 Capital Dr. W. Spfld. 733-5238 www.posnik.com
DouglasAuctioneers.com ESTATES-ANTIQUES 413-665-2877
MORTGAGEES’ REAL ESTATE AUCTIONS TO BE SOLD ON THEIR RESPECTIVE PREMISE TUESDAY NOV. 12, 2024
2:00 PMSOUTH HADLEY, MA 30 CARLTON STREETDEPOSIT $10,000 THURSDAY NOV. 14, 2024
12:00 PMSOUTH DEERFIELD, MA 79 LONG PLAIN ROAD, WHATELY, MA A/K/A 79 LONG PLAIN ROADDEPOSIT $10,000 MONDAY NOV. 18, 2024
11:00AM-SPRINGFIELD, MA 105 SONIA STREETDEPOSIT $5,000 TERMSOFSALES:DEPOSITSINTHEAMOUNTS SPECIFIEDABOVEARETO BEPAIDBYTHEPURCHASER(S)ATTHETIME ANDPLACEOFEACH SALEBYCERTIFIEDOR BANKCHECK.ALLBALANCESDUEARETOBE PAIDWITHIN30DAYSOF EACHINDIVIDUALSALE. OTHERTERMS,IFANY, TOBEANNOUNCEDAT
8Ftlongconferencetable w/8paddedchairs,excellentcondition,Asking $525 Call 413-210-1486.
Roto-tillerBigRedTroy Bilt,3yrsold,10HPw/ furrowblade,$1,900,call 413-588-8988
