The backsplash could be the star of your kitchen, if you let it
By T im Mc K eough
The New York Times
WHEN DESIGN-
ing a kitchen, it’s normal to obsess over appliances, cabinets and counters. But there’s another element that deserves just as much attention: the backsplash.
“They’re often an afterthought,” said George Glasier, a founder of the British kitchen company Pluck. “But they can make or break a kitchen quite often.”
Allison Bryan, the founder of Open Studio Collective, an architecture and design firm with offices in Portland, Oregon, and Bozeman, Montana, echoed that sentiment. “It’s one of the most important parts of the kitchen,” she said. Because it’s a vertical surface roughly at eye level, Bryan continued, “I actually think of it as a piece of art.”
Of course, it’s a piece of art that needs to withstand splashing water, squirting citrus and sprays of spaghetti sauce, so the choice of material is critical.
There are countless options and treatments available, which can dramatically change how a kitchen looks. The starting point should always be a larger design vision — for instance, the color palette you desire, and whether you want the backsplash to blend in or stand out — but once you’ve set the direction, it’s time to explore the possibilities.
Here’s how Glasier, Bryan and other designers have used backsplashes to help create extraordinary kitchens.
Use solid slabs
If you want your backsplash to blend in with the rest of the kitchen, one of the most common techniques is to continue the countertop material up onto the wall. Slabs of natural stone, quartz or other materials can rise just a few inches above the counter, fill the space between the counter and upper cabinets or even run to the ceiling in kitchens where
When designing a home in Austin, Texas, Annie Downing, an interior designer, used a similar treatment: She added curves to the ends of a Negresco Quartzite backsplash and applied a thicker finishing cap made from the same material, as well as a shelf above the range.
“The house was new and felt very straight-edged,” Downing said. “We did that simple curve to bring in a nice moment of visual warmth.”
Choose distinctive tile
An alternative to stone slabs is ceramic tile. And while white subway tile is popular and a safe, time-tested choice, it is far from the only one. If you want your backsplash to stand out, tile can add a distinctive texture, finish or pattern.
there aren’t upper cabinets. But there’s no rule that says you have to use exactly the same material for the counter and the backsplash. Marli Jones and Michael Kreuser, the owners of Rebel House, a Chicago-based interior design firm, frequently choose a more eye-catching material for the backsplash.
This approach is a great option for homeowners who like the look of marble counters but worry about etching and stains, Jones said. In a home in Park City, Utah, for instance, the firm installed solid white quartz counters that are nearly indestructible, but used more finicky Calacatta Arabescato marble with dramatic swirls of gray for the
backsplash.
“Our goal was to do something fun and drive personality,” Jones said. “It could be a little more precious, because you’re not chopping or cooking directly on top of it.”
Go beyond the rectangle
Regardless of what type of material you use for a backsplash, it doesn’t have to be a flat rectangle stuck to the wall. One emerging trend is to cap the top edge of the backsplash with a shelf made from the same material.
When designing an apartment in Manhattan with a compact kitchen, Jess and Jonathan Nahon, principals of the architecture and design firm Sugarhouse,
installed a counter, a backsplash and a shelf all made from the same Calacatta Turquoise marble.
“That little shelf creates visual interest,” Jonathan Nahon said. “It’s less about functional storage,” he continued, even though it can be used to hold art, small dishes and candlesticks.
Another option is to shape the edges of the slab. Rebel House, for instance, has cut marble backsplashes with rounded corners.
When Sugarhouse was designing a Manhattan townhouse with a neutral color palette and wanted the backsplash to appear special, they chose off-white, purposely imperfect handmade tiles from Clay Imports, including some with a pattern of impressed circles and lines.
“That handmade tile gives a softer appearance,” Jess Nahon said. “Our original idea was to extend the marble from the countertops, but we were worried it was going to look too commercial, so we used this more bespoke product.”
Above, a dramatic marble backsplash paired by Rebel House with a more durable quartz countertop. A great backsplash can help a kitchen look its best. (LINDSAY SALAZAR VIA THE NEW YORK TIMES)
Cover photo: A terrazzo-like backsplash made with wood chips by Foresso in a kitchen by Pluck. (MALCOLM MENZIES VIA THE NEW YORK TIMES)
lee reich | In the Garden
Poinsettias
EXCEPT IF YOU LIVE in a tropical or subtropical climate, there’s not much distraction from anything gardenwise, for now.
So, let’s take a close look at a plant no doubt sitting on many coffee tables and windowsills.
Poinsettia, botanically a very interesting plant.
Let’s share some botanical lore of this plant by setting your holiday poinsettia on a table in good light for a close look at its flowers.
I say “close” because the flowers are not those large, red, leaf-like structures.
The large, red, leaf-like structures are just that — leaves, albeit modified leaves called bracts. The bracts attract pollinating insects to the plant.
The actual flowers of the poinsettia, which are not very showy at all, originate within the small, greenish, cup-shaped structures you see above the bracts.
These cup-shaped structures are “cyathiums.”
Each cyathium contains a single female flower surrounded by a harem of males.
Pluck a cyathium from the plant, take a sharp knife or razor, and slice it in half from top to bottom. A magnifying glass helps now. You’ll see that the inner wall of the cyathium is
lined with numerous tiny flowers which, when the flowers mature, protrude up through the opening of the cup. These are all male flowers.
Look very carefully and you’ll also see a stalk attached to the very bottom of the cyathium, protruding up through the cup opening, and capped by what looks like a turban. That’s the single, female flower, which, to promote crossrather than self-pollination, emerges from the cyathium after male flowers begin to shrivel. Cross-pollination promotes genetic diversity for healthier plants.
In addition to the male and female flowers, on the outside of the cyanthium is a single yellow gland that looks like the mouth of a fish poised to ingest food.
Next time a friend comments on the beauty of your poinsettia flower, take out a magnifying glass and closely examine a few cyathiums before looking up and agreeing nonchalantly. Have you ever wondered how stores always manage to have blooming poinsettias for the holiday season?
Poinsettia, along with chrysanthemums and most strawberry varieties, is a “short-day” plant. Short-days induce “short-day” plants to
form flower buds. (In reality, plants are responding to long nights, but the phenomenon was originally thought to be daylength dependent, and the term “short-day” plants has stuck with us.) Poinsettia can be fooled into blooming at any time of the year merely by
exposing it to artificially shortened days.
To secure blooming plants for this past holiday season, poinsettias grown in large commercial greenhouse ranges were covered with a shade cloth so that they experienced 14 hours of darkness each “night”
beginning around September. After 8 weeks of this treatment, they formed flower buds which became fully developed just before the holiday season.
You also can make poinsettias bloom again whenever you want.
Poinsettias are more than just pretty. For instance, take a close look at their flowers, pictured here. (LEE REICH PHOTO)
GARDEN NOTES
STOCKBRIDGE
Upcoming program at Berkshire
Botanical Garden
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming program: Saturdays, Jan. 11 to Feb. 1, 9 a.m. to noon, “Invasives: Plants and Insects.”
Taught by Jen Werner of Springfield Technical Community College. Learn about how and why pests become invasive, the governmental agencies and working groups that help determine an organism’s “invasive status” and the regulations around controlling their spread. Participants will learn strategies to stay abreast of new invasive introductions and how to think about choosing the best techniques to avoid, prevent or control invasive species at your particular site or situation.
The course also includes a review of general concepts regarding pest control strategies, pest life cycles and clues to identify pest types. Cost $215 members, $240 nonmembers; To register or for more information, visit www.berkshire botanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
SPRINGFIELD
2025 Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl Poster contest
The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts together with the USDA, Forest Service and National Garden Clubs, Inc., are giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of wildfire prevention and basic environmental conservation principles through original drawings of Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl.
Children from first through fifth grade are invited to participate in this annual drawing contest featuring conservation icons Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl. Individual children can enter but groups, clubs and schools are encouraged to use this as an opportunity to impress upon their members or students the importance of taking a personal role in preventing wildfires or conserving natural resources.
Posters are to be completed by individual students, have correct spelling and all posters must feature Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl.
Smokey Bear posters must include Smokey’s wildfire prevention message: Only You Can Prevent Wildfires! Woodsy Owl posters must include Woodsy’s conservation messages: GiveA-Hoot, Don’t Pollute or Lend a Hand — Care for the Land. Complete rules including size requirements, allowed materi-
als and other important contest rules can be found on the GCFM website at www.gcfm. org/ngc-youth-contests.
Being a member of a garden club is not a requirement, but all contest entrants must be sponsored by a GCFM recognized local garden club. Entries must be submitted to the sponsoring club by Jan. 10.
For more information or to connect with a recognized garden club contact Mary Bandouveres at gcfmyouthcontests@ gmail.com
Springfield Garden Club upcoming gardening series
The Springfield Garden Club will host “Year Round Color in the Garden: Horticultural Workshops” a series of 3 classes for anyone interested in yearround interest in their yards and gardens.
The programs will be at 2 p.m. on three Sundays in January and February.
Sunday, Jan. 26: The series kicks off with the class “Some of the Best Perennials and Shrubs for Seasonal Interest: Spring, Summer, Fall and even WINTER!” Wondering what to plant? How to layer them for best effect? This hands-on workshop has you evaluating a wide variety of new and triedand-true plants for the unique needs of YOUR yard. Led by Vana Nespor, District Director, Garden Club Federation of MA.
Sunday, Feb. 9: “Trees that Bring Joy all Year Long” Looking to plant and care for a small tree that you will enjoy yearround? Learn which small trees bring joy to both you and the wildlife around you. Where best to place them and learn how to make sure they survive in our changing climate.
Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting
Calendar and pocket mirror in a 1909 ad
BABY NEW YEAR
can grow up fast! The baby pictured here is already shaving. Well, it’s probably not supposed to be Baby New Year, but being surrounded by a calendar, it’s an easy association to make. This baby was the mascot for Gillette’s safety razors, perhaps suggesting that they were both safe enough and easy enough for a baby to use, with the promise of baby-smooth skin, too.
Inventor King C. Gillette was not the first to create a safety razor, but he came up with the disposable blade, and his company popularized them in the early 1900s. Note that the calendar is for 1909 — a bit outdated for today’s use, but very appealing to a collector of antique advertising. It sold for $295 at Morford’s Antique Advertising Auctions. Oh, and it’s not just a calendar; it’s a pocket mirror, too. They were a popular form of advertising in the early 20th century. These mirrors, like the Gillette one here, often had celluloid backs printed with the company’s name, logo or slogan. But despite the product it advertises, a mirror like this one, at 2 1/2 inches in diameter, probably wouldn’t be the best for shaving.
Q. My great-great grandfather William Begg sailed on Glenmorag (built in Glasgow in 1876), shipwrecked near Ocean Park, Washington, and salvaged the Ceres figurehead. In 1983, my grandmother sent Ceres to be restored in Portland, Oregon, but failed to pay, and it was sold to an unknown private collector. In 1991, West Sea sold Ceres at auction in New London, Connecticut. Several archivists have noted that she was in rough condition in 1991 and may not still be around, and I’m trying to see if she might exist somewhere.
A. Unfortunately, we have
“Begin Early, Shave Yourself” suggests this Gillette advertising mirror with a printed calendar. Maybe a new, youthful look is in store for the New Year! (MORFORD’S ANTIQUE ADVERTISING AUCTIONS VIA COWLES SYNDICATE INC.)
not found anything about the current whereabouts of the Ceres figurehead. Folk art or nautical collectors may be able to help you find information; you could try contacting collectors’ clubs or museums, or advertising in specialist publications. Based on what you said about the figurehead’s condition, its buyer may have had it restored. A maritime museum may be able to connect you with figurehead restorers.
Q. I have four pieces of capodimonte I would like to sell. Three are in excellent condition. The fourth has the end of a leaf and flower broken off but I have the pieces if someone would want to try and repair.
A. Capodimonte, also spelled capo-di-monte, is a type of porcelain first made in Naples, Italy, in the 1700s. It is usually marked with a crown over the letter “N.” Many factories have made it since the 1700s. Today, it is made by the Richard Ginori firm. To
sell your pieces, we recommend checking local shops to see if they sell on consignment. It is best to find a shop or dealer that sells items like yours. Another option is to sell them to a matching service. You may also want to look up porcelain restoration services; they may be able to repair your broken piece. Or a collector may want it to make their own repairs.
Q. I have an etched goblet made by Marion Glass. Can you help me find the name of the pattern?
A. The Marion Glass Manufacturing Company of Marion, Ohio, was active from 1917 to 1954. They started as an offshoot of a lamp chimney manufacturer, making the manufacturer’s byproducts into water glasses. Later, they were known for purchasing glass “blanks” made by other companies and engraving them with intricate patterns. We have found little other information about the company, but a library or historical society in Marion, Ohio, may
have more. We have not been able to find a pattern name, which is not unusual since some glass companies did not bother naming their patterns.
Q. I have an unusual cane that I want to sell. It is carved jujube wood with an animal horn handle, c. 1940. How can I find a buyer?
A. There are many ways to sell an antique or, in your case, vintage cane. They sell at antiques shops and auctions; you may want to look for one that specializes in vintage fashion or folk art. Be sure to check local laws about selling animal products like horns and ivory. Many regions have restrictions on what can be sold and may require proof of the item’s age and authenticity. A club for cane collectors like the International Society of Cane Collectors may have more information and may connect you with potential buyers.
TIP: Celluloid should be stored in a dry, ventilated place. It will disintegrate if exposed to extreme temperatures, moisture or corroding metal.
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. Porcelain, cup and saucer, painted, ship, Rowena, gilt trim, signed, J.G. Hauthal & Co., Germany, 1856, 4 inches, $50.
World’s Fair, textile, 1934, lace, embroidered, pavilions, state buildings, steam engine, carriage, car, airplane, zeppelin, 16 x 48 inches, $65. Furniture, chair, rosewood, carved, scrolled cloud crest, pierced splat, carved medallions, paneled seat, H-stretcher base, open arms, Chinese, late 1800s, 38 1/2 inches, $125. Silver-English, vinaigrette, rectangular, textured border, monogram, gold wash interior, Joseph Willmore, c. 1800, 1 3/8 x 7/8 inches, $130. Lalique, cologne bottle, Epines, raised thorny vines, brown stain, R. Lalique, France, c. 1920, 4 inches, $420.
Comic art, strip, Pogo, four panels, inked, blue lines, signed, Walt Kelly, Nov. 2, 1970, 7 x 21 1/2 inches, $465. Clock, portico, ebonized case, alabaster columns, mother-of-pearl, brass dial, engine turned bezel, two-day time and strike movement, music box, Austria, 1800s, 20 inches, $470.
Advertising, sign, Airplane Rides, 1 dollar, Weather Permitting, crossed flags, War Ace, yellow arrow, painted, metal, wood frame, c. 1950, 16 x 34 1/2 inches, $845.
Furniture, linen press, George III, mahogany, two doors, oval panels, kingwood banding, two short over three long drawers, dovetailed, brass hardware, England, late 1700s, 77 x 47 inches, $1,125.
Pottery-contemporary, jar, peaked lid, dark brown glaze, light brown and red brush strokes, shoulders, stoneware, signed, Val Murat Cushing, c. 1990, 16 1/2 inches, $3,125.
WASHINGTON
Average rate on a 30-year US mortgage hits 6.91%
Rate reaches highest levels since July
By Paul W iseman Associated Press
U.S. mortgage rates rose this week to the highest level since July.
The benchmark 30-year fixed rate loan rate rose to 6.91% from 6.85% last week, according to mortgage giant Freddie Mac. It was at 6.62% a year ago.
Deeds
Anthony Muskus and Christina Muskus to Quinn William Muskus, 608 Cooper St., $255,000.
Dawn L. Nardi to Giuseppe Tirone and Geraldina Tirone, 575 North St., $365,000.
Eva Grechka and Yuri Grechka to Maksim I. Loboda and Yekaterina P. Loboda, 45 Lango Lane, $850,000.
Haczynski Homes LLC, and Kmak LLC, to John Piela and Brijida Piela, 7 Agnoli Place, $285,000.
Jih Jane L. Lin and Sun Tien Lin to Paul Gordon Ruddy and Donna Mary Ruddy, 16 Mansion Woods, Unit D, $275,000.
Joanne Moriarty to Joanne Moriarty, trustee, and Joanne Moriarty 2024 Trust, trustee of, 18 Albert St., $100.
Joseph F. Beavis and Trudy A. Beavis to Shaina M. Hutchinson, 21 Kellogg Ave., $340,000.
Judith K. Potter to Andrew H. Dabek and Carolyn Webber, 60 Anvil St., $531,000.
Kelly Hazlett to Dumitru Jardan and Ion Goncear, 221 Adams St., $315,000.
Kim Glowacki to Erica Breault, 420 Main St., $155,000.
Kimberly Benjamin-Prokop, representative, Nicholas T. Buoniconti, estate, and Nicholas Buoniconti Jr., estate, to Lacy Phongsaly, 54 McKinley St., $346,000.
Zymroz Realty LLC, to Joseph R. Conway, trustee, and 793 Silver Street Trust, trustee of, 793 Silver St., $1,000,000.
AMHERST
Zhiqi Huang to Eugene Mattie, 127 Pelham Road, $490,000.
Dorothy A. Lashway to Alice F. Anacheka-Nasemann and Alan R. Anacheka-Nasemann, 11 Mountain-
The uptick in the cost of home loans reflects a rise in the bond yields that lenders use as a guide to price mortgages.
The increase is occurring with the price of homes rising steadily.
The average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage, popular with homeowners seeking to refinance, climbed to 6.13%, up from 6% and also the highest since July. It was at 5.89% a year ago.
“Inching up to just shy of 7%,
view Circle, $555,000.
Ann L. Martin to Carol A. Taylor, 23 Greenleaves Drive, $250,000.
Julia Flood Page, personal representative, and Edwin W. Wilfert Jr., estate, to Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Matahari Realty Trust, 48 Gray St., $395,000.
Richard Perlmutter and Judith Perlmutter to Gregory John Kelly and Christine Maria Cunningham, 44 Mount Pleasant and 44 Mt. Pleasant, $1,035,000.
John E. Bateson to Vincent Huynh and Jiangning Zhao, 20 Salem Place, $245,000.
44 Jeffrey Lane LLC, to Nature Camp LLC, 44 Jeffrey Lane, $475,000.
175 West Street LLC, to Wrights View LLC, 175 West St., $725,000.
Robert A. Ludwig to Robert A. Ludwig, trustee, and Revocable Indenture of Trust of Robert A. Ludwig, 105 Pomeroy Lane, $100.
Frank A. Sikora, Christian B. Sikora, Frank A. Sikora, trustee, Christian B. Sikora, trustee, and Sikora 2012 Revocable Trust to Jeffrey H. Schmitt and Michael A. Petrilli, 3 Winston Court, $350,000.
Kathleen L. Harris, trustee, and Harris Investment Trust to Kathleen A. Brice, trustee, and Kathleen A. Brice Revocable Living Trust, 27 Greenleaves Drive, $305,000.
Oliver MacFadden and Meghan MacFadden to Booom LLC, 155 Northampton Road, $730,000.
BELCHERTOWN
Roxanne Dorrie to Eric A. Light and Brenda L. Light, 1 Dogwood Drive, $655,000.
Joseph A. Moreau and Brooke L. Moreau to Joseph A. Moreau, 37 Juckett Hill Drive, $100.
Anne L. Farrington, Anne L. Farrington, trustee, Robert W. Farrington Jr., Robert W. Farrington Jr., trustee, Geoffrey R. Farrington,
mortgage rates reached their highest point in nearly six months,” said Freddie Mac chief economist Sam Khater. “Compared to this time last year, rates are elevated, and the market’s affordability headwinds persist. However, buyers appear to be more inclined to get off the sidelines as pending home sales rise.”
Interest rates have been climbing since the Federal Reserve signaled last month that it expects to raise its benchmark rate just twice this year,
Geoffrey R. Farrington, trustee, and 63 Ludlow Street Realty Trust to Andrew P. Blake and Kye E. Poronsky, 63 Ludlow St., and Granby Road, $395,000.
W.D. Cowls Inc., to Lyme Quabbin LLC, Gulf Road, Route 9 Off, Gulf Road Rear, Daniel Shays Highway and Munsell Street, $9,121,951. Jake Swinicki and Jake Thomas Swinicki to Marra Prater, 62 Barton Ave., $100.
Gregory Fedora and Daniel R. Sheldon to Christopher Mullins and Tomoe Mullins, 314 North Liberty St., $735,000.
Fip Master Funding XVIII LLC, Fip Acquisitions II LLC, and Fundamental Income Properties LLC, to Fip Master Funding XVI LLC, 10 Maple St., $1,737,798.
Daniel P. Belanger and Mary Ellen Belanger to Joseph S. Miller and Laura M. Miller, West Street, $100.
Daniel P. Belanger and Mary Ellen Belanger to James A. Williams and Meagan Y. Williams, West Street, $100.
Armida R. Fruzzetti and Alan E. Fruzzetti to Armida R. Fruzzetti, trustee, Armida R. Fruzzetti Trust, and Alan E. Fruzzetti, trustee, 360 Stebbins St., $100.
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., to Brick House Homes LLC, 56 Poole Road, $144,900.
Colleen Secovich to Lisa Andrews and Michael Andrews, 140 Barton Ave., $315,000.
BLANDFORD
Edward W. Leavy to Lafond Septic Services LLC, trustee, and 16 Kaolin Road Land Trust, trustee of, 16 Kaolin Road, $270,000.
BRIMFIELD
Jewel Real Estate Corp., and Jewel Real Estate Inc., to Arthur Cote and Robin Cote, 87 Marsh Hill Road,
down from the four cuts it forecast in September.
The reason the Fed is tapping the brakes is that inflation remains stubbornly above the cental bank’s 2% target, even though it’s fallen from the heights it reached in mid2022.
Economists also worry that President-elect Donald Trump’s economic policies, notably his plan to vastly increase tariffs on imports, could fuel inflation.
$756,500.
John David Holdcraft to Anupa Goordial Santram, 8 Hillside Drive, $301,500.
SRV Properties LLC, and SRV Investments LLC, to Greenland Enterprises LLC, 115 Sturbridge Road, $119,000.
CHESTER
Matthew Burrell and Catherine Taibi to Emmett Lollis-Taylor and Jenna Lollis-Taylor, 40 Holcomb Road, $300,000.
CHESTERFIELD
East Street Properties LLC, to Daniel Robinson Henshaw and Sherri Ann Henshaw, 177 East St., $235,000.
Howard P. Terry Jr., personal representative, Judith A. Terry, estate, and Judith Arlene Terry, estate, to Ethan Fenn, Damon Pond Road, $335,000.
CHICOPEE
Andrzej J. Gryz to Bernarda M. Gryz, 37 Hafey St., $40,000.
Chicopee Four LLC, to Pizza Town Holdco LLC, 886 Memorial Drive, $1,725,890.
Corliss Anne Brielman and Corliss Ann Brielman to Christopher M. Brielman, 58 Belmont St., $270,000.
David J. Uszynski, Debra Sapouckey and James E. Uszynski to Lotus & Hawk Properties LLC, 183 Langevin St., $333,000.
Eddie Torres and Amanda Cruz to Jasvinder Arora, 170 Rolf Ave., $485,000.
Frances X. Hogan, to KMAK LLC, and Bernash Realty LLC, 183 Rolf Ave., $195,000.
Garrett Cote to Matthew Charles Zyla and Genevieve Zyla, 97 Valier Ave., $320,000.
James Lynch to Cain Hung, 95 Bardon St., $429,400.
Jeffrey F. Snide Sr., representative,
and Stacia F. Moriarty, estate, to Ronald H. Boulanger, 1149 James St., Unit X2, $179,900.
Michael Poggi and Jill P. DiMonaco Poggi to Elwira M. Tyra and Mateusz Sudol, 290-292 Sheridan St., $360,000.
Moran Sheet Metal Inc., to Morestate II, LLC, 139 East Meadow St., $341,000.
Peter Anipko and Vera Anipko to Justin Conger, 141 Moore St., $130,000.
Thomas W. Nestor to Juan Lugo Jr., 740 Granby Road, $189,000.
Thorn LLC, to Palpum Raw LLC, 61 Abbey Memorial Drive, Unit 122, $100,000.
You & Me Investment LLC, to Colby Masse, 28-30 Sunnymeade Ave., $375,000.
EAST LONGMEADOW
Betty Wegiel to Courtney M. West, 2 Jennifer Lane, $311,200.
Bruno Silva De Oliveira Lemos and Thalis Passos Pires to Haznim B. Hussain and Joshua W. Richmond, 3 Vineland Ave., $309,000.
Fitzgerald Home Solutions LLC, to Milagros Vega Albarran, 29 Hampden Road, $327,000.
Hector F. Castro, representative, William Castro, estate, and William Jason Castro, estate, to Nicholas Pioggia, 348 Westwood Ave., $349,000.
Jennifer A. Thorn to Cap Holdings LLC, 200 North Main St., Unit 14, $119,000.
Launa J. Torres and Launa J. Hamilton to Ashley Lee Rocketfield, 32 Thompson St., $285,000.
Nicholas A. Pioggia and Valentina Pioggia to Jennifer M. Amaral and Anthony Stevens, 9 Ramonas Way, $657,500.
William A. Brown and David P. Brown to Arline Granger, 55 Devonshire Terrace, $650,000.
AGAWAM
Deeds
EASTHAMPTON
Brett Roy and Jennifer Roy to Brett Widmeier and Amy Kane, 49 Westview Terrace, $626,000.
Rachel Keenan Roberts and Heather Beck to Eric Shawn Page and Deirdre Marianne O’Shea, 10 Chapman Ave., $550,000.
Dustin Colburn, Dustin W. Colburn, Annamaria D. Colburn and Annamaria Colburn to Dustin W. Colburn, trustee, Annamaria D. Colburn, trustee, Dustin W. Colburn Living Trust and Annamaria D. Colburn Living Trust, 361 East St., $100.
Brakey LLC, to Sovereign Builders Inc., Torrey Street and Glendale Road, $380,000.
GOSHEN
Howard P. Terry Jr., personal representative, Judith A. Terry, estate, and Judith Arlene Terry, estate, to Ethan Finn, Damon Pond Road, $335,000.
GRANBY
Monica Percival to Karen L. Roney, trustee, and Sawin Street Trust, 190 Amherst St., $671,025.
Paul H. Wiley and Patricia A. Romney to Matthew Hutchison and Hsin I. Chen, 27 Granby Heights, $235,000.
Lisa S. Judkins, conservator, and Irene C. Rappa to Win Properties LLC, 2 West State St., $45,000.
Christopher Luke Dunn to Michael David Mazulis, 65 West St., $339,900.
Dakota P. Richards to Christopher John Tallman and Kyleigh Simone Margaret Tallman, 12 Griswold Circle, $395,500.
GRANVILLE
Katherine Kinsman and Eric Troy Dantonio to Vanessa L. Berrelli, 313 Crest Lane, $450,000.
HADLEY
Linsey Olszewski and Matthew Olszewski to Edward J. Weigel and Debra J. Weigel, 21 Lawrence Plain Road, $300,000.
Panda Enterprises Inc., to Evergrain Orchard LLC, 17 North Maple St., $280,000.
Patricia Devine Cromack, Patricia A. Devine, Gerald T. Devine, Daniel J. Devine, James E. Devine and Thomas F. Devine to Gerald T. Devine, Daniel J. Devine and James E. Devine, 56 Knightly Road, $100.
HAMPDEN
Felix W. Rodriguez and Adneris Rodriguez to Jennifer Ducharme and Michael Svedberg, 234 Wilbraham Road, $371,000.
Fumi Realty Inc., to Victor Jesus Collado, 62 Allen St., $449,000.
Gary R. Smith to Samuel Powell, 53 Baldwin
Drive, $330,000.
Sareen Properties LLC, to Robert Melendez, 16 Oak Knoll Drive, $350,000.
HATFIELD
Barbara A. Bruce to Barbara A. Bruce, trustee, and Barbara A. Bruce 2024 Trust, 33 Jericho Road, $100.
HEATH
Melissa J. Lynch, “fka” Melissa J. Durrin, to Timothy B. Durrin, 56 Avery Brook Road, $10,000.
HOLLAND
James A. Reith Jr., to Veteran Stan LLC, 64 South Cottage Road, $185,000.
HOLYOKE
David H. Durocher and Deborah A. Durocher to Dominic Santaniello, trustee, Lucas Giusto, trustee, and Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, 109-111 Brown Ave., $110,000.
Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Targaryen Realty Trust, trustee of, to Tyler Lamica and Madelyn Chartier, 69 Dillon Ave., $300,000.
Donna L. Carpenter to Jennifer Sattler Murphy and Scott R. Sattler, 0 Mountain Road, $142,800.
Edwin Velazquez, representative, Dominga Rodriguez, estate, and Dominga Rodriquez, estate, to Arlene Oquendo, 121 Oak St., $135,000.
Jessica Lee Borowski, Jessica Jolicoeur and David Jolicoeur to Mia McDonald and Mia A. McDonald, 457 Westfield Road, $255,000.
Nicole Soto to Kevin Mueller, trustee, and Springdale Estate Family Realty Trust, trustee of, 20 Springdale Ave., $210,000.
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., to William Thomas Raleigh, 119 Central Park Drive, $371,301.
Paul S. Body III, and Lesley Alyce Body Cika to Jennifer Sattler Murphy and Scott R. Sattler, 0 Mountain Road, $214,200.
Roman V. Sheremet and Elena Sheremet to Olaida Irizarry and Confesor Irizarry, 9 Downing Ave., $320,000.
Rosemary T. Bey, representative, and Ronald J. Bey, estate, to Alice Kennedy, 33 Vassar Circle, $331,500.
Sarah Chotkowski to Charles H. Jacobus III, and Angela L. Popko, 10 Lexington Ave., $560,000.
Sean M. Terwilliger and Wendy Bradley-Terwilliger to Anthony R. Bradley, trustee, and Irrevocable Trust Bradley-Terwilliger Family 2024, trustee of, 3 Hawthorne Lane, $100. Syed Mobeen to Felix Almonte Espinal and Sonia Canela Minaya, 1552 Dwight St., $160,000.
Tony Visone, trustee, and 556 South Bridge St. Realty Trust, trustee of, to 220 Linden Realty LLC, 41-43 Mosher St., $1,815,000.
HUNTINGTON
Hilary R. Gollis to Liam Farrell Tierney and Taryn Lyn Zucco, 3 Searle Road, $358,000.
Sheri Johnson and Sheri Lynn Johnson to Sheri Johnson, Sheri Lynn Johnson and Harry E. Johnson, Norwich Lake and Pierce Road, $100.
LONGMEADOW
Bernita M. Spagnoli and Joao M. Soares to Shyamal Mansukhlal Madhavani and Manali Tanna Madhavani, 72 Tecumseh Drive, $865,000.
Gale L. Greenberg to Diane M. Corsi and Richard J. Corsi, 216 Bel-Air Drive, $375,000.
Norma Hill, Harry D. Hill and Harry D. Hill Jr., to Christine Porcello, 490 Bliss Road, $406,000.
Quynh Nguyen to Jeremy Piccoli, 1401 Longmeadow St., $573,500.
LUDLOW
Anthony James Kempesty and Laura Kempesty to Modifi Homes LLC, 60 Marion Circle, $270,000.
Christine Monroe, Susan Munsell, Charlene Wcislo and John T. Peresada to Jordan N. Dudley and Laila R. Duffy, 261 West St., $235,000.
Christopher Brown to John Robert Norris-Esser and Jade Norris, 879 West St., $407,500.
Cornerstone Homebuying LLC, to Harry D. Hill Jr., and Norma Hill, 290-292 Cady St., $515,000.
Sareen Properties LLC, to Zaide Soufane, 51 Parkview St., $237,000.
Stanley J. Peczka and Marilyn J. Peczka to Anthony J. Kempesty and Laura M. Kempesty, 585 Chapin St., $265,000.
Victor L. Rodrigues to Juan Carlos Sanchez, 265 Center St., $557,500.
Walter J. Rose to Munir Ahmad, Center Street, Lot D-3, $130,000.
MONSON
Donald J. Mann Jr., to Derek J, Mann, 290 Stafford Road, $274,000.
Michael E. Harrowfield and Julie S. Harrowfield to Domingo Tavarez, 56 Cote Road, $210,000.
MONTGOMERY
David York to Philip Plumadore, 509 Main Road, $312,500.
NORTHAMPTON
Sarah B. Getoff and Anthony Kord to Sarah B. Getoff, 80 Damon Road, $100.
Marilyn A. Richards, trustee, and Marilyn A. Richards Revocable Trust to Lori B. Divine-Hudson, trustee, and Lori Devine Hudson Revocable Trust, 20 Bridge Road, $855,590.
Deborah A. Sullivan to Sherri L. Howell, 20 Westwood Terrace, $398,000.
Steven M. Waksman to 83 Pomeroy Terrace Trust and Mark Goodman, trustee, 83 Pomeroy Terrace, $944,971.
Michael P. Damon and Diana Damon to Diane Susan Baxter, trustee, and Diane Baxter
Family Trust, 78 Ryan Road, $425,000. Strong Ave LLC, to Strong & Main Realty LLC, 12 Main St., 6 Strong Ave., and 8 Strong Ave., $1,107,500.
Northampton Four LLC, to Pizza Town Holdco LLC, 338 King St., $3,842,188.
James Thomas Jewitt and Amy Jewitt to Laila R. Copperansky and Joseph Katusich, 795A Westhampton Road, $411,000.
Luke Bittel to Northampton Rentals LLC, 20 Orchard St., $760,000.
Brakey LLC, to Sovereign Builders Inc., Torrey Street and Glendale Road, $380,000.
Ann C. Howell, trustee, and Revocable Indenture of Trust of Ann C. Howell to Wendy Wood Saemisch-Hannigan, trustee, and Saemisch-Hannigan Investment Trust, 23 Randolph Place, $242,000.
Heather K. Tauck to Terry Gorfine, 145 Chesterfield Road, $575,000.
ORANGE
Marcia J. Horman and Kent C. Lawson to Adonai Marroquin, 180 West River St., $250,000.
PALMER
Lions Share LLC, to Second Time Around Management LLC, 2102-2104 Palmer Road, $370,000.
Mark P. Pysznik and Sandra M. Pysznik to Michael Laventure and Maryann Carter-Laventure, 180 Boston Road, $315,000.
Robert A. Nompleggi to Henry L. Quenneville and Kathleen Ann Quenneville, 321 River St., $60,000.
Roger Parker to Ayman Amghar and Kacem Amghar, 1570-1572 North Main St., $265,000.
Scott E. Haley, trustee, Jacqueline A. Haley, trustee, and 67 Emery Street Realty Trust, trustee of, to Michael D. Opielowski, Heather A. Opielowski and Helen N. Opielowski, Emery Street, Par A, $549,000.
Wayne L. Buxton, trustee, Donna M. Buxton, trustee, and Revocable Indenture Trust of Wayne L. Buxton, trustee of, to Double R Enterprises LLC, 6 Third St., $650,000.
PELHAM
W.D. Cowls Inc., to Lyme Quabbin LLC, Buffam Road, North Valley Road, Valley Road and Buffam Road Off, $7,878,049.
PLAINFIELD
Robert A. Anderson to John R. Farrar, 274 East Main St., $117,500.
Lyla Rozelle and Keir Jemmett to Daniel T. Potter, 54 South Union St., $299,500.
SOUTHWICK
Christopher G. Haddad and Tina M. Haddad to Matthew A. Cavallo and Carli M. Sonsini, 151 South Loomis St., $670,000.
Richard E. Lisheness Jr., and Kimberly Lisheness to Viktor Moshkovskiy, 147 Mort Vining Road, $273,200.
Notes
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F5
Led by Alex Sherman, Tree Warden and City Forester for Springfield.
Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025: “Landscaping for Year-Round Beauty” Want to enjoy your garden more in the spring, summer, fall, and winter? Learn how to design a garden that showcases vibrant color and fascinating textures that make it shine in every season.
The classes will be held in the Old Monkey House, in Forest Park on Sumner Ave. The fee is $10 per class and tickets are available at the door, on Eventbrite, by emailing spfldgardenclub@ gmail.com or by calling 413285-3163.
For more information on this and other Springfield Garden Club events go to www.gcfm.org/ springfieldgardenclub or visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/SpringfieldMAGardenClub/.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication
Deeds
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F8
SPRINGFIELD
111-113 Bay St. Restoration LLC, to Jose Orlando Rivera Portillo, SS Bay St., $275,500.
Admiracion David to Michael I. Regalado Chavez, 47 Mooreland St., $400,000.
Brandon Eric Whitice to Emily Schneider, 156 South Branch Parkway, $349,000.
Candy Michelle Bell to On The Mark LLC, 558 Plainfield St., $40,000.
Carla J. Potito-Marrero and John Marrero to Muhammad Kamran Syed, 387 Union St., $320,000.
Emtay Inc., to 1361-1363 Dwight Street LLC, 1361-1363 Dwight St., $380,000.
Emtay Inc., to Courtney Jewell, 130 Bowles St., $264,000.
Emtay Inc., to Enid Paulino, 107 Orange St., $370,000.
Emtay Inc., to Harold De Aza, 293 Eastern Ave., $300,000.
Felix DeCesare to 7 Star Sumner Realty LLC, 914 Sumner Ave., $1,050,000.
Herman Sparks Jr., and Harmon Sparks Jr., to Titus Brown, 186 Quincy St., $5,000.
Kendrick J. Dempsey and Desiree M. Dempsey to Meisha Gay Sequira, 65 Blodgett St., $278,000.
Marie C. Hedeen and Marie Christine Hedeen to Bivian A. Rojas Gonzalez, 27 Westernview St., $255,000.
Mariluz Melendez to Michelle Morales, 105 Marsden St., $200,000.
Melonie Rena Altman and Melonie R. Lasseter to Obed B. Akowuah, 727 North Branch Parkway, $315,000.
Ray Rafael Peralta, trustee, and Bartolo Realty Trust, trustee of, to Rafael M. Peralta, 25 Ladd St., $100.
Round Two LLC, to Gregory R. Bowen, 29 Benz St., $305,000.
Salim Abdoo to Jean Merisier Jr., 5 Olney Ave., $335,000.
Samnang Oeng and Nicholas Rastello to Edgardo Velasquez, 9 Glenwood St., $227,000.
Sham Petroleum LLC, to 7 Star Allen Realty LLC, 487 Allen St., $900,000.
Springfield College to Comfort Dede Asante and Nana Prempeh, 183 Middlesex St., $352,000.
Stephanie T. Stevens to NKZ Realty Inc., 94 David St., $235,000.
Stephen P. Gray to Jamal S. Seymour, 86 Bowdoin St., $413,000.
Thomas H. Bell and Kathryn M. Bell to Barbara Fenney, 26 Williamsburg Drive, Unit 26, $290,000.
Timothy P. Tynan, Richard F. Tynan, Sally M. Tynan and Sally N. Tynan to Lucas Pimentel, 6 Mortimer St., $260,000.
Tomas Paris to Jorge Figueroa Del Valle, 450-452 Hancock St., $265,600.
Tracey Polite to Toney Polite, 33 Metzger Place, $305,000.
Veteran Stan LLC, to Alexandra Marie Lalos and Dremus Anthony Watkins, 180 Cherokee Drive, $305,000.
Walgreen Eastern Co. Inc., to Island PP LLC, 106-112 Island Pond Road, $1,750,000.
Wanderlei De Oliveira to Erika Flores, 15 Manhattan St., $95,000.
William Aldoy Jr., to Juan Rosado, 1515 Carew St., $268,500.
William Street LLC, to James E. Balise Jr., 33-35 Hubbard Ave., $2,100,000.
Almeida and Michael Turner, Monson Turnpike Road, $57,000.
Louis Zglobicki and Pleasant Construction Co Inc., to Sarah Adele Knowlton, Osborne Road, $45,000.
Douglas P. Gauthier, Darcy Gauthier, and Roger E. Gauthier to Paul Pinto, 15-17 Gilbert Court, $335,000.
Alan F. Joubert and Cherylann Joubert to Anthony Robidoux, 12 Mattson Boulevard, $325,000.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Abdul M. Khadra and Rula Baki to Abdul M. Khadra, Kholod Khadra and Rula Baki, 83 Cedar Woods Glen, $100.
Abimael Greer-Cabrera to Alyssa Walters and Patrick Felton, 80 Brush Hill Ave., Unit 58, $134,000.
Aga Brothers LLC, to BLC Norman Realty LLC, 130 Norman St., $320,000.
Carol A. Arends, representative, Carol A. Ruta, representative, Frederick J. Ruta, estate, and Frederick Jozef Ruta, estate, to Mass-West Construction Inc., 977 Piper Road, $336,000.
Cornelia M. Consedine to NPN Realty LLC, Forest Ridge Road, $20,000.
David Charland to Bellal Realty Group LLC, 114 East Gooseberry Road, $325,000.
Donna M. Ruddy, Donna M. Prior and Paul G. Ruddy to Anthony Trinchini, 93 Old Barn Road, $365,000.
Laura Lattanzio, trustee, and Fred A. Lattanzio Trust, trustee of, to Linda A. Smith, 170 Canterbury Way, Unit 170, $410,000.
Linda J. Carlson and Paul S. Carlson to Nicholas J. Levesque and Michell Mariana San Martin, 244 Circle Drive, $270,000.
James D. Lusher and Christine Lusher to Ian Saltmarsh and Jordan Cooper, 286 Sackett Road, $465,000.
Robert D. Piper and Joan E. Piper to William Pope and Mary Ellen Pope, 58 Forest Glen Drive, $415,000.
Granada & Gemstar Investment Group LLC, to Massachusetts Behavioral Health LLC,, 66 Broad St., $1,125,000.
Santander Bank to 30 Elm & 7 School Street LLC, 30 Elm St., $275,000.
Stephen R. Weeks and Rosemarie C. Weeks to Gregory W. Smith and Yahia A. Ajam, 112 Franklin St., $375,000.
U S Bank to GG Strategic Holdings LLC, 3 Fowler St., $166,667.
Westfield Four LLC, to Pizza Town Holdco LLC, 286 East Main St., $1,806,122.
William W. Cavanaugh to Dominic Santaniello, trustee, Lucas Giusto, trustee, and Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, 22 Reed St., $185,000.
WILBRAHAM
Ingolfur Bergsteinsson to Anthony D. Tyler Jr., and Rebecca A. Impionbato, 664 Stony Hill Road, $550,000. Linda Jeanne Daigneault and Karen Elizabeth Daigneault to Bradley Joseph Rolland, 15 Spruce Drive, $155,000.
Robert L. Lounsbury, trustee, Diane R. Lounsbury, trustee, and Robert L. Lounsbury Living Trust, trustee of, to Stuart C. Eaton and Sandra C. Eaton, 10 High Pine Circle, $610,000.
WILLIAMSBURG
Frank S. Geryk Jr., to Colin A. Polnitsky, 146 Ashfield Road, $340,000.
Your poinsettias first will need a rest period. Loss of leaves and fading flowers indicate that your plants are entering dormancy. (Even tropical plants, such as poinsettia, take a short, mild annual rest.) When the plants become dormant, move them to a cool location and water them infrequently, just enough to keep their stems from shriveling. About April, the plants will be ready to start growing again. Cut the stems back to a few strong shoots, each about 6 inches long. Give the plants sun, warmth, and water. New shoots will push forth from dormant buds. When warm weather has settled, you can put the plants outside.
Michael J. Curran, representative, James Andrew Curran Sr., estate, and James Curran, estate, to Sareen Properties LLC, 90 Eddy St., $201,000.
Michael John Lysick, representative and trustee, Michael J. Lysick, representative and trustee, Mary A. Leone-Lysick, estate, Marie Lysick Testamentary Trust for Andrea, trustee of, and Michael Lysick, representative and trustee, to Marlene Beatriz Contreras Chacon, 39 East Alvord St., $275,000.
Mint Realty Group LLC, to Tiffany R. Chaplin, 184 King St., $450,000.
Nexius LLC, to Angelique T. Chanthyasakd, 109-111 Olmstead, $385,000.
Nicole Jean-louis and Deborah Pierre to Geecaa Investments LLC, 52-54 Narragansett St., $298,900.
Palpum Raw LLC, to Bernard Sumeni and Beatrice Djoubhou Fotso, 27 Brooks St., $422,000.
Xiuyu Ma to Lisonja Uribe, 60-62 West Alvord St., $380,000.
Zachary Yacteen and Angelo Gomez to Sol Santiago, 80 Upland St., $310,000.
TOLLAND
Austin Rybacki, Kendra Rybacki and John Rybacki to Patrick McCambridge and Megan McCambridge, 156 S Village Road, $325,000.
WALES
Cynthia R. O’Brien to Lesley P. Heyl, 10 Willow Dell Road, $60,000.
WARE
Jorge Fernandes to Jorge Fernandes and Allison Hunter, 150 Gilbertville Road, $100.
MHI Properties LLC, to James Emerson III, and Madison Springer, 9 3rd Ave., $309,000.
Beaver Associates Inc., to Albert
M&T Bank to Edwan Azuhairi, 283 Hillcrest Ave., $219,000.
Petr Gavrilyuk and Ryta Gavrilyuk to Javier Gracia and Priscilla Bermeo, 116 Lancaster Ave., $329,000.
Rita Brewer and William Brewer III, to Pah Properties LLC, 136 Oak St., $138,000.
Steven T. Sullivan to Benjamin L. Moser, 149 Beverly Hills Lower, $222,000.
Westrock Container LLC, to JDZ Realty LLC, 100 Palmer Ave., $2,700,000.
WESTFIELD
B. Bradley Cassin, Kathleen E. Cassin and Kathlee E. Cassin to Erin Cronin, 17 Castle Hill Road, $480,000.
Denielle Borelli Manning and Robert T. Borelli Jr., to Waleed Okal, 16 Farlaine Drive, $350,000.
Gregory Smith and Yahia Alaeddin Ajam to Hannah Berube, 15 Malone Ave., $340,000.
WORTHINGTON
Louise C. Finn, Louise C. Finn, trustee, and Louise C. Finn Revocable Trust to Aidan Novo, 441 Dingle Road, $320,000. Sheri Johnson and Sheri Lynn Johnson to Sheri Johnson, Sheri Lynn Johnson and Harry E. Johnson, Norwich Lake and Pierce Road, $100.
Splash
Textured tile with a glossy, shimmering glaze, such as zellige tile, is another popular option, which both Rebel House and Downing have used.
Of course, tiles can be glazed in almost any color, opening up many other opportunities. In a kitchen Pluck designed for author Huma Qureshi in London, the company used simple square tiles but installed them in a pink-and-white checkerboard for a dramatic look.
In a kitchen with yellow cabinets that Pluck built with Stealth Design, tiles glazed with geometric shapes in blue, black and white make the backsplash the center of attention. “It works very well for what they wanted,” Glasier said, “which was something incredibly bold.”
Add reflectivity
Hanging a large mirror on a wall can help brighten and visually expand almost any room. A mirrored kitchen backsplash can do the same thing, and make the walls above counters almost disappear.
“You create this extra sense of depth,” Glasier said.
Consider the unexpected
Almost any impervious material can be used as a backsplash, so don’t assume you have to choose something you’ve seen before. Concrete and terrazzo, for instance, are popular materials for residential flooring and counters, but they can just as easily be used for backsplashes.
Pluck has used a terrazzo-like material made with wood chips from Foresso as a backsplash. Other companies, like IceStone, make materials that use chips of recycled colored glass in a similar way.
When Downing designed a lake house in Austin, she installed a kitchen with concrete counters but covered most of the walls above them with waterproof tadelakt plaster.
Metals such as copper and stainless steel are other options. In a kitchen that Open Studio Collective designed in Portland, a shiny copper backsplash is intended to develop a patina over time.
“Our client wanted to do something different,” Bryan said. “We chose copper because it tarnishes in different ways, with greens and browns, and we knew it would add an aged effect over time.”
The result is a showstopping backsplash that cost less than a more traditional option, such as natural stone, Bryan said. That’s even more reason for the homeowner to love it.
As temperatures cool in late summer, bring the plants indoors to a sunny window. Keep them away from cold drafts, which would cause their leaves to drop.
Now for the photoperiod treatment. Beginning three months before you would like the plants to bloom, make sure the plants get 14 hours of darkness each night. Moving them into a dark closet or covering them with a paper bag are convenient ways to do this. The dark period each night must be uninterrupted. Even peek at them with a flashlight at midnight will have them acting as if they had a short night, instead of the needed long night.
After eight weeks of the above treatment, move the plants back to their sunny window. Flower buds should be evident, and you should have blooming poinsettias within a month. If you want bloom for the holiday season next year, start the photoperiod treatment about the middle of September.
Poinsettias are members of the the Spurge family. A common characteristic of plants in this family — which includes Hevea braziliensis, tapped commercially to make rubber — is the milky sap they exude when cut. The sap has often been considered poisonous and was sometimes used medicinally as a purge (hence “spurge,” from the French word espugier, meaning to purge). But, as Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, more commonly known as Paracelsus, wrote in the 15th century, “All things are poisons, for there is nothing without poisonous qualities. It is only the dose which makes a thing poison.” In fact, the sap is only mildly poisonous to humans and other animals. It can cause a rash on the skin or mouth, and stomach upset. So go ahead and nick the stem of your poinsettia and see the milky sap exude. No need to touch it.
Come visit my farmden at http://leereich.com
Above, a backsplash with curves in a kitchen designed by Annie Downing. Below, a copper backsplash designed by Open Studio Collective. A great backsplash can help a kitchen look its best. (LINDSAY BROWN VIA THE NEW YORK TIMES/ (KAITLIN GREEN VIA THE NEW YORK TIMES)
MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE AT PUBLIC AUCTION
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
3:00 PM-SPRINGFIELD
111 Pembroke Street
sgl fam, 864 sf liv area, 0.16 ac lot, 5 rm, 3 bdrm, 1 bth, Hampden: Bk 16701, Pg 352
4:00 PM-WESTFIELD
89 Montgomery Street
sgl fam, 1,456 sf liv area, 0.29 ac lot, 6 rm, 3 bdrm, 1 bth, Hampden: Bk 22182, Pg 558
12:00 PM-SPRINGFIELD
184 Thompson Street
sgl fam, 2,287 sf liv area, 0.26 ac lot, 8 rm, 4 bdrm, 1.5 bth, Hampden: Bk 15844, Pg 111 1:00 PM-SPRINGFIELD
154 Kimberly Avenue
sgl fam, 1,674 sf liv area, 0.13 ac lot, 7 rm, 4 bdrm, 1 bth, Hampden: Bk 24241, Pg 110 TERMS: Cashier’s or
Bengal Kittens, female, TICA reg. Shots, health guar., Ware, MA, $750-$850. 413-967-4496
Coon mix $50.00. Female. Call 413-777-9659 or text 575-1389
Pure-bredMaineCoonKittensforsale,14wksold, $1 000. call 413-297-4342
2 year old German Shepherd male available, $250, call for more info, 802-323-2538
German Shepherd pups, 2M, 2F, Champ Czeck Belgian Bloodlines. Ready with shots & dewormer. 1-7-25. 30 years exper. Raising a few liters of quality GSD’s at this farm in WMa. $1,200. 413-218-2321
WhiteGermanShepherd puppiesavailableatthe endofNovember,$400 each, 1 m & 1 f, call, 802-323-2538
MORTGAGEES’ REAL ESTATE AUCTIONS TO BE SOLD ON THEIR RESPECTIVE PREMISE
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 8, 2025
3:00 PM - HOLLAND, MA 10 PINE TREE DRIVEDEPOSIT $5,000
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 15, 2025
2:00 PM - OTIS, MA 122 KIBBE ROADDEPOSIT $10,000
THURSDAY JANUARY 16, 2025
12:00 PMSOUTH DEERFIELD, MA 79 LONG PLAIN ROAD, WHATELY, MA A/K/A 79 LONG PLAIN ROADDEPOSIT $10,000
TERMSOFSALES:DEPOSITSINTHEAMOUNTS SPECIFIEDABOVEARETO BEPAIDBYTHEPURCHASER(S)ATTHETIME ANDPLACEOFEACH SALEBYCERTIFIEDOR BANKCHECK.ALLBALANCESDUEARETOBE PAIDWITHIN30DAYSOF
(BREAKINGOUTINACOLDSWEAT)
OtherHeartAttackSymptomstoWatchOutFor: Chestpain,discomfort,pressureorsqueezing,likethere’satonofweighton you•Shortnessofbreath•Nausea•Light-headednessorsuddendizziness •Unusualupperbodypain,ordiscomfortinoneorbotharms,back,shoulder, neck,jaworupperpartofthestomach•Unusualfatigue
Ifyouexperienceanyoneofthesesymptoms,don’tmake excusesforthem.MaketheCall.Don’tMissaBeat.
Tolearnmore,visitWomensHealth.gov/HeartAttack