Tuesday, July 8, 2025

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

Jodi Cahillane

Jodi Cahillane gardens in central Berkshire County. She started gardening in urban Chicago and upon moving to Berkshire County, educated herself with the Western Massachusetts Master Gardener training certification and volunteer program in 1999. She has presented talks focused on Composting, Healthy Gardens, Invasive Plants, Organic Gardening: an Overview, Vegetable Gardening and Problem-Solving. Her goal as a gardener is to encourage her plants to thrive with as little interference from her as possible, with moderate success. For over 20 years, she has been a staff member at Ward's Nursery & Garden Center, Great Barrington, in customer service, information, and publicity.

written articles

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of July 3, 2025

Scout for pests in your vegetable garden every day while you water. You do water every day, right?

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of June 26, 2025

Water your plants thoroughly in the morning before the heat of the day evaporates your efforts. Most annuals and perennials need one inch of water per week and more during dry spells.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of June 19, 2025

I am beginning to reap what I sowed in my garden: good-sized lettuce and spinach leaves, cilantro, arugula, and peas.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of June 12, 2025

Stormy weather prompts me to run around and gather cut flowers that might be pummeled in a heavy rainstorm. Peony and poppy flowers often shatter in heavy rain.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of June 5, 2025

A lazy gardener tip: Follow spacing considerations when first planting perennials.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of May 29, 2025

Now that spring perennials have been flowering, I ventured into the flower borders to weed and nurture a few new plantings.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of May 22, 2025

I prefer the kind of gardening where I explore what is growing and pull or reduce the plants that I don’t want.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of May 15, 2025

How are your allergies this spring? Many people I know have been suffering from the pollen blues—or should I say "yellows" as I have found my white car turns yellow in a matter of hours.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of May 8, 2025

Growth is just beginning. If you don’t get to it today, get to it tomorrow or next week.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of May 1, 2025

Despite the finger-numbing chill and strong, blustery winds, I did get out to do a little bit of edging, some pruning, and some weeding.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of April 24, 2025

Friday, April 25, is Arbor Day, a time to celebrate the power of trees. Plant a tree for future generations to enjoy!

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of April 17, 2025

More observations around the garden—an unwelcome early visit from the Easter bunny.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of April 10, 2025

Cold weather does not affect spring bulbs, hellebore, or spring ephemerals. Start to seek those ephemerals in the area woods or in your gardens.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of April 3, 2025

Instead of taking a soil thermometer to the garden every day, we can look at our Forsythia to decide if a pre-emergent weed killer will be effective or if our roses can be pruned.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of March 27, 2025

Extreme shifts in weather are the primary reason I prefer to plant younger perennials, shrubs, and trees. They have smaller root masses that can work their way into new locations with less stress to the overall plant.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of March 20, 2025

Remember, as you head out to start your garden chores, ticks are awake!
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