Monday, March 23, 2026

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 May 16, 2024

I mentioned spongy moth caterpillars briefly last week. I hear Columbia County in New York has a tremendous outbreak now.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of May 9, 2024

The time to prune any flowering shrubs is right after the bloom. Give yourself about two weeks to do that or be willing to sacrifice some blooms. Being a lazy gardener requires choices!

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of May 2, 2024

The average last spring frost in our region is around May 20, but you would do best to keep your own records at your own property. Low-lying properties will often have a spring frost when higher elevations do not because dew and colder air settle to lower elevations.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of April 25, 2024

The hyacinth grown in a controlled setting and planted away from traffic has had a much easier road than the hyacinth rescued from compost and nursed back to health. I will call the rescued hyacinth a win for this Lazy Berkshire Gardener because they aren’t dead yet!

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of April 18, 2024

On a dry morning (if we get a dry morning), peek at what you have growing. The recent rains should have helped your gardens get a good start, unless they have been flooded out.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of April 11, 2024

If you are lucky enough to have plants in a cold frame, remember to vent it on sunny days. We had temperatures in the low 20s a week ago and 60s four days later. Sun will fry plants under glass unless you allow a cool breeze to get through.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of April 4, 2024

While last weekend did not bring a deluge of rain, it was cold and windy at my house. I chose to do some concentrated weeding because 1) the beds needed it, 2) the beds were in the sunshine, and 3) the house blocked the wind.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of March 28, 2024

If you have too much lawn, or your attempts to grow grass in an area always fail, maybe you should grow something else there. Creating an island of shrubs with perennial groundcovers or just an island for annuals with a few perennials to anchor it might be the perfect solution.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of March 21, 2024

Plants, especially native plants, are genetically disposed to get growing as daylight expands. As trees and shrubs grow, once-sunny spots become shady and understory plantings might stop flowering well or not at all.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of March 14, 2024

I’ve scanned the upcoming weather forecast. After warm days on Tuesday and Wednesday, this upcoming weekend looks like perfect weather for either spraying repellents or preventive fungicides.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of March 7, 2024

Thankfully, a slow ramp-up in March does force me to stop and form my garden priorities.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of February 29, 2024

Garden centers have us gardeners pegged: We want color and we want it now!

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of February 22, 2024

If you need to do some gardening (it is a type of addiction, this need to grow things), start your broccoli, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts indoors now to set out by mid-April and have early season crops.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of February 15, 2024

We are not in the gardens, but we can do some work on our indoor "gardens."

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of February 8, 2024

Whatever your feelings about this "greeting card" holiday, a plant gift in February can lift the spirits of you as giver or recipient.

THE LAZY BERKSHIRE GARDENER: Week of February 1, 2024

I need to remember that while invasive species may not be my own fault, the invaders are humans’ responsibility.
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