Green Communities
Year of the Gaillardia
Year of the Gaillardia – The Beauty of Blanket Flowers Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor University of Vermont What is a gaillardia, you may ask, if you’re a novice gardener? It is often known as blanket flower, and its daisy-like flowers come in variations of yellows, orange and reds, and combinations of these. Most commonly,…
Read MoreUsing Tomatoes and Other September Gardening Tips
USING TOMATOES AND OTHER SEPTEMBER GARDENING TIPS Leonard Perry, UVM Horticulturist and Charlie Nardozzi, Garden Consultant Making the most of ripe tomatoes, preparing for frost, and planting shrubs are some of the gardening activities for this month. Don’t let excess tomatoes go to waste. Plum tomatoes and cherry and grape minis dry fairly easily in…
Read MoreEco-Friendly Design with a Contemporary Edge
Eco-Friendly Design with a Contemporary Edge Unspoiled Costa Rica… Featuring Renowned Architect, Amnon Dahan “I started seeing unbelievable, contemporary designs that are integrated into the beautiful terrain and into the nature of Costa Rica. That’s when I started seeing people living in harmony with nature, literally allowing the nature outside in, with homes melded into…
Read MoreToday’s Energy-Efficient Home
By Andy Sinclair. Previously published in the 2016 Winter Issue. Whether Tudor, Colonial, log cabin, Cape Cod, bungalow, Craftsman, A-frame, ranch, Pueblo, bi-level, split level, farmhouse, townhouse, cottage, Adirondack, rammed earth, or geodesic, today’s home can (must) be energy-efficient. In today’s economy, you literally cannot afford to have an energy-inefficient home. What exactly is an…
Read MoreWhere Progress and Preservation Meet
The “Minto Way” delivers luxury and nature to the same doorstep. By Jamie Penn. Previously published in the 2016 Winter Issue. Festival features two-story luxury resort vacation townhomes only five miles to Walt Disney World.® It’s no secret that Florida has some pretty serious perks. Every day, nearly a thousand people move to the sunshine…
Read MoreSpring-Flowering Bulb Questions
SPRING-FLOWERING BULB QUESTIONS Dr. Leonard Perry, Horticulture Professor University of Vermont Fall is the time to fast-forward and plan for spring, at least in terms of planting spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. They’re easy, and will be a welcome sight next spring coming off of our typically long winter. Here are ten common questions…
Read MoreEco-Tourism Thrives in Costa Rica
Eco-Tourism Thrives in Costa Rica Although it’s a small country, about the size of West Virginia, Costa Rica has incredible biodiversity with scenic beaches, lush rain forests, impressive volcanoes and exotic wildlife. As avid travelers grow tired of hotel-lined beaches and crowded theme parks, they turn to the more exotic adventures offered by ecotourism. This…
Read MoreTropical Sustainability
International Communities are Setting the Pace By Sam Crawford. Previously published in the 2015 Summer issue. Sustainability has become a popular buzzword with American community developers. While some may see that trend as being little more than a marketing tool, the fact is that sustainable designs and building practices are a good thing—for the planet…
Read MoreUniversal Design &”Green Initiatives”
Building the ultimate home for the active 50-plus community is the goal of Del Webb, a division of Pulte Homes. This company has carried out extensive research in order to understand the exact needs, desires and wishes of their clientele. Add to this customer validation and personalization options on all designs, plus the opportunity to experience a Del Webb community before purchasing and performance testing on every new home, and it’s no wonder that Del Webb is a building company of choice.
Read MorePruning Apple Trees
Pruning Apple Trees Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor University of Vermont Late winter is the best time to prune mature apple trees. If you’re buying young ones in the spring, they may or may not need pruning, depending on several considerations. Trees need to be pruned for best yields and longest tree life. How much…
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