Tom Atwell: Roots for this hardy seed store run 100 years deep in Maine

Published
May 1, 2011

Tom Atwell: Roots for this hardy seed store run 100 years deep in Maine

Allen, Sterling & Lothrop turns 100 this year. In its century of operation, the seed store has had three locations: first on Exchange Street in Portland, then part of the block between Federal and Middle streets where One City Center now stands, and its current Falmouth location. But a lot has stayed the same over […]
Published
May 1, 2011

Please release me: A spring cleaning guide

Let it go -- the best way to spring clean is to start with a purge of all the unnecessary stuff cluttering up your home.
Published
May 1, 2011

Gifts for Mom the gardener

Herewith, a few Mother's Day suggestions for she who likes to get her hands dirty.
Published
May 1, 2011

Antiques: Collectors craving carousel figures

Carousel figures, made mostly in the early 1900s, sell for high prices today. Carousels probably were first made in the 1700s to train spear-throwers, not as enjoyable rides for children. A horseback rider would ride toward a hanging ring and try to put the spear through it. By the late 1700s in Europe, there were […]
Published
May 1, 2011

Hunting: Taking stock of what a hunter needs to bag a bird

Tomorrow marks the start of another spring turkey season in Maine. With winter lingering so long, it sort of snuck up on a lot of us this year. There’s still time left — not much — but enough to go through your checklist and make sure all of the essentials are ready. Let’s start with […]

Published
May 1, 2011

Allen Afield: Look off the beaten path for trout waters in May

Maine anglers flock to name waters like Grand Lake Stream, East Outlet of the Kennebec and Kennebago rivers — perfect examples of places that attract crowds. I’ve often counted 30 and more anglers on these waters and other storied spots like them. In contrast, marginal trout waters in late April and May produce superb action […]
Published
May 1, 2011

Birding: Guide’s new edition eases tricky identifications

Kenn Kaufman’s Peterson Field Guide: Advanced Birding, first published in 1990, took on difficult-to-identify groups of birds, such as winter loons, scaup, medium-sized terns, hummingbirds and Empidonax flycatchers. The book, peppered with Kaufman’s pen-and-ink drawings, was meant to be a supplement to a field guide. Now over two decades later, a greatly revised edition has […]
Published
May 1, 2011

Gobblers going strong

With the turkey population growing and spreading, hunters find fertile territory for the season that starts Monday, especially in the midcoast.
Published
May 1, 2011

What’s Up in May: Four planets, a meteor shower and a comet’s first visit

Flowers will blossom and young, tender leaves will reappear on the trees as spring finally reaches New England this month. Just as the earth will be transforming, the sky above also promises some dramatic action. The most spectacular planetary conjunction in several years will unfold in our dawn sky throughout the month. This exquisite celestial […]
Published
May 1, 2011

Time, finally, to think about growing things again

Praise for the art of gardening is abundant and broad: It’s therapeutic; it saves money at the grocery store; it’s good for the environment; it raises the value of your home. But if you’re making common — and costly — mistakes, things probably aren’t coming up roses. Below, landscaping experts talk about how to make […]

Sign In: