The-Lehrer-Report
Dear Readers,Here is my postcard to you from Los Angeles and Chicago, where I visited family.I have a solution to increasing the housing stock from observing locations in LA.It’s an engineering miracle to see houses perched on hillsides. Therefore,...
The Lehrer Report: July 14, 2023
Garden report: I have a red tomato! Correction … I had a red tomato, I ate it. The green pepper should be ready in a few days. I probably could harvest now but it is small.The hosta and Queen Anne’s lace have bloomed.I have standing water in my...
The Lehrer Report: July 7, 2023
Fauna report: There are two bunnies in the yard. I haven’t seen them touch the snap pea vines. They sit in the middle of the yard and eat the clover.A deer and fawn came through the yard. Mom took a bit of some leaves on the way through and left.They...
The Lehrer Report: June 23, 2023
Garden report: I am harvesting a bumper crop of snow peas. The pepper plants have blossoms. The dahlia has bloomed while the classic orange day lilies have begun to bud. I can cut basil leaves for recipes as well as the mint and dill.Local...
The Lehrer Report: June 16, 2023
Father’s Day greetings to all the men who look after children, whether as parents, coaches or mentors.***Garden report: The astilbe and nigella (love in a mist) have bloomed. The snap peas have blossoms.***The Amherst Community Band performs Friday,...
The Lehrer Report: June 9, 2023
Garden report: I have a tomato the size of a pea. The green bean and cucumber seeds have sprouted. The morning glory is back again. It self-sows, the same as the dill.***The Friends of the Amherst Senior Center are holding a Pop-up Closet fundraiser...
The Lehrer Report: June 2, 2023
Garden report: The heat has opened all the peonies. They will not last long in this weather. However, they are still beautiful. I have some wild buttercups that appeared in the yard. The doronicum and candy tuft have bloomed.I have mulched the onions...
The Lehrer Report: May 26, 2023
Memorial Day is Monday. Enjoy the holiday with family and friends. However, please remember those whose service made it possible for us to be here now.***Brian Emond of Leverett sent an email saying the Leverett Grocery and Co-op holds a Veterans Day...
The Lehrer Report: May 19, 2023
Garden report: An iris and Solomon Seal have bloomed, while the Jacob’s ladder has finished blooming.I planted 12 tomatoes Sunday in the warmth and sunshine. I checked the weather. Surprise, the temperature was expected to dip below 40 degrees. I...
The Lehrer Report, May 12
Indoor garden report: the Thanksgiving cactus has decided to bloom for Mother’s Day. That is a nice segue to wish all mothers and women who care for others a Happy Mother’s Day.*** Jim Lumley of Pelham sent an email saying Lilacland on Harkness Road...
The Lehrer Report: April 21, 2023
Garden report: The tulips and forsythia have bloomed. The columbine are several inches high, while the hosta are just starting to pop out. I planted radish and snow pea seeds.Indoors the marigold, Shasta daisies, sunflower , forget-me-not and...
The Lehrer Report: April 14, 2023
Happy Easter April 16 to Eastern Orthodox Christians. *** Reminder: Federal and state income taxes are due Tuesday, April 18. Patriot’s Day is Monday, April 17, which is a holiday in our state. Therefore, we get the extra two days to pay our...
The Lehrer Report: April 7, 2023
Easter greetings to all our Christian friends and neighbors.Passover greetings to all our Jewish friends and neighbors.***Garden report: Leaf buds are visible on the lilac bush. The willow tree has leaf buds with their pale green hue. I planted some...
The Lehrer Report: March 31, 2023
Garden report: The forsythia I brought indoors to force has tiny yellow buds that should bloom in a day or two. Some daffodils in the backyard have bloomed.***Kelle Jewell from the Amherst Survival Center sent me an email about the the Empty Bowls...
rThe Lehrer Report: March 24, 2023
Ramadan greetings to all our Muslim friends and neighbors.***Garden report: I have picked forsythia branches and brought them inside to force. Iris and tulip shoots are also up.***The free Stolen Beam series sponsored by the Jones Library and the...
The Lehrer Report: March 17, 2023
Garden report: It’s the season for real outdoor garden reports. Daffodil and daylily shoots are up a few inches in the bed adjacent to the house. Daffodil shoots are up in front of the Jones Library. Merrilyn Cushing reports snowdrops in bloom in her...
The Lehrer Report: March 3, 2023
Garden report corrected. Many thanks to a reader who sent me an email about the yellow bush in bloom that I thought was forsythia. She said it was probably winter jasmine, which blooms at the time of year. She is correct. I drove by and saw yellow. I...
The Lehrer Report: Feb. 24, 2023
Garden report of sorts: I was driving south on Middle Street when I saw, not one, but two forsythia in bloom. What a surprise. This is still February.Such early blooming makes me wonder how the maple syrup season will turn out. Warm days and cool...
The Lehrer Report: Feb. 17, 2023
I need to look ahead at my calendar. I didn’t do that last week and missed saying Happy Valentine’s Day, which was Tuesday, to everyone. Belated greetings to all. Look for half-price chocolates in the stores.I did look ahead and know that Monday,...
The Lehrer Report: Feb. 10, 2023
hrerleGardeners know how cold it is by looking at rhododendron leaves. If they are tightly furled, you know it is cold. I have two bushes in front of the house and the leaves were tightly wound during the cold spell last week. I also had ice on the...
