Gardening
Get Maximum Yield from Minimal Garden Space
Grow pole beans, like the Seychelles, up a trellis to get the most out of your available space and make harvesting easier.
photo credit: All-America Selections
Growing on a deck or balcony is a great way to bring the garden to your backdoor. You can attract butterflies and hummingbirds into easy view and grow edibles within close reach when cooking. For some, it may be the only available space to garden.
Make the most of every square foot by growing vertically. You’ll not only save space but also create privacy, make harvesting vegetables easier and create a garden that’s at eye level as you enjoy your outdoor space.
Train pole beans, like the Seychelles, up a decorative trellis, teepee of bamboo stakes or other creative support. You’ll be able to harvest these delicious five- to six-inch stringless beans without bending.
Pick and enjoy a healthy treat of Snak Hero edible podded peas right on the deck. If any of these tasty peas make it into the house, you can add them to a relish tray, stir fry or freeze a few to enjoy later.
Plant a few Green Light Cucumbers and enjoy the abundant harvest of forty 3- to 4-inch fruits. Put away the peeler, slice and enjoy these smooth seedless cucumbers.
Be sure to include a few tomatoes. Apple Yellow’s fruit are shaped like a small apple, colorful and ornamental. You’ll have plenty to enjoy as each plant can produce up to 1,000 tomatoes. These bright lemon-yellow tomatoes have a sweet citrusy flavor and firm exterior, making them perfect for stuffing.
Grow some flowers for added color and don’t forget the herbs. You’ll enjoy the evening fragrance of Perfume Deep purple nicotiana, the bold leaves and bright orange flowers of South Pacific Orange canna and the vibrant red flowers of Holi Scarlet zinnia. Mix in a few of your favorite herbs to add texture and color to the garden and flavor to your meals.
These All America Selections (AAS) winning varieties (all-americaselections.org) are tested nationally for their flavor, beauty, and performance in home gardens. This non-profit trialing organization names only new, non-GMO varieties as winners.
Gardening on decks and balconies offer many advantages, but also a few challenges. Winds can be brutal, toppling over or launching tall, leafy plants into flight. Use a heavier pot to help anchor plants or tether the container to a post or railing mounted on the deck or balcony.
Drainage is critical to container gardening success but can be a problem when you inadvertently shower your neighbor below when watering your plants. Consider using a self-watering container and be careful not to overfill the water reservoir.
Another solution is to place containers on a saucer to capture excess water instead of allowing it to seep to the deck or balcony below. Elevate the pot in the saucer with a commercial or homemade device. You’ll be able to monitor the water level to avoid overflows and keep the pot above the water to prevent root rot.
With proper plant selection and adjustments in your gardening style, get ready to enjoy a season full of tasty vegetables and gorgeous flowers.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio segments. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by AAS for her expertise to write this article. Her web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.
Antiques
Old Stock Certificates
Old mining stock certificate
We sometimes find old stocks and bonds certificates when we handle multigenerational New England estates. Some date back over 100 years. Some of these stock certificates are only worth around one dollar. Rarer ones may be worth as much as a new car though.
Scripophily is the study and collecting of stock and bond certificates. Like with most collectibles, there is a dedicated group of serious collectors.
A 2016 CoinWeek article on scripophily reported that the “Stock and Bond Collectors Association (ASBCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the education and study of American historical securities. … certificates which otherwise have no value as financial claims, are bought for their artistic and historical value by collectors.”
There are estimated to be tens of thousands of scripophily buyers worldwide. They range from casual buyers looking to decorate their home or office to serious collectors and museums. The Museum of Finance in New York holds a large collection of certificates. Their website states “stocks and bonds comprise a large portion of the Museum’s collection with thousands of examples ranging in date from the 18th century to contemporary corporations including the Internet bubble.”
With people trading stocks online and day traders buying and selling multiple stocks within hours “Paper Stock Certificates Are Gone With the Winds of Change” according to an Investopedia article. Most companies no longer issue paper stock certificates. For example, Disney stopped issuing certificates picturing cartoon characters in 2013.
Now that you have a little background on stocks and bonds, how do you find how much yours is worth? Even if the stock is cancelled or the company went out of business years ago, the stock certificate may be prized by collectors. Two examples are mining and sports related stocks.
Some mining stocks are desirable to collectors. An Alabama Gold and Copper Mining certificate signed by lawman Pat Garrett (famous for shooting Billy the Kid) brought $2,200 at auction in 2012. An 1863 Governor Stanford Gold and Silver Mining Company signed by Leland Stanford sold for $5,500 in 2013. An 1865 San Francisco District Bella Gold and Silver Mining Company stock certificate reached $35,000 in 2011.
As you might expect, sports related stock certificates are often highly desirable. A 1940 Coca Cola stock certificate that was signed by Ty Cobb while he was the Twin Falls Bottling Company president was auctioned for over $11,000 in 2012. Share number 1 of Red Sox stock from 1901 went for $19,120 in 2011. A 1923 Green Bay Packers stock certificate sold for $44,000 in 2019.
If you have an uncancelled stock it may still be valid. Beginning in July of 1964, CUSIP (Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures) numbers were introduced. You can research your stock using the CUSIP number listed on it. You may also be able to find the transfer agent for a stock on the company’s investor information page of their website.
Older stocks are harder to evaluate by yourself, unless you are fortunate enough to have a certificate from a company that is still in business today. Sometimes companies have merged and the stock for a defunct company may even have value. Stocks may have split over the years and your certificate may actually be worth more. Checking your old stock certificates may be an interesting project to take on while we are all sheltering in place. You may even get lucky and find that you have stock worth millions.
I have found that online auctions continue to bring strong prices despite the current health crisis. We are currently cataloging an online auction of antique paintings, gold jewelry, sterling silver, coins, vintage sports memorabilia, comic books and other valuable items. You can call or email us for no-contact options for consigning your items.
Contact us at: Wayne Tuiskula Auctioneer/Appraiser Central Mass Auctions for Antique Auctions, Estate Sales and Appraisal Services www.centralmassauctions.com (508-612- 6111) info@centralmassauctions.com