Gardening
Vertical Gardening Maximizes Beauty and Harvest
Grow a vegetable garden vertically in a compact space whether on a balcony or patio.
Photo courtesy of Gardener's Supply Company/gardeners.com
Go vertical to expand your outdoor gardening space, create privacy and add beauty to bare walls and fences. This centuries-old technique has been used to grow food and flowers, adding beauty and productivity from the ground up. Even those gardening on small city lots, balconies and decks can go vertical to expand their gardening opportunities.
Grow pole beans, peas, squash, melons, tomatoes, and other vining edible plants onto supports. This saves space, reduces the risk of disease, and makes harvesting much easier.
Enjoy the many benefits of vertical gardening even when growing in containers. Create your own or purchase a support that securely fits and supports the vines growing in the planter. Or purchase a container with an integrated trellis. Further reduce maintenance by utilizing a self-watering pot like the City Jungle Self-Watering Tomato Planter large enough to grow and support two indeterminate tomatoes.
Mount containers on a wall or fence or stack and secure them vertically to increase growing space. Systems like the Vigoroot 4-Tiered Balcony Garde provide lots of planting space in just a few square feet.
Include trellises and arbors in raised beds and elevated gardens to further maximize growing space. Trellises train vines upward while arches allow you to grow two layers of plants, one over the trellis and one below.
Dress up a bare wall or fence, screen a bad view or create privacy with a plant-covered trellis. Leave space between the wall and trellis when gardening next to a building. This space allows airflow between the building and plants, reducing the risk of mildew on the wall and diseases infecting the plants.
Grow annual vines for quick cover and perennial vines for years of beauty. Mix the two to quickly cover the trellis with the annual vine while waiting for the perennial to establish and reach its mature size. Plant two vines with different bloom times on one trellis to extend the colorful flower display. Or look for those that bloom at the same time to double the floral impact.
Use decorative supports to add beauty or a focal point year-round. Select the style--rustic, formal or colorful--that complements your garden design, furnishings, and personality. Make sure whatever you choose is strong enough to support the plants you grow.
Mask rain barrels, compost bins and other functional areas in the landscape with a wall of plants. Leave space for easy access as you fill your compost bin or harvest finished compost and rainwater.
Dress up a lamp or mailbox post with a vine covered support. Create your own from chicken wire or purchase a curved trellis like the Bosmere Trellis (gardeners.com) suitable for this application.
Use trellises and arbors to brighten often overlooked spaces. A vine-covered arbor makes a nice floral welcome at the entrance to a walkway or colorful transition between garden areas. Make sure the opening is large enough to accommodate visitors and any equipment needed.
No matter your style and location, vertical gardens can help you maximize your growing space and garden's beauty.
Melinda Myers is the author of 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 Gardener's Supply for her expertise to write this article. Her web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.
Antiques
More Top 2021 Auction Items
In my last column, I shared prices for some of the items that brought the best results in our 2021 auctions. Many of the top sellers were items we've discussed in previous columns like estate jewelry, sterling silver, antique paintings and sports cards and memorabilia. In this column, I'll discuss top selling items that sometimes go overlooked.
While model trains have been dropping in value, some high-quality newer sets are exceptions. We sold a four-piece MTH Electric Trains "The IVES Railway Lines" for $2,400 and a Retro 1-2-3 LLC Hiawatha Locomotive and Tender limited edition # 6 of 100 for $3,900 last year.
Vintage toys also brought strong prices last year. A Buddy "L" Transportation Company Bus brought $1,600. An Eska Kiddie Corvette Vintage Pedal Car drew a lot of interest when we auctioned the Corvettes in Webster, MA selling for $4,600. A 1958 Ponytail Barbie doll went for $275.
A pre-Civil War firearm and Civil War letter also sold well, with the 1811 Flintlock Rifle reaching $850 and the 1862 Confederate Civil War Soldier's letter fetching $200.
Along with the Civil War letter, other ephemera and paper collectibles also performed well at auction. Despite having some pen marks and tears, a Superman # 57 March - April 1949 Golden Age comic book went for $200. A vintage postcard album containing real photo postcards and die-cut Valentines brought $425.
There were other miscellaneous items that drew strong bids in our 2021 auctions. Good, usable antique and vintage musical instruments are popular with collectors. A vintage brass saxophone by C. G. Conn fetched $300. Antique and vintage photography equipment and photographs have traditionally sold well. German companies produced some of the highest quality vintage cameras and a German made Rolleiflex camera went for $500. Even though I've mentioned that glass and china prices have dropped over the years, a signed Baccarat candelabra sold for $500.
A pair of early 19th century tiles depicting bare knuckle boxers Tom Spring and Jack Langan fighting for the heavy championship of England in 1824 were sleepers in our December auction. After bidders battled it out, the last one left standing won the prize tiles for $1,800.
We continue to accept consignments for our spring auction. During the spring, we will run another session of the model railroad, die-cast cars and vintage toy auctions. We will also run an online auction with tools, power equipment, storage containers and other items in Oakham, MA this spring. Registration is currently underway for my "Evaluating your antiques" class at Bay Path's adult evening school on Wednesday, March 23rd. Please see our website www.centralmassauctions.com to join our email list to keep up to date on auctions and other events.
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