Gardening
Enjoy the Many Benefits of Adding Water Features to the Landscape
'Dolce Fresca' basil growing and thriving in a container in full sun.
Photo courtesy of All-America Selections
Keep your favorite herbs within easy reach for cooking and seasoning by growing them in containers. A few pots set by your door and grill or on the patio, deck, or balcony make it easy to include some homegrown flavor.
Start by growing those herbs you like to use for seasoning food and beverages, making pesto, or preserving. Include some with fragrance for a bit of aromatherapy or for your craft projects.
Make sure the plants you select will thrive in the amount of sunlight in the growing space. Most herbs prefer full sun but some like mint, thyme, chives, parsley, and lemon balm will tolerate some shade. A bit of afternoon shade is welcome to many sun-loving plants growing in hotter regions. Check the plant tag or seed packet for detailed planting information.
You can grow individual plants in their own container. Place these among other pots to create an attractive display. Or mix several different herbs in one larger container to create a herb garden in a single pot. Make sure all the herbs will thrive in the same soil moisture and sunlight.
In general, place three or four plants in a 10-12" pot, four to six in a 14-16" container, and six to eight in a 16 to 20" planter. Adjust this number based on the size of the transplants purchased and the mature size and growth habit of the herb selected.
Use a container with drainage holes to provide proper drainage and reduce the risk of root rot. Terra cotta pots dry quickly and are a good choice for those gardening in wetter regions or who tend to overwater. Plastic, fiberglass, and glazed pots don't dry out as quickly. Self-watering pots have water reservoirs to extend the time between watering.
Use a quality potting mix that provides adequate drainage, as most herbs require well-drained soil. Whether planting seeds or plants, you will want to leave space between the top of the potting mix and the container. This allows you to water thoroughly without washing the soil out of the pot. Leave a space about half an inch in small planters and an inch or more between the top of the pot and potting mix in larger containers.
Water new plantings and seedlings often enough to keep the soil slightly moist. Gradually reduce frequency and water thoroughly when the top inch of soil is crumbly and dry. Check containers once a day and more often in extremely hot weather. Water thoroughly as needed.
Reduce watering and increase success by incorporating Wild Valley Farms' wool pellets (wildvalleyfarms.com) into the planting mix. This sustainable soil amendment reduces watering by up to 25% and adds air space for better plant growth.
Harvest a few leaves and stems as needed throughout the growing season. Regular harvesting encourages more growth for future harvests. Herbs have the most intense flavor when harvested just before flowering. You can remove even more when large amounts of herbs are needed for preserving and craft projects. Cut annual herbs back by 50 to 75% and perennial herbs by one-third at one time. The plants will recover for future harvests.
Make room for some herb-filled containers to enjoy this summer. They make great additions to outdoor gatherings for you and your guests to enjoy their beauty, fragrance, and flavor.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including The Midwest Gardener's Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses "How to Grow Anything" DVD series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda's Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazineand was commissioned by Wild Valley Farms for her expertise to write this article. Her web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.
Antiques
Collecting Guitars
Photo courtesy of Wayne Tuiskula
I've discussed vintage musical instruments in past columns and today I will be focusing on collecting guitars. Just like all antiques and collectibles, everyone has their own reason why they collect guitars. Oftentimes, guitar collectors are musicians and they collect guitars that they like to play. Collectors may also seek out the model of a certain guitar played by their favorite musician. Or they may like the aesthetics and collect a guitar to display it in their home. Many collectors also collect guitars as investments.
There are various different types of guitars including classical, acoustic, electric, or a combination of these types.
Well-crafted vintage guitars can bring strong auction results. A Martin "Eric Clapton" model classical guitar sold for $2,200 in May 2018. A boutique classical guitar by Darryl Perry Cedar also brought $2,200 in November 2022. A 1949 Martin 000-28 acoustic guitar went for $15,000 in November 2022. A 1931 Martin OM-18 Acoustic Guitar fetched $17,500 in December 2021. As for electric guitars, a Gibson Les Paul model electric guitar sold for $12,000 in November 2022. A Gibson SG electric guitar reached $17,000 in November 2022.
Guitars created by master craftsman or those featuring connections to famous musicians can bring hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. According to inside-guitar.com, a Herman Hauser I guitar set the auction record for a classical guitar in 2006. The guitar had a spruce top and the sides were rosewood. Hauser wrote his name inside the guitar marked MP, "an abbreviation for ‘manu propria,' meaning the guitar was built exclusively ‘by my own hand' without his assistants." The guitar had an auction estimate of $50,000 to $60,000 but far exceeded it, selling for $179,000.
A Kurt Cobain-played guitar holds the auction record for electric guitars. The Fender 1969 Mustang was played by Cobain in his band's "Smells like Teen Spirit" video. It went for $4.5 million and was sold to Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay last year.
Another Kurt Cobain guitar set a different auction record. A 1959 Martin D-18E guitar played by Cobain during his 1993 MTV Unplugged performance hit a high note in November 2022 when it sold for over $6 million, the highest price ever for a guitar.
A collection of over 60 guitars from a Boston estate will be sold in our upcoming online auction. Our seventh online auction of model railroad, diecast and promo cars, and antique and vintage toys ends on April 12th. The auction of art, antiques, and household items from a finely furnished Beacon Street, Boston home runs until April 19th. I'll be appraising items at the Charlton Senior Center on May 16th, starting at 10 AM. I also recently began writing the "What's selling on eBay?" monthly column for the Journal of Antiques and Collectibles journalofantiques.com. Please visit our website www.centralmassauctions.com for links to upcoming events.
Please contact us at: www.centralmassauctions.com (508-612- 6111) info@centralmassauctions.com for antiques and collectibles auction services.