Garden Guru: Lichens an important three-in-one
By By John Porter Garden Guru They're delicate, but tough; beautiful, yet crusty. They're also found almost everywhere, but you probably don't pay them much attention. They grow in patches on rocks,...
View ArticleGarden Guru: Sage advice for Thanksgiving flavors
By By John Porter Garden Guru There are certainly several flavors that are linked with the celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday. A few of the flavors are native to the United States, or at least...
View ArticleGarden Guru: Bamboo farms not a good idea in West Virginia
By By John Porter Garden Guru I gasped and recoiled in horror as I read the article a friend had shared on Facebook. No, it wasn't related to the election, or even to politics. It was an article about...
View ArticleGarden Guru: Decorate for the holidays with natural elements
By By John Porter Garden Guru Now that we've consumed millions of turkeys, waited in line to buy things, shopped at small businesses and bought even more stuff online from the comfort of our homes,...
View ArticleGarden Guru: Saying goodbye to WV
By By John Porter Garden Guru I'm not one who likes to break bad news. In fact, most people would call me a softie. But I do have some bad news to share with my readers. I'll end on a positive note,...
View ArticleWanted: One garden columnist
Last week longtime extension agent and Garden Guru columnist John Porter announced his plans for a new phase in his life. In January, John will be moving to Omaha, Nebraska, for a position with the...
View ArticleGarden Guru: Give the gift of local flavor
By By John Porter Garden Guru Stuck on what to get someone for a great holiday gift? Need a host or hostess gift or something to send to a friend out of state? How about giving a taste of the Mountain...
View ArticleGarden Guru: Looking back on Guru Christmas memories
By By John Porter Garden Guru Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Season's greetings! Happy holidays! Happy New Year! As I wind down my time as the Garden Guru, I'm looking back at some of the articles...
View ArticleGarden Guru: New Year's wishes and a final farewell
By By John Porter Garden Guru We usually see the new year as a time to look forward, to plan for the future and to make changes. People make resolutions or set goals as a way to pledge to be better in...
View ArticleGreenery event to teach design, profit to garden enthusiasts
By Anna Taylor Garden and landscape enthusiasts may grow their skills in design and horticulture Friday at the West Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association's annual Winter Symposium. "I think...
View ArticleMeeting planned to discuss reviving Walton farmers' market
The West Virginia University-Roane County Extension Service will hold a public information meeting later this month on how to revive the Walton farmers' market, which disbanded in 2014. The meeting...
View ArticleCharleston man wants to make lettuce fun with hydroponic growing system
By Carlee Lammers It's early March, and John Casto is growing lettuce in Charleston. Lettuce that's never seen an ounce of dirt. Lettuce that's never seen a single drop of pesticides. Lettuce that...
View ArticleWashington in bloom as spring comes early
By By Thomas R. Fletcher Special to the Sunday Gazette-Mail Spring has arrived earlier than scheduled this year in Washington, D.C. A recent article in The Washington Post referred to it as "false...
View ArticleWhat to do when bulbs don't bloom
By By Dean Fosdick The Associated Press Daffodils and tulips are almost certain to bloom when another spring rolls around, but even they can have an occasional bad season. Perennial bulbs need a long...
View ArticleWV Farm2Fork Team: Handing down the blessing of a garden
By By Joel L. Watts WV Farm2Fork Team Every March, my grandfather would start to till the ground. There is this saying, "break up the fallow ground." That's what we would do every planting season. The...
View ArticleGood to Grow: Feeling anxious about strange weather? Go plant a tree
By By Alex Cole Good to Grow The weather has been very strange, and it's making me anxious. There, I said it, as a way of introducing myself, I just wanted to get that off my chest. I'm not talking...
View ArticleGood to Grow column to feature diverse group of garden enthusiasts
By Maria Young Regular readers of John Porter and his popular Garden Guru column knew we would have some big shoes to fill when John left his position in January as a West Virginia University...
View ArticleDisney World's flower festival is a spring celebration for the senses
By By Carla Barfield Special to the Sunday Gazette-Mail As spring begins, our thoughts are turning to school breaks, getting out in the sun and planting flowers. You might even be thinking of a trip...
View ArticleMason market and greenhouse finds its 'big break' in plug trays
By Carlee Lammers MASON - An aerial shot of Mason shows acres upon acres of flat, silver rooftops. Scott Barnitz has the photo hanging on a wall in the office he shares with his four brothers. He ran...
View ArticleGood to Grow: Keeping rabbits from ravaging the garden
By By Lynne Schwartz-Barker Good to Grow The rabbit debacle started with a packet of free Swiss chard seeds given to me by the Morgan County Master Gardeners at the Berkeley Springs Apple Butter...
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