The Winchendon Courier
Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication
Week of August 27 to September 3, 2020

Gardening

Give Your Landscape a Late Summer Facelift

Garden Art
Garden art can fill in late summer voids or create a focal point in the garden.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com


Whether it is the hot weather, the age of your landscape or simply the need for change; a late summer makeover can help you increase your landscape’s beauty. Put the “wow” back into your garden with a few new plantings, garden art, or other simple improvements.

Many established landscapes have a few or many overgrown plants. Sometimes the plants you purchase perform better than expected or oftentimes we try to squeeze too many plants into a garden or too large of plants into small spaces.

Remove overcrowded plants that have outgrown the space or lost their ornamental appeal. Replace these and other unsightly plants with those more suited to the growing conditions, your landscape design, and available space. Now is a good time to plan and fall is a great time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials. The soil is warm and air cool, making it less stressful on new plantings.

Phase in removals and replacements over time. This is easier on your budget, back, and will keep your landscape looking robust. And be sure to properly space plants to avoid overcrowding in the future. Check plant tags for the plant’s mature size and plant accordingly.

Fill in the voids between new plantings with annuals and perennials. As your shrubs increase in size, you will need fewer annuals each year. Move perennial flowers and grasses to a new garden as your shrubs reach full size. Perennials are much easier to move than an overgrown shrub.

A bit of pruning may be all that is needed to bring back the beauty and reduce the size of overgrown plants. Make a note on your calendar to do a bit of pruning at the right time. Prune spring flowering shrubs right after they bloom. They have already set their flower buds for next spring and pruning now will eliminate the spring floral display. You can prune summer flowering shrubs during their dormant season from fall through spring. Prune evergreens in colder climates in late winter or early spring once the worst winter weather has passed. Fall pruning where winters are brutal can lead to an increase in winter damage.

Replace tired annuals in the garden and containers with fresh plants suited to the upcoming fall season. Don’t be afraid to add dried materials to existing planters for added color and texture. Or create new container gardens to set by the front door and welcome guests. These also make great fillers in the garden. Just place the container in a spot where an existing plant has failed. You will benefit from the instant color and extra time you gain to plan for a permanent replacement.

Garden art is another option for filling those late summer voids in the garden. Or use it to create a focal point, drawing attention to areas that are looking their best.

Adding a few new cushions on your outdoor furniture can further enhance your landscape’s appeal. It is an easy way to change things up with minimal investment of time and money.

Big or small, a few changes can make a big difference. Tackle a few of the easier ones or those with the biggest impact first. Once you get started, you will not want to quit.

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. Her web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.

Antiques

Now May be the Time to Sell Gold and Silver

Estate Gold Bracelet


An article in the July issue of Forbes was titled “Gold And Silver Are Just Getting Started.” With gold recently rising above $2,000 per ounce for the first time in history and silver nearing the $30 per ounce mark, we have been receiving many emails and calls to auction precious metals.

All silver has been selling well, but older pieces typically command the strongest prices. Coins are one example. Silver coins are popular with both collectors and investors. Silver coins may have numismatic value (value to coin collectors) above the silver’s worth. The age, condition, and rarity of the coin can make coin values soar. Dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollar coins from 1964 or earlier were made with 90% silver and are worth at least the silver bullion value. Rare ones bring much more. A 1795 three leaves flowing hair silver dollar in fair condition sold for $4,500. An 1893-S (San Francisco mint) Morgan silver dollar in extra fine condition went for $6,900.

Along with coins, many people are looking to sell their sterling silver flatware and hollowware services, especially with fewer people holding formal dinners than in the past. The good news is that there are still plenty of buyers for sterling. A Georg Jensen sterling ornamental mustard pot with liner and acorn design spoon sold for $1,000. A vintage Stieff floral repousse (hammered into relief from the reverse side) rose pattern sterling silver coffee pot went for over $1,000. A Wendt sterling silver Medallion pattern flatware 79-piece service dinner sold for $13,500. A Tiffany Co. Japanese pattern sterling silver flatware 57-piece service picturing Audubon birds brought $36,500.

As you might imagine, gold coins are also selling very well. For investors, even modern coins like American Gold Eagle or American Gold Buffalo coins are desirable. A 2019 MarketWatch article wrote “gold and other precious coins are the easiest collectible item to trade, whether you are investing in bullion coins as a hedge against inflated stock and bond prices or if you’re interested in building a special collection of rarities.” If you have older gold coins, they may have numismatic value well above what the gold is worth. For example, an 1827 Capped Bust Gold Quarter Eagle $2.50 coin sold for $7,700 and a 1907 St. Gaudens gold coin went for over $15,000 at auction recently. The condition and rarity of the coins made them sell for much more than just the value of the gold.

Antique gold “estate jewelry” also has been bringing strong results at auction. An Edwardian (Edwardian period was 1901 to 1910) sapphire and diamond ring set in gold and platinum recently fetched over $8,400. A Black Opal Engagement 14K Yellow Gold ring described as either Art Nouveau (Art Nouveau period was 1890 to 1910) or Art Deco (1920’s and 30’s) recently sold for $8,000. An antique openwork (metal work with holes, typically in aesthetic patterns) pearl cuff bracelet 18-karat yellow gold reached $6,050. Pieces with quality diamonds or gemstones increase value. A recent BusinessWire article titled “Reduced Diamond Supply Lifts Polished Prices” said that diamond prices are also on the rise. In this current market, silver, gold, and diamonds are all shining.

Our October 29th multi-estate online auction will include a large amount of sterling silver and gold. We are now accepting bids for our Warren, RI online estate auction. There will be a preview on September 12th in Warren with bidding ending on September 16th. Please keep checking www.centralmassauctions.com for information on upcoming 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