Northeast
This popular flower is in sensational form in New England this summer
Locals and visitors flocking to the Northeast for a New England summer travel experience may notice an exceptional bloom of hydrangea bushes.
The bushy, luscious flowers in bright blues, pinks, purples and whites are in or reaching peak bloom.
Hydrangeas are native to the Western Hemisphere and eastern Asia. There are about 23 species that are known.
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Garden communicator C.L. Fornari told Fox News Digital that in the Northeast, the hydrangeas this year are amazing for several reasons.
She said that with a wet summer and fall last year, all kinds of good flower buds developed this year. “With these plants, you have to take the ‘hydra’ part of their name seriously,” she said.
These flowers are common from New England to New York through Illinois and Missouri, south to Louisiana and Florida and in Kansas and Oklahoma, according to the U.S. Forest Service. (iStock)
“We followed that wet haul with a mild winter and all of those buds that they formed in the late summer last year made it through the winter. Now we’ve got spectacular blooms,” said Fornari, who is based in Massachusetts.
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Mark Richardson, director of horticulture at the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill in Boylston, Massachusetts, concurred with that.
He told Fox News Digital that temperature and cultural factors are important.
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill is a 200-acre, four-season botanic garden located in Boylston, Massachusetts. (New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill)
“I think for this year in particular, we had a lot of rain last year, and we had a very mild winter,” he said. “The combination of those two things really led to a great year for hydrangeas.”
Wild hydrangeas are usually found in a mesic forest, often along streams or in rocky areas, but also grow in drier areas.
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They are common from New England to New York through Illinois and Missouri, south to Louisiana and Florida, and in Kansas and Oklahoma, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Pink, purple and blue hydrangeas are photographed on Nantucket, Massachusetts. (iStock)
Fornari said peak bloom for hydrangea bushes is dependent on the type of plant.
Bigleaf or Hydrangea macrophylla are the most common type in North America.
They have a classic mophead – or open lacecap – bloom reminiscent of Cape Cod’s signature plant, according to the National Garden Bureau.
Fornari said the big blue big-leaf flowers seem to be at peak bloom now.
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Richardson said that hydrangeas are a great attraction for visitors at the museum this time of year.
“Early summer tends to be a bit of a lull in the garden, just in terms of what’s in bloom, and the hydrangeas are really filling in that gap,” he added.
One garden communicator told Fox News Digital to make sure the estimated size of hydrangeas meets the location by sighting them appropriately. (Ashley J. DiMella/Fox News Digital)
Fornari said that when planting hydrangeas, make sure their estimated size meets the location by sighting them appropriately.
“There is no way you can make them shorter. They will place their height in one summer and the more you cut them back, the fewer flowers you have,” she said.
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Her second piece of advice is to “give them the sun or lack of sun that they want.”
The hotter the summer, the more the bushes will need afternoon shade, so it is important to make sure they are getting the relief from the sun they need.
Garden communicator C.L. Fornari told Fox News Digital when it comes to winter preparation, “prayer works as well as anything else. Some of it is the luck of the draw on winter temperatures.” (Ashley J. DiMella/Fox News Digital)
It is important to make sure the bushes are watered deeply, but deep soaking less often is better than watering a little every day.
Fornari warned people to steer clear of relying on fertilizer to help hydrangea bushes.
“It’s not a solution to problems with the hydrangeas,” she said.
“Fertilizer can sometimes make the plant a little bigger, but those become weaker stems and the big flowers end up in the mud.”
It is important to make sure the bushes are watered deeply, but deep soaking less often is better than watering a little every day, said one expert. (iStock/New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill)
When it comes to winter protection, “prayer works as well as anything else… Some of it is the luck of the draw on winter temperatures,” Fornari said.
She is founder of the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival, which began in 2015 with proceeds going to various local nonprofit organizations.
During the event, Cape Coders open their beautiful gardens to admirers across the southeastern part of Massachusetts extending to the Atlantic Ocean.
The festival is two weeks long and began on Friday, July 5th.
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Team USA is scheduled to play all three of its FIFA World Cup group stage games on the West Coast.
After that, the only two chances of seeing the American national soccer team in New Jersey are during the final game on July 19, or during the round of 32 match scheduled for June 30.
Here’s how it works:
USA is in Group D. If the team ends up third during the group stage and enters the round of 32, the could be scheduled to play in New Jersey on Tuesday, June 30. But, that would require a disappointing result in the group stage as USA is the top-ranked team in their group.
Typically, ending third would eliminate a team after the group stage. But, the 2026 Men’s World Cup includes 48 teams, the most it has ever had, so, eight third-place teams from the group stage will advance to the round of 32.
If Team USA makes it through to the final, they would play in New Jersey on July 19.
FIFA World Cup 2026 groups
- Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea, Czechia
- Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
- Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay, Turkey
- Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao
- Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Sweden
- Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
- Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cabo Verde
- Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq
- Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
- Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, DR Congo
- Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
When does Team USA play in the World Cup?
Here’s the group stage schedule for Team USA:
- USA vs Paraguay- Friday, June 12 in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET.
- USA vs Australia- Friday, June 19 in Seattle at 3 p.m. ET.
- USA vs Turkey- Thursday, June 25 in Los Angeles at 10 p.m. ET.
When are the World Cup games in New Jersey?
There are eight games scheduled to take place in New Jersey between June 13 and July 19. Here’s the schedule:
Saturday, June 13 – Brazil vs Morocco (6 p.m.)
Tuesday, June 16 – France vs Senegal (3 p.m.)
Monday, June 22 – Norway vs Senegal (8 p.m.)
Thursday, June 25 – Ecuador vs Germany (4 p.m.)
Saturday, June 27 – Panama vs England (5 p.m.)
Tuesday, June 30 – Undetermined. Round of 32 (5 p.m.)
Sunday, July 5 – Undetermined. Round of 16 (4 p.m.)
Sunday, July 19 – Final (3 p.m.)
Where is World Cup New York New Jersey Stadium?
The New York New Jersey Stadium is the new temporary name of the MetLife Stadium. The venue sits in the borough of East Rutherford, eight miles west of Manhattan.
Juan Carlos Castillo is a New Jersey-based trending reporter for the USA Today network. He covers weather, and national events focusing on how they affect New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
SOUTH SHENANGO TWP., Pa. (WKBN) – Jamestown Fire Department responded to a house fire in South Shenango Township at 4:15 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Crews were on scene for two hours, according to a Jamestown Volunteer Fire Department Facebook post.
Nobody was home at the time, but a dog and two cats perished as a result of the fire.
A cause of the fire was not mentioned in the Facebook post.
Rhode Island is small enough that almost every town seems to sit on water, whether it’s Narragansett Bay, the Atlantic, the Sakonnet River, or one of their inlets. That geography shapes every downtown on this list. In Jamestown, it’s a one-minute walk from the coffee shop to the ferry dock. In New Shoreham, the Empire Theatre has been running on Block Island since 1882. Here are seven of the prettiest downtown strips in the state.
Jamestown
A distinctive feature of Jamestown is that it sits entirely on Conanicut Island. The benefit is that downtown is just steps from the water. A walk along Narragansett Avenue will take you past Out of the Box Studio & Gallery on adjoining Clinton Avenue. This community arts spot showcases the work of both professional and up-and-coming artists, with rotating exhibits that keep the gallery lively.
Locals appreciate the café for its pub fare (crispy fish sandwiches and Philly cheesesteaks) and for almost-nightly events, from trivia to cover rock shows. Then walk up Conanicus Avenue to East Ferry Beach, a small cove where you can cast from the pier or relax on the sand.
Wickford
Wickford, a village within North Kingstown on the west side of Narragansett Bay, has one of the most intact colonial downtowns in New England. The grid of 18th-century houses along Brown Street and Main Street runs straight down to Wickford Harbor, where the village’s small marina fills with sailboats in summer. The Old Narragansett Church, built in 1707, is one of the oldest Episcopal churches still standing on its original site in the United States, and Smith’s Castle, a 1678 plantation house just north of town, is a landmark of early Rhode Island history.
The village’s commercial streets pack a lot of shopping and dining into a small footprint. Wilson’s of Wickford carries New England preppy and nautical goods in an old general-store space. Tavern by the Sea has a waterfront patio overlooking the harbor. The Wickford Art Association runs a gallery on Main Street and puts on the Wickford Art Festival each July, which has drawn juried artists to the village since 1962. Ryan Park, a few minutes inland, covers roughly 270 acres of trails and wetlands.
Bristol
Bristol rewards a day on foot. A trip down Hope Street makes for a solid mix of culture, shopping, and dining. The Bristol Art Museum is a good first stop for rotating exhibits and occasional painting and photographic-process workshops. Nearby is a stretch of restaurants that border Bristol Harbor. The Thames Waterside Bar & Grill lives up to its name with seafood and cocktails close to the shore. Boats sail by during the daytime before the skyline lights up as the sun descends, making the view of the harbor hard to beat.
Moving south down the street, a few minutes will bring you to Rockwell Park, a small but popular public space where you can get a close view of the boats tied up in the harbor. Moving back into town along John Street will bring you to Hope Street, where you can do some shopping. A stop at Jesse James Antiques near the junction of Hope and State Street will reveal fine French and European antiques that could add the perfect touch to your home.
Narragansett
Narragansett puts dining steps from the coast. A few shops sit just off Beach Street, like Shell Boutique, a seashell specialty store and a popular gift stop. Close to Shell Boutique is Queen of Cups, a local favorite for coffee, tea, and sweets. For dinner, head south to Kingstown Road and the seafood restaurant Celeste, known for calamari, charred octopus, and flounder.
Moving east from here to Ocean Road, you will find Memorial Square and nearby The Towers. This intersection is a fantastic photo spot that features a fish-themed town fountain. Finally, you can head north for just a few minutes to Narragansett Town Beach, a sandy seaside spot popular with surfers but open to anyone who wants to hit the water or relax on the shore.
Watch Hill
The best part about living in Watch Hill is how close shopping, dining, and the nearby coastal shores are to each other. Those traveling along Bay Street will find a streak of stores for every need. Island Outfitters is particularly appropriate for those in town, as they sell coastal gear for both men and women, ranging from stylish sweaters to denim pants and summer shorts. As you continue on to Bluff Avenue, you can find oceanside dining at The Bistro, which provides views of the Atlantic while you enjoy classic seafood like crab cake and seared salmon.
Just steps away, you will find sandy shores looking out onto Block Island Sound. The beach runs to Watch Hill Lighthouse, a local landmark that today operates as a museum showcasing the lighthouse’s history in the area. This combination of oceanside relaxation with convenient shopping and dining destinations makes for a beautiful afternoon in town.
Tiverton
Tiverton is an oceanside destination where shopping and dining happen alongside the water, creating a relaxing downtown vibe. On the west side of Tiverton, you can enjoy upscale dining over lamb stroganoff and hard-shell lobster at Boathouse Waterfront Dining. The restaurant offers waterside dining with views of Mt. Hope Bay. As you move onto Main Road, you can find other places to spend your day. Coastal Roasters serves matcha lattes and cocoa for casual days along the water.
Those hoping to get closer to the water can head to Ginnell’s Beach just a few minutes south of Coastal Roasters. The beach was renovated in 2019 with a new bathhouse and a promenade that runs to the Sakonnet River. You can also head east on Lawton Avenue until you reach Ft Barton Woods on Highland Rd to see the Revolutionary War-era remnants of Fort Barton. This park includes an observation tower with panoramic views of Narragansett Bay and around 3.5 miles of trails, all just across from Town Hall.
New Shoreham
New Shoreham, Rhode Island’s only incorporated Block Island town, packs its whole downtown into a few blocks of Water Street above the ferry landing. Ballard’s Beach Resort is the closest sand to the harbor and a popular spot for sunbathing or swimming. The beach sits next to the Old Harbor Historic District, where Water Street reveals buildings dating to the mid-1800s. Visitors enjoy downtown’s walking tours, featuring churches, hotels, and theaters with histories dating back over a century.
One example of these storied buildings is the Empire Theatre, built in 1882 and, over the years, serving as a roller skating rink, playhouse, and movie theater. If you are hungry, Rebecca’s Seafood is a long-running local spot on Water Street. The menu runs from tuna steak sandwiches to classic omelets, French toast breakfasts, and chicken wraps.
Downtowns Worth The Walk
Wherever you land in Rhode Island, the water is usually nearby. Bristol, Jamestown, New Shoreham, and the rest each pair a walkable downtown with a harbor or shoreline view. If you are looking for the prettiest downtowns in the state, start with these seven.
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