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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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Local News
The ruling stems from a 2024 assault at a Concord, New Hampshire, convenience store.
A New Hampshire court has ruled that a Concord man violated the state’s Civil Rights Act after assaulting a transgender woman at her workplace in a bias-motivated attack, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office announced Thursday.
The ruling, handed down by the Merrimack County Superior Court, stems from a May 19, 2024, incident in which Travis Lufkin, 25, struck the victim in the face after she asked him to leave the property where she worked. According to the attorney general’s office, Lufkin also called the victim a homophobic slur during the assault.
Citing court filings, the Concord Monitor identified the workplace as a Speedway convenience store in downtown Concord. The complaint alleged the victim had asked Lufkin to leave the store on multiple occasions before the incident.
The victim suffered several cuts, a swollen cheek, and bruises on her neck, according to the report. Lufkin reportedly fled on a bicycle following the assault.
The court found that Lufkin’s actions were motivated by “animus toward the victim’s gender identity.”
“The New Hampshire Civil Rights Act protects every person from violence and intimidation motivated by bias,” Attorney General John M. Formella said in a statement. “The New Hampshire Department of Justice will continue to enforce the laws of this state fairly and consistently, hold offenders accountable, and protect the rights and safety of all Granite Staters.”
New Hampshire’s Civil Rights Act allows the attorney general to seek civil penalties against people accused of committing bias-motivated violence or intimidation based on protected characteristics such as gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, or disability.
As part of the ruling, the court ordered Lufkin to have no contact with the victim or her family and barred him from coming within 350 feet of the victim, her home, or her workplace for three years, according to Formella’s office.
The court also imposed a $5,000 civil fine, with $4,000 suspended for three years, provided Lufkin complies with the court’s order. Violating the injunction could result in additional civil or criminal penalties, including fines or incarceration, according to the attorney general’s office.
Lufkin was also prosecuted on criminal charges stemming from the same incident. He pleaded guilty to second-degree and simple assault and received a 12-month sentence on the first charge, with six months suspended for three years, and a consecutive 12-month sentence on the simple assault conviction, which was suspended for three years.
New Jerseyans are pretty much born with bragging rights.
Despite our small state being the punchline for jokes and stereotyped a million different ways, anyone from the Garden State knows that New Jersey is truly one of a kind.
The state isn’t simply Springsteen and the Sopranos, or beaches and Pine Barrens — although those are pretty amazing things we get to represent with pride.
In fact, our state’s achievements date back to the very beginnings of this country.
As July 27 rolls around, National New Jersey Day honors being the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, the rich and illustrious culture of the nation’s most densely populated state welcomes countless ways to celebrate, wherever your exit may be.
Get a pork roll egg and & cheese for breakfast
Starting National New Jersey day with this beloved salty breakfast staple just makes sense. Whether it’s pork roll or Taylor Ham to you, the beauty of this sandwich is it’s simplicity as well as it’s customization — most stick to tried and true trio of salt, pepper and ketchup, (but New Jersey rock legend Bon Jovi said prefers his with mustard). If salty breakfast meat isn’t your cup of tea, get a bagel instead. Many even say New Jersey bagels are better than New York’s.
Visit a local farmer’s market/buy local produce
It’s not called the Garden State for no reason — New Jersey is home to vast stretches of farmland abundant with fruits and vegetables that feed not only locals, but the rest of the country as well. Support farmers in your area and stop by your local farmer’s market for some Jersey corn and fresh blueberries (the state fruit). Don’t forget to stock up on a few iconic Jersey tomatoes in their peak growing season.
Head to the Jersey Shore
People from all over the world vacation at the Jersey Shore. It’s not just the soft sands for sunbathing that attracts them, but the endless miles of boardwalks that overlook the Atlantic shoreline as well. New Jersey is home to the first boardwalk in the country, so taking a stroll on the nearest boardwalk and breathing in the ocean air is a quintessential activity for celebrating the state. The vibrant colors of a Jersey Shore sunrise or sunset bring peace to any viewer.
Eat at a local diner
Nothing says Americana like a diner — the chrome exteriors, neon signs and the enticing cake display upon arrival practically scream U.S.A. Despite their decline over the years, New Jersey still has over 400 diners where you can grab a quick meal at nearly any hour of the day. The state’s impressive amount of laid-back eateries even give it the nickname of “the diner capital of the world.” When you’re hungry after driving for long stretches of time on the highway or simply want chocolate chip pancakes at midnight, a diner can always be found in the Garden State.
Take a stroll at a historic park, forest or site
As one of the original Thirteen Colonies, historic sites from the Revolutionary War era can be found all across New Jersey — from pristinely preserved pre-war homes, historic parks in full bloom with scenic overlooks, and monuments that honor New Jersey’s significant role in the birth of the nation. Slip back into time on an old battlefield or merely bask in the state’s natural charm of the past.
Stream New Jersey artists
Lana Del Rey once said, “Springsteen is the king, don’t you think?” and pretty much any New Jerseyan will agree. Aside from ‘The Boss,’ household names like Whitney Houston, Jon Bon Jovi, Queen Latifah, Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick, SZA and Lauryn Hill all hail from The Garden State. On National New Jersey Day, fill your ears with the melodic raps of Paterson’s Fetty Wap or the powerful lyrics of Belleville’s My Chemical Romance — There’s an NJ musician out there for everyone.
Eat international cuisine
New Jersey is recognized as a major cultural hub for Italian Americans, so it’s no secret that we have the best pizza and pasta in the country. But New Jersey’s incredibly diverse population ushers in eateries offering culinary dishes from cultures all over the globe. Restaurants offering Latin, Caribbean, African and Asian cuisines can be found statewide, with something new to try for every foodie.
Drive through a jughandle
This isn’t necessarily a way to celebrate the state, but something you’ll probably end up doing anyways. Missed your turn somewhere? Don’t worry, there’s likely a jughandle you can turn onto.
Get gas
After driving all day, pull up to your nearest gas station and let the gas attendant know your preferred amount for filling up your tank. Even with higher gas prices, “Twenty regular cash,” still rolls off the tongues of many New Jerseyans with ease. Appreciate the fact that you can sit comfortably in your car while doing so.
Almost 50 years ago, a Pennsylvania Lottery scandal rocked the commonwealth and captured the attention of the world. Now it’s going up for auction.
Television viewers on Thursday, April 24, 1980, thought they were watching another random lottery drawing when the numbers 666 were drawn. But weeks later, Nick Perry, a local Pittsburgh news reporter and host of the drawing, was charged and convicted of rigging the game. Investigators learned he made some balls heavier than others by adding extra paint to them, tipping the outcome.
That drawing, and the 666 lottery tickets, would go down in infamy. And now, a 46-year-old artifact at the center of the scandal is up for sale.
John Zenewicz likes to go to estate sales and has a side hustle selling finds on eBay. He said he was at an estate sale in Saxonburg when he saw a 666 ticket sitting on a dresser.
“I remember the style of ticket because my dad would buy them when I was a boy,” said John Zenewicz. “And I was like, ‘why would someone encase an old lottery ticket?’ and the only thing that could pop to my mind was that story that I remember. I was 10 years old.”
Zenewicz suspects the homeowners had no idea what they were selling.
“What I presume, it’s one of the tickets that was probably confiscated as evidence in Nick Perry, what the locals call the Triple Six Fix,” he said.
After a little more research, Zenewicz said he realized one of the previous owners of the home worked in law enforcement at the time of the scandal. He suspects he may have been part of the team prosecuting Nick Perry. Perry served two years in jail, was fined $3,000 and was ordered to pay $35,000.
Perry died in 2003, but at least one of the tickets at the center of it all remains. And now, Zenewicz says he is selling his 666 ticket on eBay, giving someone else a chance to own a piece of history.
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