homegarden-20260726

Designers turn cold bathrooms into plush sanctuaries

By M arissa H ermanson

The Washington Post

‘THE NICEST THING IN A bathroom is a big sofa,” says Beata Heuman.

The Swedish designer first saw a couch in a washroom in her early twenties while visiting a friend in Tuscany. There was a floppy English-style sofa in a bathroom at the family home, where she and her friends would lounge and chat while primping.

“We had some of my favorite memories in that house and in that bathroom getting ready, and it wouldn’t have happened if the sofa wasn’t there and it wasn’t inviting us to spend time in there,” says Heuman, who lives in London and is known for her imaginative and unconventional perspective on interiors. “It was mind-opening and exciting. Maybe slightly it influenced me with bathrooms — that there isn’t this one way of doing things.”

Since then, Heuman has always decorated her bathrooms like living spaces, inviting people to loll and linger, as if they are in a lounge. Think upholstered seating, antiques, dramatic draperies, bespoke built-ins, wallpaper and rugs — the opposite of utilitarian.

“People forget you can add personality there,” says Heuman, who was born in Skåne, Sweden, and moved to London in 2004. “All the rooms complete the feeling of a house, and intrinsically it felt so wrong to forget the bathroom.”

For a bathroom decorating job in Hollywood, the designer had slipcovers in rusty red terrycloth made for a classic English Howard-style armchair so they could be easily removed and washed. “There is something quite amazing about sitting in an armchair surrounded by toweling,” she says. Who needs a robe after the bath when you can have a whole chair?

In the primary bath of her Swedish farmhouse, Heuman covered the walls in her namesake Florentine Flowers wallpaper. The hand-blocked paper might make some nervous, as it’s a few inches from the tub, but the designer says it was important for the room to “not feel too bathroom-y.” To protect the wallpaper from water, Heuman installed a splash guard made from glass sheeting around the room.

She applied the same wallpaper and splash guard trick in a London townhouse and added custom builtins, an upholstered armchair, a large meditation cushion, floor-to-ceiling draperies, Roman shades and a giant area rug.

Heuman’s baths are well-appointed and in conversation with the rest of the house. There’s proper seating for a parent to warm their toddler after a bath or spouses to drink their coffee together while getting ready in the morning. They’re meant for people to sit and spend time in.

On a few occasions, Heuman has had clients ask for wall-to-wall car-

peting to up the warmth factor in the bath. The homeowners typically know the risks of fitted bath carpets, but she helps them embrace the design decision by making matching toilet mats.

“They can always go and switch them out if they do find that it does get dirty around the loo,” says Heuman, who also notes that high ceilings, fans and windows can help prevent excess moisture and, potentially, mold. It’s in the smaller baths where you really need to be careful with precious fibers and wetness, she says.

Now, you might be thinking that you need major square footage and a sizable budget to create such a bathroom. You’re not wrong.

According to design platform Houzz, larger bathroom renovations (100 plus square feet) can cost well over $70,000, with an average cost of $25,000. But it is possible to achieve a similar aesthetic on a budget or in a smaller space.

“There’s so many ways to make it fun and accessorize if you are on a budget,” says Meta Coleman, a Utahbased interior designer. Coleman suggests gussying up a boring mirror with a unique frame or adding such decorative touches as candelabras or plates on the wall, a table lamp on the vanity, vintage fabric for a shower curtain or an antique rug. Hitting up auctions, antique malls or thrift stores can bring your vision to life on a budget.

“Having limitations is a first step to

solve the problem,” she says. “Sometimes when people have endless money, they don’t know where to start. Some form of limitations forces you to think differently and come up with something you wouldn’t have come up with. We have limitations all the time — architecturally or budget wise. You have to really think outside the box, and that’s a good thing.”

With the arrival of indoor plumbing in the early 20th century, the bathroom became a utilitarian space focused on hygiene. As the space evolved through the midcentury, a more-sleek aesthetic surfaced, featuring such materials as Formica, vinyl and linoleum, which were easily cleaned and wiped down.

More recently, most homeowners have chosen white or off-white for their bathroom countertops, vanities, showers and walls, according to a 2025 Houzz bathroom trends study. But the shiny, wipeable whiteness can come off as sterile.

“It’s very similar to a kitchen in that bathrooms are such an investment and people have this mindset that stylistically it needs to last for 30 years: ‘Let’s choose something that is absolutely timeless,’” says Claire Brody, a designer and antiques dealer based in Austin. “And I see that point, too, but I think that’s where the whites and neutrals and the no bold choices come from — fear of not liking it in five to 10 years.”

Bathroom

When Brody was renovating homes in Austin for resale, she always went bold in the bathroom, including painted stripes, busy patterns and vibrant zellige tile.

“I essentially try to incorporate as much color and pattern as the space allows,” she says. “I never do any kind of neutral tile, because if you love color — why not? You only have one life.”

More homeowners might be taking that approach, eschewing the vanilla bathroom for texture, pattern and color.

Another Houzz report backs this up. And searches on the design website show that there’s a growing interest in tactile finishes and earthy materials such as sandstone, linen wallpaper, sea grass wallpaper, terra cotta flooring, lime wash interior paint and wainscoting.

“Those kinds of materials can make a bathroom feel more layered and welcoming,” says Mitchell Parker, a Houzz home design expert.

The shift, Brody says, reflects

“I think that’s where the whites and neutrals and the no bold choices come from — fear of not

Claire Brody, designer and antiques dealer based in Austin

early 1900s, along with those in house museums like the Nissim de Camondo in Paris, where patterned tile and textured wood add warmth.

Coleman installed cork flooring, which has a soft, warm feel underfoot, and embedded it

with pieces of tile for a more tactile feel.

She had a vanity custom-made to look like a Biedermeier hutch. Walls were covered in a 1929 Wave wallpaper by Edward Bawden and accessorized with sea-

scape and nude oil paintings. Coleman also designed a stool inspired by Josef Hoffmann and upholstered it in a Svenskt Tenn fabric. The final touch? An area rug she had bought at auction. “I think there’s been a perspective shift that we can make it more than what is meant to be for,” she says. “It’s your home and it’s all the things you love, so you can really spend time there instead of it being a stopping point, ‘Oh, I just have to take a shower.’”

“what’s happening in the whole interior design world … that people want more collected and layered-feeling spaces, and so we are seeing that trickle down in bathrooms as well.”

White still holds strong for most homeowners, Parker says, but there has been a change in how people see and use the bath, which can explain the desire for a warmer aesthetic.

“Bathrooms aren’t just for getting ready. They’re becoming spots to unwind and recharge,” Parker says.

According to Houzz, 25% of renovating homeowners use their primary bath for rest and relaxation and nearly as many for beauty and pampering.

“They can be a place of refuge. That’s what I love about bathrooms,” Coleman says.

“Some of the most utilitarian spaces in your home you spend the most time in, and I think it’s important to have joy in the everyday and elevating it so you enjoy being there.”

For Coleman, that was a driving force when reimagining the primary bath in her Provo home. She drew inspiration from historic baths in the

Lee Reich | In the Garden

A garden tour of exercise offerings

WELCOME TO MY farmden (more than a garden, less than a farm), Springtown Farmden, the “international health spa.” Allow me to show you around for a tour of our exercise offerings. The techniques and equipment used come from all reaches of the world (or at least can sound like they do).

The first couple that can get your blood pumping “come from” across the Pacific, Japan. The first of these, sīth-ing (translation: scything), does require development of some technique and access our more specialized equipment, a sīth (translation: scythe).

The sīth has a single pole with two handles attached, one at the upper end and one about halfway down. The metal weight attached at the bottom of the sīth is a couple of feet long, curved, and sharpened on its inside edge. Muscle tone and strength is created by putting the left hand on the upper handle, the right hand on the lower handle, flexing the spine to the right and then unwinding yourself counterclockwise while trailing the metal weight just above ground level. (The best of these sīths come from Austria, but are available in the U.S.)

Sīth-ing can be made more rigorous by passing the sharp metal through tall grass or meadow plants.

GARDEN NOTES

STOCKBRIDGE

Upcoming events at Berkshire Botanical Garden

Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming programs:

• Music Mondays features The Lucky 5 on Monday, July 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Enjoy live music drifting across the Garden grounds, bring a blanket, sip something cool, and let the sweet sounds of some of the region’s most talented musical performers set the tone for a perfect summer evening. Cost is $15 members; $25 nonmembers.Online ticketing is available until 2 p.m. on the

The taller the plants, the denser the plants and the older the plants, the more the resistance.

A side benefit of all this sīth-ing is that grass or meadow plants get mown during the exercise. The fallen material drops right in place, providing opportunity for the next trans-Pacific exercise: Rei-king

day of the show. Tickets are also available at the door.

• Saturday, Aug.1, “Stone Wall Workshop,” 9 a.m.-3 p.m. This hands-on class, taught by Sam Mercier will teach the basics of planning, prepping and building a stone wall. It is the first of two classes that will build a section of wall at Berkshire Botanical Garden, which will become part of the permanent landscape. The class will start with a short classroom discussion on stone wall fundamentals. The rest of the day will be spent outside working on the wall. In the field, we will discuss layout and considerations in prepping the base and surrounding grades for a wall. We will discuss techniques and styles for constructing a lasting wall

(translation: raking).

Equipment for rei-king is a pole, perpendicular to and at the end of which is a length of wood or metal, attached in its middle to the pole. From the lower side of the length of wood or metal are teeth, each a couple of inches apart and a couple of inches long.

from start to finish. We will also spend time on tools, shaping stone and splitting stone. Cost is $130 members, $160 nonmembers. For more information, or to register visit www.berkshirebotanical .org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.

GREENFIELD Seed Library

The Greenfield Public Library has launched its new Seed Library. Home gardeners are invited to visit the Seed Library, located on the second floor of the library at the information services desk, to choose up to five packets of seeds for their gardens. A variety of vegetable seeds (arugula

Now for the exercise. You lift the pole just enough to bring the head off the ground, reach forward and pull it towards you. For balanced exercise, it’s advised to occasionally switch which arm is most forward.

Resistance is the way to build up muscle and endurance. That resistance comes in the form of friction from material lying on the ground. By the way, either exercise is most enjoyable early in the morning.

Let’s now travel further west (or so it seems), to India, for yōgdening (translation: garden yoga).

Yōgdening grew out of my respect for the soil, my desire to maintain and foster a healthy balance of life below ground by never tilling my soil and avoiding compaction by never walking on plant beds. (Tillage burns up valuable soil organic matter. But soil organic matter provides numerous benefits to plants and soil; I just spread it on top of the ground.)

Like everywhere, weeds continually attempt inroads into plantings. The only way to reach some of these areas, is by gingerly stepping into them. To minimize foot traffic, after stepping into a planted area, I try to keep my foot anchored in just one place, from which I pull every weed I can reach.

to zucchini), as well as herb and flower seeds (amaranth to zinnia) will be available. Borrowing guidelines will be provided, and gardeners are encouraged to return seeds after the harvest season ends. This program is free and open to everyone. For more information, contact Nancy Little at nancy.little@greenfield-ma. gov or call 413-772-1544.

HAMPDEN

Hampden Garden Club guest speaker

On Thursday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m., the Hampden Garden Club will be hosting Chris Ferrero, a writer and consultant, who will be presenting her program “All About Hydran-

geas.” Ferrero trained as a Cornell master gardener in New York. For 10 years, she led demonstration garden teams, plant propagation workshops, alternative-to-invasives work groups, and children’s programs. The program will be at the new meeting location at the Hampden Town Hall (formerly Thornton W. Burgess Middle School), 85 Wilbraham Road, Room A7. Guests are asked to use the library entrance. There is a $5 fee for nonmembers of the garden club. New members are welcome. Membership fee for the year is $15 and includes admission to all programs.

Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.

Outlets don’t always offer the best deals

Here’s how to find the real bargains

By Jennifer Barger

The Washington Post

THE WORDS “OUTLET MALL” or “factory store” make many shoppers envision markeddown designer bags, slightly damaged furniture or first-quality, last-season fashions at steep discounts. But a new study by nonprofit Consumers’ Checkbook found that many companies are simply churning out cheaper merch just for their “discount” locations. Checkbook staffers spent three months visiting 40 brand-name outlets, scrutinizing online terms and conditions, and trying to figure out what exactly off-price stores were selling.

We also scoured the internet for intel and rumors about who sells what and emailed company public relations staff for clarification on what their brands’ outlets sell, but only one of those 40 brands responded. Sales reps and managers at local outlet stores were more helpful. What we found was that about half of the off-price stores we investigated — particularly mid-priced apparel stores like J. Crew and Banana Republic — are selling made-for-outlet goods, usually with cheaper fabrications and fewer fine details than mainline-store merchandise.

“Outlets are very different from what general folks perceive they are,” said Gonca Soysal, a retail expert who authored a study on outlet malls when she was a professor at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Other factory stores mix made-foroutlet products with clearance items from their original brands. Then there are houseware chains and some highend designers that operate genuine clearance centers with discounted merchandise that once appeared in regular stores: a floor model Pottery Barn dresser; last season’s Burberry trench coat.

Outlets: Then versus now

Outlet stores started as small, manufacturer-run businesses — often near the factories making the rainboots, button-downs, or sofas. They sold past-season, overstock, or slightly damaged products at big discounts. Outlet malls began popping up in the late 20th century, fueled by big-name off-price stores from the likes of L.L. Bean and Coach.

“The appeal of outlets was that

scavenger hunt aspect, the idea that you could buy something for $50 but think that someone else had paid $500 for the same thing,” said Kristin McGrath, a senior editor for The Krazy Coupon Lady, a bargain-sourcing website. Outlets were usually located at least an hour’s drive from major metropolitan areas, an attempt to keep these bargain boutiques from cannibalizing the customer base willing to pay full price at the local mall.

But the rise of fast fashion — and an increasingly bargain-hungry populace — meant shoppers wanted more deals. So, brands like Ann Taylor, Gap and J. Crew opened off-price stores. These presumably became so popular that they were impossible to fill with leftovers or older goods. As a result, many retailers started manufacturing completely different, lower-quality, lower-priced merchandise for their “outlet” or “factory” locations. The dresses, shoes, and bags looked similar, but corners were and are being cut somewhere: shoddier construction, fewer stylish details, inferior materials. Many outlet stores bear signs with the company name but no mention of outlet, clearance, or factory. Some use different labels and logos on outlet merchandise, but it’s often an if-youknow-you-know secret.

“Companies are subtle about branding and labels for outlets because they don’t want to lose their magic,” said Soysal. “If they say, ‘This is a different product,’ then that illusion vanishes.”

Another hint that the stuff at outlets may never have been on the floor at your local mall? Many brands now operate more off-price stores than regular ones. For instance, there are 96 Ann Taylor stores — but 122 Ann Taylor Factory stores — across the United States, and just 93 Nordstrom department stores compared to 269 Nordstrom Racks.

Yes, prices at outlet stores are usually lower than those at mainline stores for similar items, but even a casual glance at a fabric composition tag or a look at the stitching on a bag reveals significant quality differences. Figuring out the whole made-for-outlet code is needlessly confusing for shoppers. Consumer advocates have filed class-action lawsuits against brands including Samsonite, Coach and Oakley, accusing their outlets of deceptive sales practices by not disclosing made-for-outlet items or advertising fake sales or discounts. Most such cases have been settled out of court. If you want to shop at outlets, arm yourself with a few tips.

“Outlets

are very different from what general folks perceive they are.”

Gonca Soysal, a retail expert who authored a study on outlet malls

Know which stores offer only made-for-outlet merchandise

Checkbook made a list of big stores that only (or mostly) stock made-foroutlet items (the full report is at Check book.org/WashingtonPost/outlets). If you shop at them, you’re getting a completely different product than you’ll find at department stores or mainline shops. “A brand you know at full price might have a certain standard of quality that isn’t the same at the outlet,” said Pamela N. Danzinger, an outlet-mall expert.

Don’t believe tags with “compare at” or “MSRP”

These are outlet and off-price marketing tricks and don’t mean anything. If an item came from an original store or maker, it’ll usually have a price tag reflecting that (i.e. a mainline Nordstrom tag), sometimes with little low-tech stickers planted over original prices.

Know your brand

Whether you’re bargain hunting for last-season or overstock stuff at a clearance center or a thrift store, it helps to be familiar with the mainline brand’s styling, fabrication, construction and quality. This can also help you separate made-for-outlet junk from better-made original items: For instance, the ballet flats we spotted at the Tory Burch outlet have plastic soles and retail for around $120; mainline Tory ballerinas cost $200 or more and usually sport leather soles.

Expect chaos at stores offering real

deals

True outlets (a.k.a. clearance centers) are a mixed bag, stocking things people didn’t buy at regular price in regular stores, floor model furniture, and, in the

case of Anthropologie/Free People’s Reclectic outlets, used rental garments. You should go into it knowing there will be limited sizing, restrictive return policies and possibly slightly damaged goods. Part of the reason off-price stores started producing made-for-outlet goods was that consumers got tired of this treasure hunt.

Compare prices

Check prices of similar items currently for sale at the mainline store. If Banana Republic’s regular store is running 40 percent off, you’ll probably get a nicer sweater or shirt there than if you buy the made-for-outlet version.

Similarly, when shopping outlet or factory stores for Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, New Balance and other brands that also sell stuff in department stores, Amazon, etc., compare what you’ll pay in the brand-operated stores with what you’d pay elsewhere. Our researchers often dug up better deals by buying online, not from outlets.

Check for coupons

Outlet malls and stores often have discount coupons, usually digital but occasionally old-school paper. Sign up for outlet stores’ email and traditional mailing lists (some outlets send postcards with deals) and check with outlet mall offices; many offer coupon books for guests.

Consider secondhand instead

Dying for a Coach purse or a J. Crew jacket? Think about purchasing it at a local consignment store or online via ThredUp, Poshmark, TheRealReal, eBay, etc. If you know how to look for the mainline brand label or logo, you can probably land a high-quality item for less money.

Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques

& Collecting

Carnival glass is vivid — and fairly inexpensive

ICE CREAM AND CARNIVALS

are two of summer’s best treats, but, for glass collectors they are a delight any time of the year. Ice cream bowls are a favorite type of carnival glass; their size and shape make them an excellent showcase for the rich colors, pressed patterns and iridescence.

A 9-inch carnival glass ice cream bowl by Northwood, depicting the Peacock and Urn pattern in a vibrant amethyst purple, sold for $130 at Strawser Auction Group. Carnival glass was made in the early 20th century as an inexpensive version of Tiffany iridescent glass. Pressed glass was sprayed with liquid metallic salts to create an iridescent effect. The name “carnival glass” came about because fairs and carnivals gave out pieces as prizes. The vivid colors and iridescence may evoke the bright lights, colorful signs, and lively atmosphere of carnivals, too. Rare colors and patterns can sell for thousands of dollars, but most carnival glass today is fairly inexpensive. It is still a well-loved collectible, with many collectors’ clubs across the United States, auctions dedicated to it, and plenty of published guides to the many makers and patterns. But beware; its popularity also means that there are many recent reproductions.

Q. I have a set of two porcelain figures and am trying to identify the maker. There is no name on the base, but there is a blue mark that looks like a circle divided into six wedges. Can you help?

A. This mark was used by the Hochst porcelain factory (also spelled Hoechst), which was founded in 1746 in Mainz, which was part of the Holy Roman Empire at the time and is now a city in western Germany. The mark, sometimes described as a wheel with six spokes, is called the Mainz wheel. Some versions of the mark include a crown on top of the wheel or the name or initial of the factory that produced the molds. The original factory closed in 1796 and sold its molds to other porcelain manufacturers. Another Hochst factory operated from 1947 to the 1960s, and a third in 1965. This factory is still operating. They still use the wheel mark, although modern pieces often include the name “Hochst.”

To a carnival glass collector, the real treat in an ice cream bowl like this one is in its color, pattern and iridescence.

Modern Hochst figurines can be worth anywhere from about $25 to $100. Pieces from the 18th century can be very valuable. Figurines usually sell for over $100. Some rare pieces can be worth thousands of dollars. An 18th-century Hochst porcelain group consisting of a wild boar chased by hunting dogs, with the blue wheel mark on the base, sold for $4,500 at an auction earlier this year.

Q. Can you help me identify an item that was given to me years ago? It is 3 1/2 inches long with a pin on the back of the metal base. There is a line of eight carved elephants, trunk to tail. The largest elephant, which is at the head of the line, is 1/2 inch tall, and the smallest is 1/4 inch tall.

It appears that they are all one piece with the base they stand on, and then it is attached in some way to the metal base. There are no identifying marks.

A. Your item is a popular design that is often called the Elephant Bridge. They have been made in Asia (particularly China, Japan, and India) and Africa and were popular souvenirs for tourists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Traditionally, they were carved from an elephant’s tusk, which gave

CURRENT PRICES

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

Fenton, vase, swung glass, iridescent green, tree trunk shape, scalloped rim, round base, 11 1/2 inches, $60.

Clock, Jura, art deco, oak case, rectangular, fluted sides, three small medallions, square face, glass window, octagonal pendulum, France, c.1930, 19 1/2 x 13 1/2 inches, $120.

Glass-contemporary, vase, blue iridescent, yellow pulled feather around shoulder, purple stripes, short flared neck, tapered base, Lundberg Studios, 4 3/4 x 4 1/2 inches, $155.

Lamp, electric, Atomic style, fiberglass base, cone shape, vertical linked diamonds, wood accents, later drum shade, mid-20th century, 23 1/2 inches, $180.

the bridge its curved shape, but they have been made in other materials like bone or wood. There are some variations among designs, such as the number of elephants or their poses; for example, some give the elephants raised trunks.

The elephants and bridge are usually carved as one piece, but may be mounted on a base, usually wood, that is sometimes carved to resemble water.

They can be made in various sizes; at 3 1/2 inches, yours is especially small. It may have been intended to be a piece of jewelry, like a brooch, a hair ornament, or a clip. The value of Elephant Bridge carvings usually depends on the item’s size, material, and the quality of the carving. Pieces like yours have sold for about $150 to $200.

TIP: Do not display carnival glass made before 1910 in direct sunlight. The glass will turn purple or brown and the iridescent finish may fade.

Kovels answers readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures: the object and a close-up of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product. Names, addresses or

Beatles, doll set, holding instruments, signed, molded faces, wigs, Remco, 1964, 5 inches, four pieces, $330.

Advertising, tray, Gold Nugget Ice Cream, center scene, woman with tray, children, multicolor, art nouveau border, tin litho, K & S Co., 14 x 10 inches, $345.

Furniture, bookcase, Arts & Crafts, oak, two doors, geometric glass panels, gallery top, four interior shelves, c. 1920, 58 x 41 inches, $590.

Cloisonne, bowl, turquoise blue ground, flowers on stems, lotus flower medallion in center, stylized flowers and scrolls on exterior, Chinese, c. 1900, 2 x 12 inches, $875.

Rug, Mohtasham Kashan, garden, allover leaves and flowers, red field, midnight blue border, Persian, c. 1920, 78 x 53 inches, $930. Music box, singing bird, Symphonion, rectangular, gilt metal, oval hinged lid, feathered bird, allover geometric engraving, four ball feet, box, 2 x 4 x 3 inches, $1,535.

email addresses will not be published. We do not guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Questions that are answered will appear in Kovels Publications. Write to Kovels, The Republican, King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th Street, 41st Floor, New York, NY 10019, or email us at collectors gallery@kovels.com.

Average 30-year US mortgage rate climbs to 6.58%

Level hits highest point in nearly a year

By A lex Veiga Associated Press

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed this week to its highest level in nearly 12 months, pushing up borrowing costs for prospective homebuyers at a time when rising oil prices are already squeezing household budgets.

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.58% from 6.55% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate was 6.74%.

Higher mortgage rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting homebuyers’ purchasing power. As rates rise, that can lead prospective home shoppers to delay buying a home, one reason U.S. home sales have been sluggish this year.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, often sought by borrowers refinancing a home loan, also rose this week.

That average rate increased to 5.96% from 5.93% last week. A year ago, it was at 5.87%, Freddie Mac said.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

Rates have been mostly rising this year as the conflict in Iran has driven crude oil prices sharply higher, stoking expectations of hotter inflation. That’s pushed up long-term bond yields relative to where they were before the conflict began in late February, causing mortgage rates to trend higher.

The 10-year Treasury yield was 4.7% at midday Thursday on the bond market, up from 4.57% a week ago. It was just 3.97% in late February, before the war broke out.

Rising oil prices as violence escalates in Iran are threatening to worsen inflation, just as it had begun to decelerate by more than economists expected. That in turn could push the Federal Reserve and other central banks to raise interest rates.

The central bank doesn’t set mortgage rates, but its decisions to raise or lower its short-term rate are watched closely by bond investors and can ultimately affect the yield on 10-year Treasurys.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage is now the highest it’s been since Aug. 21, when it was at 6.58%. As recently as late February, the average rate dropped slightly below 6% for the first time since late 2022.

While average long-term mortgage rates remain lower than they were at this time last year, their upward trajectory has weighed on home sales this year.

Deeds

AGAWAM

Flipped & Finished LLC, to Jorje D. Torres, 19 Church St., $305,000.

James V. Castro and Carol J. Castro to James E. Abel and Kelly S. Rogalski, 35 Anvil St., $610,000.

Joseph J. Davis, representative, and Fakide J. Davis, estate, to Lindrit Bajrami and Adem Bajrami, 68 North St., $140,000.

Keith Nicoli, Keith B. Nicoli, Heather Tracy Nicoli and Heather T. Nicoli to Huong T. Tran, Uyen Thi Ngoc Tran and Tuyen Dinh Vu, 101 Burlington Drive, $875,000.

AMHERST

Anne M. Burton, trustee, Anne M. Burton, power-of-attorney, Joseph Anthony Burton, trustee, and Anne Burton Revocable Trust to Anne Elisabeth Sayre, 10 Dana St., $925,000.

Erold K. Bailey and Carol Y. Bailey to Anna Chute and Christian Foster, 178 West Pomeroy Lane, $703,500.

David B. Wells and Jennifer G. Wells to Jessica Murphy and M. Eric Murphy, 5 Poets Corner Road, $690,000.

Christin C. Martin to William Leonard, 242 North East St., $270,000.

Frederick N. Bloom, Leslie Matlen and Frederick N. Bloom, attorney-in-fact, to Miguel Diaz and Katherine L. Giles-Diaz, 60 Amity Place, $555,000.

Kiran Mhatre, trustee, Geeta Mhatre, trustee, and 1107 North Pleasant St. 01002 Trust, to Krishna Patel, 1107 North Pleasant St., $547,000.

ASHFIELD

Carolyn B. Johnson and James H. Johnson to Ariel Brooks and Nathaniel Brooks, 193 Norton Hill Road, $605,000.

BELCHERTOWN

Stephen R. Setkewich, Darlene R. Setkewich and Rodney J. Setkewich to Daniel R. Beaudette, Cold Spring Street, $80,000.

Steven LePage and Jodie LePage to Michael Kornbluth and Maura Kornbluth, 21 Hemlock Hollow, $835,000.

BERNARDSTON

Claudia Vearling to Kristie M. Timberlake, 631 Fox Hill Road, $42,500.

BLANDFORD

Alan C. Pollinger to Abigail Ziff, 112 North Blandford Road, $390,000.

BRIMFIELD

Carter L. Cooley and Sandra J. Cooley to Nicole Snyder and Tyler Hellyar, 21

Brookfield Road, $350,000.

Leslie McGann-Sturgeon and Leslie McGann to Shara A. Della Penna and Russell A. Della Penna, 50 Little Rest Road, $677,000.

CHICOPEE

Annaliese Bischoff to Cornerstone Homebuying LLC, 24 Theodore St., $223,650.

Carla T. Gillespie to Timothy D. Congo and Danielle Congo, 271 Wildermere St., $380,000.

Catherine Kamau to Edwin R. Delgado, 269 Chicopee St., Unit 17, $200,000.

Christie E. Hendrickson, representative, and Carol E. Sevigny, estate, to Joseph Sullivan, trustee, and Deuces Wild Realty Trust, trustee of, 791 James St., $135,000.

Cig4 LLC, to Leunam Muniz Acosta and Eric Darrin, 621 Chicopee St., $369,000.

Guadalupe Friedson and John M. Friedson to Nathaniel Rivera, 67 Wildermere St., $300,000.

James R. Willett, representative, Ralph P. Willett, estate, Constance Marie Willett, Constance M. Gillman and Maria F. Willett to James R. Willett, 132 New Ludlow Road, $170,000.

Jeannine A. Leblanc, representative, and Sandra L. Broshears, estate, to Earl Jackson and Linda Jackson, 99 Stephens St., Unit N6, $290,100.

John F. Reed and Ruth E. Reed to Vladimir Gessen and Celia M. Huard, Cinnamon Drive, $435,000.

Marianne Neveu and Michael P. Roy to Juan Hernandez and Robin M. Hernandez, 128 Ann St., $351,000.

Pah Properties LLC, to Angel Reyes Rodriguez, 221 East St., $430,000. Westfield Bank to Chicopee City, 219 Exchange St., $2,360,000.

CUMMINGTON

Lyle Hazel, trustee, Janeen Romey, trustee, and Lyle Hazel Family Revocable Trust to Lyle Hazel and Lyle M. Hazel, 47 Main St., $100.

DEERFIELD

Allison L. Howard to Allison E. Dunn, 138 N. Main St., $397,825.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Adam C. Fenn to Jessica Gagne, 19 Somerset St., $338,000.

Alison Leigh Cavanaugh to Zachary Allen Van Dyk and Amber Louise Van Dyk, 100 Fernwood Drive, $525,000.

Chester Czupryna to MJ Homes LLC, 10 Moore St., $55,000.

Dennis J. Roche and Tara A. Roche to Sean David Leonard Jr., and Kelsey Elizabeth Netkovick, 96 Sanford Road, $750,000.

Elaine Canary-Bracci and Anthony

Bracci to Sandra M. Crowley and Guy P. Beaulieu, 38 Evergreen Drive, $599,000.

James Deschenes and Lisa Deschenes to Brick City Investors LLC, 27 Lee St., $425,000.

Mario Anthony Ferrentino and Jane Olivia Ferrentino to Joseph Fountain and Devan Fountain, 25 Sturbridge Lane, $960,000.

Michael J. Harrigan to Stephon O’Connor, 320 Maple St., $317,000.

Sarah Parker and Sean Cooney to Ryan James Avezzie, 40 Fairview St., $300,000.

Tyler Stuhr and Elizabeth Amoroso to Daniel Lombardi, 331 Elm St., $450,000.

ERVING

Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency to Erving Properties LLC, 21 East Main St., $220,000.

GOSHEN

Howard D. Anderson to Mary Ann S. Anderson, trustee, Howard D. Anderson, trustee, and Mary Ann & Howard Anderson Revocable Trust, 12 Overlook Road, $100.

GRANBY

Steven L. Gouger Sr., Susan M. Gouger and Susan M. Gouger, attorney-in-fact, to Susan M. Gouger, 390 Batchelor St., $100.

Michael Durham and Briana Durham to Sheheryar Asif, 54 Taylor St., $439,900.

GREENFIELD

Karen M. Rooney, “fka” Karen W. Wasielewski, to Ashley L. Costa, 88 Newell Pond Road, $303,410.

Susan G. Englehardt, personal representative of the Estate of Jared Arthur Englehardt, “aka” Jared A. Englehardt, to Angel Bruno, 26 Princeton Terrace, Unit 26, Meadowview Manor Condominium, $175,000.

Ruth S. Charney to Nathaniel Baldwin and Stella Silbert., 97 Shelburne Road, $410,000.

Romulo Marques Garcia to Jampa Dondup, 57 ½ Washington St., $40,000. Heather Matys and Zachary P. Matys to Daniel Patrick Baldner, 283 Chapman St., $429,000.

Hempstead Properties LLC, to Christopher McManus Ware, 77 Conway St., $514,000.

Marjorie D. Reid to Mihaela Ivancev and Victor Ivancev, Leyden Road, $95,000.

Peter A. Curran to Andrew P. Grant and Melissa Hasbrook, 14-16 Garfield St., $397,000.

Charles W. Saunders Inc., “fka” C.W.S. Realty Inc., to Betty Saunders, Hastings Street, $40,000.

HADLEY

John D. Castoldi and Laurin N. Castoldi to Luqi Li and Junsi Yang, 12 Crystal Lane, $1,130,000.

Ronald R. Nester and Linda Daniel Nester to 64 North Maple Street LLC, 64 N. Maple St., and 64 North Maple St., $242,000.

Deborah Felix and Thomas S. Brown to Xue Zhun Zhang and Yu Nan Zheng, 6 Woodlawn Road, $625,000.

HAMPDEN

Bend Of Rock LLC, to Twenty Five Allen LLC, 25 Allen St., $550,000.

Jacob A. Dubois and Lauryn C. Dubois to Erik Hart and Megan Hart, 27 Steepleview Drive, $810,000.

Robert J. Hutchison, Robert J. Hutchinson, Bernard J. Hutchinson, Bernard J. Hutchison and Cindy M. Santos to Andrew Wurszt, 161 Raymond Drive, $400,000.

HATFIELD

Mary C. Powers and Kyle J. Powers to Mary C. Powers, 71 Chestnut St., $65,000.

HOLLAND

Ann E. Markman, Aislynn E. Rodeghiero-Rapciak and Linda D. Rapciak to Glenn E. Malasmas and Melissa R. Malasmas, 11 Shore Drive, $650,000.

Eileen R. Reinhardt and Joseph H. Reinhardt to Bradford M. Keizer and Kathleen M. Keizer, 3 Forest Drive, $468,000.

G. Kady Builders Inc., to Sarah Anne Hart and Tiffany K. Hart, 87 Vinton Road, $575,000. Heather Moran, Michael Moran and Michael C. Moran to Sophie Day and Michael Kim, 31 Leno Road, $372,000.

HOLYOKE

HHA-South Holyoke Homes II LLC, to Javier Concepcion and Christine Morciglio Delgado, 199 Clemente St., $240,000.

Janusz Lecko and Marek Wieczorek to 589 High Street LLC, 589 High St., $160,000.

John J. Quinlan and Lori A. Quinlan to Naples Home Buyers Inc., 14 Hickory St., $150,000. Knox Capital LLC, to Luis Rivera Rodriguez and Yosmary Ortiz Cruz, 30-32 Sydney Ave., $417,000.

Cherry Hill Estates Condominium Trust, Joann K. Moran and Tyler Aalto to Marth-E LLC, 12E Maple Crest Circle, $80,000.

Matthew Allen O’Brien and Folium Ethereal O’Brien to Donald Joralemon, 86 Sycamore St., $318,000.

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., to Dreambighomes LLC, and Sudan Curiel, 7c Maple Crest Circle, Unit 7C, $100,000.

HUNTINGTON

Christopher K. Dube and Jill A. Dube to Sa-

mantha Wetherell and Christopher Wetherell, 134 Goss Hill Road, $100.

LEVERETT

James L. Perkins, personal representative of the Estate of Paula Green, to Miki Gromacki, 49 Richardson Road, $755,000.

Donna Rae Gould to Craig Otto Mehnert, trustee of the Linda Beth Mehnert Irrevocable Trust, FBO Cody Mehnert, 8 Teawaddle Hill Road, $552,000.

LONGMEADOW

Catherine Hecht Dorison, trustee, and Catherine Hecht Dorison Trust, trustee of, to Kenneth Wojnowski Jr., and Julia Ladna, 44 Canterbury Lane, $850,000.

LUDLOW

David P. Bourcier and Linda E. Bourcier to Brandon Christopher Vigneault and Melissa Vigneault, 829-831 Center St., $410,000.

Capital Design & Development LLC, to Gray Bae Group Llc, 185 Miller St, $900,000.

Linda M. Ducharme to Christina Iglesias, 161164 Hubbard St., $450,000.

Mary Varao to Ryley Breault and Albert Jose Rodrigues, 191 Stevens St., $340,000.

MONTAGUE

Mary A. Cichanowicz to Richard A. Young, 24 Bridge St., $200,000.

Artemis Properties MA LLC, to Elizabeth Anna Parsons and Katherine Hope Parsons, 10 Worcester Ave., $324,700.

Erik P. Crofton, “aka” Erik Crofton, personal representative of the Estate of Carol Frances Crofton, “aka” Carol F. Crofton to Joana H. Beaudoin, 63 Davis St., $309,000.

Theresa L. Burakiewicz and Steven M. Croteau to Larissa L. Kidder, 5 Wrighton Ave., $317,500.

NORTHAMPTON

Gerald C. Hague, Susan C. Hague and Devin Hague, attorney-in-fact, to Ian Howes and Jessica Giammaria, 1292 Burts Pit Road, $641,500.

Barbara Marsh to Doreen Weinberger and Claire Huttlinger, 80 Damon Road, $185,000.

Peter K. Tur and Natalie C. Tur to Raz Gal and Rachael Workman, 249 Sylvester Road, $1,203,400.

Simone Caudill to Davis Caron-Vera, 58 Bradford St., $148,674.

Jennifer L. Maybar to Rafael Bresson Da Silva Teixeira and Christina Carol Lorimer, 71 Leonard St., $460,000.

Chad G. Simmons and Sara A. Simmons to Jonathan Santiago and Irene Blasco Hebrero, 78 Lyman Road, $730,000.

NORTHFIELD

Cyrus Aho and Ivan Aho to Michael F. Desjardins and Mackenzie R. Laisure, 64 East St., $532,000.

ORANGE

Andrew J. Bergmann to Tiago Moura, 105 North Main St., Unit B, North Main Street Condominium, $120,000.

Benjamin Bray to Highlands Associates, 856 N. Main St., $475,000.

John S. Hanna, trustee of the JRH Realty Trust, to Meadowbrook LLC, 52 East Road, $800,000.

Peter P. Gartland Jr., and Molly Mahoney to Derek Tripp and Marilyn Tripp, 276 Pleasant St., $370,000.

Anita Arlinghaus, Regina Cerkez and Demil Kovacevic to Linda Vaitiskis, 17 E. Howe St., $306,125.

Jennifer Lapierre to Christopher J. Lottig and Kaitlyn J. Theriault, 262 Main St., $325,000.

Matthew P. Halfrey to Jamie Bommarito and Nicholas Sullivan. 215 North Main St., $245,000.

PALMER

Freedom Mortgage Corp., to Judy Bergdoll, 70 Ruggles St., $220,000.

Joshua R. Gehlhausen, Cathyann M. Gehlhausen, Jacob M. Gehlhausen and Kate E. Allain to Janine Pranka and Ronald G. Bushey, 7 Caroline Circle, $452,000.

Kshantal Colon, Sabrina M. Cruz and Rose M. Lebron to Ranyeli Perez Placido, 4129-4131 Church St., $350,000.

SHUTESBURY

Thomas A. Masterson, personal representative of the Estate of Jean Dianne Footit, to Kestrel Land Trust Inc., Wendell Road, $268,000.

SOUTH HADLEY

Charles Q. Maney and Celine F. Maney to Florence Scott-Hiser and Alycia Scott-Hiser, 6 Pheasant Lane, $730,000.

Diane C. West, Donna J. Butman and John M. West Sr., to Arthur Alves and Chloe LaDuke, 6 Center St., $375,000.

SOUTHAMPTON

Christopher M. Buell and Karen J. Buell to Michelle Charles, 10 Fitch Farm Way, $1,075,000.

James E. Abel to Liam Cregan and Joanna Kalucki, 8 Jeanne Circle, $508,000.

Barry Bolduc to Naples Home Buyers Inc., 199 Brickyard Road, $125,000.

Andrew D. Jeffords and Natalia Jeffords to Michael Jackewich, 166 Pomeroy Meadow Road, $520,000.

SOUTHWICK

Kelly A. Ambrogio, representative, and Thomas F. Bamford, estate, to Gennadiy Lisitsin and Mariya Lisitsina, 45 Honey Pot Road, $251,000.

Alexis Pothul to Tyler Nicoli, 59 Clement St., $346,000.

ASW Fund 1 LP, to 22 Hanson LLC, 13-15 Willard Ave., $430,000.

Bongavi LLC, to Emerson Pierre and Luc Herne Pierre, 222-224 Main St., $265,000.

Brianne M. Odom, representative, and Robert J. Dupuis, estate, to Rudy Villatoro, 130 Connecticut Ave., $385,000.

Carlos J. Morales and Yomira Marie Anaya to Chamber Investment Group LLC, 363 White St., $317,500.

Carol A. Brodeur, Carol A. Center Brodeur, Kathleen Krupczak and Suzanne I. Larocque to Thomas W. Larock, 1303 Plumtree Road, $440,000.

SPRINGFIELD

Carol A. Dubilo to Teodoro Espada Jr., 854 Grayson Drive, $292,000.

Centura Bay LLC, to Darius Fuentes, 97 Treetop Ave., $354,000.

Elton N. Fernandes to Cesar Lopez Campos, 282-284 Parkerview St., $505,000.

U S A Housing & Urban Development to Edward G. Waterhouse, 49 Corcoran Boulevard, $178,809.

Giggle Gardens Inc., and Giggles Gardens Inc, to James Steele, 182 Walnut St., $215,000.

Grisela Cora Romero to Christian Javier Martinez-Cora, 30-32 Joseph St., $355,000.

Hassle Free LLC, to Noah Adams and Mia Piteo, 51 Hartford Terrace, $365,000.

Hyman G. Darling, trustee, and Lionel E. Bonneville Revocable Indenture of Trust of, trustee of, to Catherine T. Desmarais, 47 Fenway Drive, $400,000.

Irma Figueroa to Jovanni J. Camacho, 108 Barre St., $339,000.

Jennifer Ramos and Chantal Victor Nortez to Cora Delvalle, 165 Hampden St., $254,500.

Jose B. Goncalves and Lynn Goncalves to James M. Ciras and James Matthew Ciras, 65 Brookside Circle, $295,000.

Joshua J. Bousquet to CG Estates LLC, 38 Phoenix St., $160,000.

Julia J. Gazda, representative, and Edward S. Gazda, estate, to Robert Gazda, 53 Verge St., $94,000.

Lachenauer LLC, to Felix Lebron Ramos, 45 Orchard St., $250,000.

Leo A. Florian to Naples Home Buyers Inc., 18 Wendell Place, $300,000.

Leticia M. Baez to Sheileen Tiana Diaz and Rafael Correa, 521 Liberty St., $260,000.

Linda Pelletier to Beth Elaine Green and Gregory Oliver Green, 44 Maebeth St., $299,999.

Livingwater Capital LLC, to Carlos Aguasvivas and Josefa Aguasvivas, 157 Canterbury Road, $500,000.

LKN Realty Investments LLC, to Robert Burton, 546 Page Boulevard, $312,000.

Luis M. Sanchez and Kiara M. Sanchez Perez to Taja Lawrence, 140 Eddy St., $286,900.

Matthew Eric Jones to Shabazz Wilson, 29 Hudson St., $337,500.

Mei Nuan Li to DDM Lav LLC, 1142 Berkshire Ave., $595,000.

Michael J. Sares to Hailong Piao, Michon Street, Lot 225, $100,000.

Michael J. Sares to Hailong Piao, Michon Street, Lot 226, $100,000.

Michael Thomas Dagostino to JoeJoe Properties LLC, 25 Webber St, $250,000.

Deeds

Miguel Jusino and Minerva Jusino to Anthony Traniello, 43 Sunridge Drive, $300,000.

Mooring NC IV LLC, to Christopher R. Pimentel, 34 Sumner Ave., Unit 408, $171,500.

Nikki T. Jensen and Nikki T. Kelly to Megan E. Donnelly, 81 Eleanor Road, $235,000.

Pah Properties LLC, to Luis A. Rosa Saez, 20 Conklin St., $260,000.

Pierre Philippe Girard to Jacob Root and Abagale Root, 148 Hadley St., $380,000.

Robin L. Malone to Master Investment Group LLC, 1481 Carew St., $195,000.

Rodney Rodriguez and Bladimir Rodriguez to Sandra O. Menjivar Salaverria and Edwin O. Gonzalez Enriquez, 545-547 Wilbraham Road, $400,000.

Sage Home Builders LLC, to Zahraa Abood, trustee, and Ali Alzubaidi Nominee Trust, trustee of, 28-30 Crosby St., $530,000.

Sage Home Builders LLC, to Zahraa Abood, trustee, and Ali Alzubaidi Nominee Trust, trustee of, 29-31 Willard Ave., $550,000.

Sharlene J. Howard, representative, John P. Howard Sr., estate, and John Patrick Howard Sr., estate, to Catherine Kamau, 28 Northway Drive, $320,000.

Springfield College to Brian Patrick Adams, W S Northumberland Street, $27,500.

Tejada Properties LLC, to Jessenia Hernandez and David Oyola, 87 Fenwick St., $280,000.

Teresa M. Stramaglia to Daniel Richard Blain, 144 Nassau Drive, Unit 144, $256,000.

Zachary D. Douville to Sthefanie Alejandra Hernandez Lopez, 22 Audley Road, $365,000.

WALES

Robert E. Pisano to Gary P. Bogar and Alicia M. V. Wyman, 7 Mount Hitchcock Road, $461,000.

David E. Meyer and June B. Eaton to Kim M. Vendur and Jamie T. Vendur Sr., 2 Boivin Ave., $340,000.

JJS Investment LLC, Ware Town Health, Vikki Patrakis and Shaun Robinson to JJS Capital Investment LLC, 11-13 Webb Court, $385,767.

Mancia Services LLC, to Rosangela Marques, 24 Maple Ave., $345,000.

Greg Miner to Elizabeth Kathryn

Coulter and David Michael Coulter, 20 Spring St., $325,000.

Beverly A. Allard to Jessie E. Kibbe and Jacob D. Kibbe, 267 Osborne Road, $55,000.

Adam E. Beer, Alycia M. Beer and Alycia M. Davies to Brandon Stackhouse and Emma LeBlanc, 19 Old Poor Farm Road, $395,000.

WARWICK

Holly Z. Manson to Miranda Kingfisher, 630 Orange Road, $205,000.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Battista & Sons Property Management LLC, to B & B Properties LLC, 23-25 Irving St., $400,000.

Konstantin Shelepovskiy and Aleksandra Shelepovskaya to Alex O. Quintanilla, 133 Hampden St., $360,000.

Northern Preplink Ohio LLC, to Veteran Stan LLC, 185 Windsor St., $262,500.

Raymond Depelteau and Ellen Depelteau to Jeffory S. Hopp and Christine Hopp, 62 Beech Hill Road, Unit 28, $505,000.

Yevgeniy Kolesnik to Pavlo Okhnaliuk and Olha Okhnaliuk, 131 Queen Ave., $374,000.

WESTFIELD

Arpc LLC, to Brian Stober and Taylor Del Duco, 274 Prospect St. Extn., $415,000.

Carlos F. Colon, representative, Walter J. Sykulski Jr., estate, and Walter J. Sykulski, estate, to Hasan A. Hasan, 149 Shaker Road, $305,000.

Diane E. Kelly, representative, and Shirley J. Coffey, estate to Lidiia Martyniuk and Oleksandr Martyniuk, 35 Pine St., $357,500. Fumi Realty Inc., to Randa Haj Mahmoud, 10 West School St., $400,000.

Medina Gee Francis to Corey Alan Moran and Vitoria Moran, 24 Jeanne Marie Drive, $670,000. Nathaniel Hill Realty LLC, to Michael M. Pereira and Susana Pereira, Nathaniel Hill Lot 8, $200,000.

WILBRAHAM

James T. Coffin and Cheryl L. Coffin to Alec Goodman and Alexis Pothul, 20 Arbor Lane, $455,000.

Michael R. Vigneault, representative, and Patricia A. Vigneault, estate, to Betsy T. Wilco, 24 Lodge Lane, $505,000.

Terri J. Chapdelaine, trustee, Roger L. Chapdelaine, trustee, and Terri J. Chapdelaine Trust, trustee of, to Goat Ledge Farm LLC, 301 Mountain Road, $650,000.

Reich

As you might imagine, reaching every weed possible with feet planted in one place calls for all sorts of contortions and stretches forwards, backwards, and sideways involving my legs, trunk, shoulders, arms, and neck. My guess is that after a half-hour of weeding, I’ve run through a close approximation of Utthia Trikonāsana (Triangle Pose), Vīrabhadrāsana (Warrior Pose), and Uttānāsana (Standing Forward Fold Pose), to name a few classic yoga poses — and cleared away weeds!

Ho-ing is another way to deal with weeds and get exercise, this with a tool called, of course, a ho.

Although the ho (transla-

tion: the hoe) originated in Egypt, ho-ing sounds like it comes from China which, historically being a country of small-scale intensive farmers makes the exercise and the implement seemingly originate in China.

A hoe (American spelling) does good work — if you use the right one in the right manner.

The best hoes have a sharp blade that’s easily pushed and/or pulled a mere halfinch or so below ground to kill small weeds.

Many types fill the bill, including the scuffle hoe, the stirrup hoe, the colinear hoe, and, my favorites, the wingèd weeder, which looks like an airplane wing sharpened fore and aft, and the wire weeder, whose head is a stiff wire cleverly bent to be easily worked amongst plants.

Ideally, I’m out in the garden ho-ing on sunny mornings following rains. The work, if it could be called that, is quick and easy if done before weeds grow large, which would make it a good warm-up or cooldown exercise.

Only when weeds get out of hand is it necessary to get out the tool that most people associate with the word “hoe,” the traditional garden hoe with the large blade at 90 degrees to the handle. This hoe is also the one Charles Dudley Warner was referencing when he stated (in “My Summer in a Garden,” 1870), “what a [gardener] needs is a castiron back, with a hinge in it.”

The traditional garden hoe is actually better suited to construction jobs. I reserve mine for mixing kon-krēt in my wheelbarrow.

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