Category Archives: Nature

Back in the Saddle Again

Posted on May 14, 2013 by AnnieRie

West County style.

The tractor. Probably driven some weeks more than the car. At least in hours.

I used to ride the tractor more than my husband. He did the trim stuff. The weed whacking. The cleaning around trees and under bushes. I rode the tractor. Until my surgery. Since then, I haven’t been on the tractor. October 2011, the last time I cut the grass.

Today I mowed the back yard. Slowly. Carefully. But, still a big deal for me to feel like I am once again back in tune with the land where we live. I also spent lots of time planting veggies. All but the tomatoes. Tomorrow is tomato planting day. All 40 plants. I must be crazy. Or a canning, freezing fool. Twenty cages each in two sections of the garden.

Finally, it seems we are past the cold weather. Last night I used row covers to keep the herbs safe.

Today, I spent all day out in the glorious weather getting things in the ground. So glad my surgery is behind me and I can do those things I love, like plant my garden. The cukes are in. Ten plants.

Putting anything interesting in the garden this year? I planted Thelma Sanders squash. They need 110 days until they produce. That means babying them until September. And, Japanese white sweet potatoes, in a shady spot.

So glad spring is finally here. Even if the rhododendron are late, as are other flowers. Spring just creeps up on us and the flowers burst forth with color.

hocofood@@@

Brighton Dam Azaleas May 5 2013 Report

Posted on May 6, 2013 by AnnieRie

They are getting there. The early bloomers are lovely. Lots of buds though. Mother’s Day should be perfect. And, how about this little gem?

I assume WSSC planted the flowers. I can’t imagine them allowing an individual to do it, but who knows? Plenty of color even on a gloomy Sunday morning.

A romantic spot for a walk.

Weekdays and early morning, this was at 9 am, you can have the place to yourselves. As you can see, many varieties are still in budding stage, not yet blooming. Still, there are spectacular blazes of color on some of the smaller paths.

Unusual colors too.

I could go here almost every day and be happy just to wander the trails.

Easy to access on the Howard/Montgomery county lines. This is a treat for all of us who live here.

hocoblogs@@@

The Much Needed Rain

Posted on April 30, 2013 by AnnieRie

Rainy days like this make us happy. Soft gentle rain that greens up the yard, the field, and keeps my trees, shrubs, herbs and flowers healthy is always welcome.

The lace maples went from budding to full glory in just a few days. These trees are my favorites. One in front and one behind the house. I now have to irrigate the front one as the underground drains carry water out to a grove with younger trees and shrubs that haven’t established their roots as deeply.

The crab apple has exploded with blossoms.

This is one of those years where it is being covered in white flowers.

My second wave of tulips is loving it. The first bloomers are dropping petals but this variety is coming in with many flowers.

When I planted the bulbs about six years ago, I used a variety of early and late blooming tulips to prolong their presence across the entry walkway.

This year so far only one iris came up on the side of the house. I think these were planted so long ago by the previous owner that they are pretty much wiped out, and the star lilies and tiger lilies have taken over. But, I did get this one blossom the other day.

In a vase with a gorgeous deep purple tulip, the only one that color from out front. Sometimes it is weird to see a single bloom of a color that you don’t remember planting.

And, the dogwoods are at their peak. Two more trees that I take extra care to keep fertilized, pruned, watered and happy. Their colors just scream spring time.

April showers bringing May flowers, and more. Here’s to erasing that deficit in our rainfall totals for 2013. In just a few days, I will be putting in the veggie garden, but still loving those flowers.

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Posted in Gardening, Hobbies, Nature, Weather, West HoCo and tagged gardening, hobbies, nature, photography, spring flowers, weather, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

To Forage, To Forage

Posted on April 29, 2013 by AnnieRie

YES! YES! YES! The wild asparagus are back!

I wrote about them last year, when I got at least 40 or so spears of asparagus that keep coming up under my crepe myrtle. Saturday there was nothing there. Today. I found four spears in various lengths.

One white one buried in mulch. It will turn green as it emerges. Two more deep in the mulch although one looks a little ragged like something decided to chew on it. Maybe the bunnies.

Today’s rain was welcome as it is nourishing my garlic, my herbs, my greens and these wild plants. Oh, and the tulips. I am lucky that the animals ignore them. I guess having a yard with clover, dandelions, chick weed and whatever else out there keeps them happy and away from my flowers. As I have said often, I am loving spring time.\

hocofood@@@

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Posted in Food, Foraging, Gardening, Locavore, Nature, Weather and tagged Food, foodie, gardening, Locavore, spring flowers, weather. Bookmark the permalink.

Lovin’ the Springtime

Posted on April 26, 2013 by AnnieRie

Finally, we seem to have stumbled upon a true spring time. Lovely sunny low humidity days. Perfect for al fresco dining. No bugs. No wind. Looks like a bit more of this weather in store also. Today we opted for dining outside as much as possible, and also spent time on the yardwork.

First, a report on our impromptu lunch on the patio. Using CSA items mostly, but making my simple salad as a topping. CSA greens with some scallions, baby turnips and red cabbage. A couple of pieces of that mozzarella I made. One of those huge spicy peppery radishes, and half a Valencia orange. Add to it some homemade vinaigrette. The topping is my Tuscan inspired tuna.

In the little cup is a dollop of vanilla yogurt I picked up at Breezy Willow Wednesday, served with a few apricots and some frozen blackberries, left from my Larriland stash in the freezer.

Dinner is happily slow cooking in the oven, the last of the lasagne I made from my homemade sauce. Took it from freezer to oven. No fuss while we enjoy the weather in the back yard.

I can hear the tractors, my husband in the field and my neighbor in his yard. Doesn’t everyone park their tractor by the patio while taking a lunch break?

As for how things are developing in the flower and tree department. Azaleas really starting to flower.

This purple one is really full of blooms. Also having a banner year is my crab apple. Within a few days, this should be a vision in white.

Anything significant blooming in your space? Spring has definitely sprung in West Hoco.

hocofood@@@

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Posted in CSA, Food, Gardening, Nature, Weather, West HoCo and tagged azaleas, CSA, Food, gardening, hoco loco, nature, spring flowers, weather, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

Under the Weather

Posted on April 25, 2013 by AnnieRie

It never fails every spring, I pick up at least one cold while the weather keeps vacillating. Today after doing a fair amount of work in the gardens, I succumbed to that stuffy head, achy muscles and simply miserable feeling. Making me miss a hocobloggers get together at Xitomate. I judge a Mexican restaurant by their moles and their camarones dinners.

We will get there to try it with friends some night, just didn’t make it today. Besides, I can’t wait until they get to Turf Valley, much closer to our house.

Before crashing on the sofa with lemon water and rosemary crackers, I did get many of my herbs in the garden, and spent about an hour pulling up black fabric in the main veggie gardens. I will plant the tomatoes in three weeks, after the last chance of frost. Tell me, is there anything better than the scent of tomato plants?

They are all happy in the mudroom under the window facing east. As for the flowers outside, the dogwoods are blooming. The early azaleas too. I will be taking a trip to Brighton Dam tomorrow if I feel better to see what is happening there.

Yes, under the trees the dandelions are going nuts. So are all our other weeds, and the wild parsley that keeps the bunnies out of my herbs. Herbs planted and planned this year include blue sage, common sage, French tarragon, French thyme, African blue basil, marjoram and sweet basil. The chives and rosemary are coming back as well as that weed called mint. If you do nothing else, plant a few small pots of herbs. Thyme does very well around here.

As for the Thelma Sanders start from seed squash experiment, I ended up with one dozen plants from the saved seeds. Not a bad germination rate at all. There will be a section in the garden for the squash and cucumbers to hopefully happily coexist.

Finally, one last thing about locally sourced meats. We got half a lamb last week from England Acres. Twenty seven pounds. Dressed the way we wanted it. At a fraction of the cost of buying it at the store.

Next week is their first week for their chickens. Believe me, since there are none left in the freezer, I will be popping out to the farm for a couple.

I may be fighting a simple spring bug, but the weather and that beginning of growing season always gets me motivated to go out and enjoy my favorite time of year here in the midAtlantic.

hocofood@@@

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Posted in Food, Gardening, Howard County, Locavore, Nature, Restaurants, Weather, West HoCo and tagged azaleas, Food, gardening, heirloom tomatoes, hoco loco, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, nature, spring flowers, tomatoes, weather. Bookmark the permalink.

Brighton Dam Azaleas 2013

Posted on April 20, 2013 by AnnieRie

Definitely late blooming compared to last year. Lots of buds, just a few early bloomers.

I did quite a few errands today, but took a break and walked the gardens which opened last week. Many buds and a lovely blue sky with a few plants here and there bursting with color.

These early pink blossoms were scattered around the property but when you walked the trails it was mostly just greening up. Beautiful sunny day. Many people out. Give them a week and they will start popping.

It is still a serene setting for a walk.

The gardens on Brighton Dam Road are open daily until mid summer. No pets. No picnics.

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Posted in Day Trips, Howard County, Nature, Weather, West HoCo and tagged azaleas, Howard County, nature, spring flowers, weather, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

Connections @hcconservancy

Posted on April 17, 2013 by AnnieRie

Connections. All sorts. This time I am talking about art. At the Conservancy tomorrow night the 18th of April.

Starting at 6 pm, there will be a reception, silent auction and words about the juried art show, by artists and the judges. The art is amazing, and has been on display in the large hall on the Conservancy grounds. Tickets are $12 at the door. I find this a wonderful place to get art from local artists, already matted and framed.

If you love art with a nature theme, and want to support local artists and the Conservancy, please join us there. I will be volunteering at the event, and having a lovely evening “connecting” with friends, both new ones and long time friends.

hocoblogs@@@

Checking Out Greenfest

Posted on April 13, 2013 by AnnieRie

Another of those spring rituals. Going to the Greenfrest at Howard Community College. Looking for plants, and picking up a few items of interest from the displays. As usual, there was a large enthusiastic crowd there this morning, and lots of greenery for sale.

The fest takes over the quad, the parking area, and two floors inside the Burrell Galleria. Lots for families to do, outside and inside. The Howard Astronomical League was outside with scopes, there were family activities outside, and food for sale.

I only had an hour there today as we had a conflict with a dinner engagement and I needed to get food ready to take to it. Still time to pick up another reusable bag (like I need more shopping bags!). A few brochures, and then out to the Master Gardeners area.

They were doing a brisk business in native plants, but I was looking for heirloom veggies. I will have to wait until Earth Day at the Conservancy to get those. Great to find out from them that our master gardeners have so many places for us to find really good starter plants.

I then headed off to see TLV where I wanted some greens and some short ribs. A request from my husband for me to do short ribs over the collard greens from this week’s CSA. TLV did not disappoint. I came home with short ribs.

They were doing a very good business, already sold out of all the basil plants they brought. Many more herbs available. I will be heading out to the farm in two weeks to get mine. Just in time to plant.

Many of their customers were commenting on how good it was to see them, and how we all can’t wait for the Howard County Farmers Markets to start in just 3 1/2 weeks. Keep checking their website and facebook pages to see the lists of vendors when they get posted.

Notice all those lovely containers of greens. Quite a few of those were sold as I was there talking to them. This is a great way to have fresh microgreens on the table. I use window boxes outside my kitchen, but these tubs would do great on a porch, or a deck, keeping leafy goodness out of the reach of bunnies and deer.

On my way out, I saw that a number of bikes were being loaded onto the trailers for the bike collection.

It was a beautiful breezy spring day, and it looked like another successful event in this, its sixth year. Driving home through Columbia and across Folly Quarter, I couldn’t miss all the flowering trees and shrubs. At home, the cherry tree is in full bloom. I need to pop out tomorrow and see how the azaleas are coming at Brighton Dam. It should be a sunny but cool day, perfect for a ride.

hocoblogs@@@

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Posted in Community, Farmer's Markets, Farms, Food, Gardening, Howard County, Local Businesses, Locavore, Nature, Weather and tagged community, crock pot cooking, farmer's markets, farms, Food, gardening, heirloom tomatoes, hoco loco, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, nature, spring flowers, weather. Bookmark the permalink.

Spring Sprung!!!!

Posted on April 12, 2013 by AnnieRie

When we weren’t looking. Everything started to pop open.

Out of nowhere my weeping cherry went nuts. So did the tulips.

Bulbs opening left and right. Hyacinth, hellesbores, daffodils, tulips. All the spring flowers beginning to bloom as the temperatures rise. I love spring. I plant things. Nurture them. Take pleasure in how fast they grow. I am really happy about my garlic in the garden, though. At least a baker’s dozen of garlic bulbs, which will be preceded by those lovely garlic scapes perfect for pesto.

The ones in the pots didn’t do as well, so no pics of them. I should at least get spring garlic out of those. But, my chives came back very strong. Love them snipped off and added to dinner at the last moment.

The lavender is coming back, too. I will clean out these boxes and add a few microgreen mixes. If you want to do something easy, plant a few herbs and microgreens in window boxes.

Working on a post about my “Out there” local meal, involving Breezy Willow eggs and local meats. It is spring in the midatlantic, and we are loving it.