Category Archives: West HoCo

Put It on Your Calendar – Larriland

Posted on May 27, 2013 by AnnieRie

Larriland opens this Friday May 31st. For pick your own strawberries.

Looks like I will be picking strawberries and having lunch at the Lisbon Town Grill. Pulled pork sounds great. Grilled out by the gas station.

This is two weeks later than last year. A longer cooler spring time this year. But, we know summer is coming when the strawberries ripen.

Oh, and it will be warm Friday. Sounds like snowballs at Alex’s for dessert.

Now, I have to go find my container. I kept it all winter.

See you Friday?

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Posted in Farms, Food, Howard County, Local Businesses, Locavore, Restaurants, Weather, West HoCo and tagged farms, Food, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, weather, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

In Glenwood It’s All Good

Posted on May 18, 2013 by AnnieRie

Saturday farmer’s market in Glenwood. I missed the first week but made it out there today. The market has three new vendors. One, Misty Meadows, had ice cream, milk and cheese.

Misty Meadows will be in Glenwood once a month, but for those craving fresh milk, they also come to the hospital market on Fridays. The other new vendor is Pleitez Produce, up from Montross VA. What is so great about having a VA farmer here is how early they get veggies in, compared to us. It is great because it lengthens the season. Today they had strawberries and rhubarb, and cucumbers and little greenhouse grown cherry tomatoes.

In this picture, Pleitez is behind Great Harvest. Great Harvest had those incredible croutons there today. The ones I picked up at Breezy Willow with my CSA the other day. I got some rhubarb and large spring onions from Pleitez.

The third new vendor is Thai Spices. I have already written about them from buying curries at Miller library market. They will be at all the markets.

I talked a while with RJ Caulder of Breezy Willow, and she said they are definitely adding more vendors to each market to make them more diverse. I see on the market web page that Elk Run Vineyard will be coming once a month in June July and August. Great to see the expansion of our markets.

I did a small amount of shopping. Cucumber plants to replace the ones the bunnies decided to sample.

We need to expand the bunny fencing as the little ones are squeezing through the deer fence. Today was a three bunny day.

Not very clear but then they were playing “Ring around the house” chasing each other all over the yard. Where is the fox when you need it? Seriously. They are getting into all my stuff even if they don’t like it. They chomp it off and leave it.

I got buttermilk cake to serve with berries and some of this lovely ice cream.

Misty Meadows sells small cups and quarts of their ice cream. I also bought bacon from TLV. Not a bad morning. I have now been to two of the five to see what Howard County markets have this year. Check them out.

I think next week I may hit the hospital market if my husband likes this milk as well as Trickling Springs. I only got him a 12 ounce bottle today to try.

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Posted in Farmer's Markets, Food, Gardening, Howard County, Local Businesses, Locavore, West HoCo, Wine and tagged farmer's markets, Food, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, nature, West HoCo, wine. Bookmark the permalink.

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.

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Posted in Food, Gardening, Howard County, Nature, Real Food, Weather, West HoCo and tagged Food, gardening, heirloom tomatoes, Howard County, nature, spring flowers, tomatoes, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

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.

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Posted in Community, Day Trips, Gardening, Nature, Weather, West HoCo and tagged azaleas, community, day trips, gardening, hoco loco, nature, photography, spring flowers, weather, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

Just Us Chickens …

Posted on May 3, 2013 by AnnieRie

… and other random thoughts on a Friday evening.

It is the beginning of chicken season out at England Acres. The first 100 were processed this week and by now may all be gone. If you want to try some really tasty chicken, try free range birds from the local farms. England Acres offers them every four weeks all summer.

The chickens range in size from four to six pounds. If you want to use them frozen, directly into the crock pot like I do, you need to take out that plastic bag with the giblets and heart, and take out the neck. Those pieces I use to make chicken stock. If you are going to grill or roast the chicken, just pop them right into the freezer and worry about that bag later.

Besides England Acres, other local farms also do chickens. TLV will have them at the markets. Breezy Willow gets them. Clark’s also has chickens in season. Of course, also, Maple Lawn has frozen turkey all year round, and fresh ones for Thanksgiving and Christmas. You can certainly eat naturally raised, farm fresh goodness from all over this area.

If you get the chance to head out to England Acres, say hi to the five little kids in the yard. They are happy for visitors and practically climb over each other to see you.

Other ramblings this weekend. The Sheep and Wool Festival is Saturday and Sunday. I hope to get there but we have guests coming both days. I know Breezy Willow will be there. They will be in the main exhibition hall.

The weather should be lovely all weekend. Markets are opening everywhere. I saw that Love Dove will be in Silver Spring Saturday. I will probably check out Burtonsville Sunday morning to see who goes there. Not that I really need anything, but I would love to find some ramps or fiddlehead ferns. I have never cooked with either of them. Asparagus should be here, and soon strawberries.

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Posted in Farmer's Markets, Farms, Food, Local Businesses, Locavore, Real Food, West HoCo and tagged cooking, farmer's markets, farms, Food, foodie, hoco loco, local businesses, Locavore, weather. Bookmark the permalink.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

Triadelphia Lake View Farm

Posted on April 21, 2013 by AnnieRie

The farm just down the road a piece. Closest to us, and a source of meat, eggs, plants, Christmas decorations, and veggies.

TLV Tree Farm. Known to many Howard County residents as the Christmas Tree Farm, where years ago we discovered the farm when we bought our first town house. Now known to much of Howard County as one of the farms at four of the five Farmers Markets in the county. They come to all the market days except the Thursday market.

You can go to the farm any Saturday in the winter and pick up meat, and sometimes there are eggs and Bowling Green Farm cheese in the fridge. They are open 10-2 every Saturday. I tend to stop there when I need something for a weekend dinner.

Just drive up to the farm and if no one is in the store, they have a number to call to get someone from the house. They have been farming in the county on these 100 acres for generations.

The farm house sits at the intersection of Triadelphia and Triadelphia Mill Roads. A pleasant back roads drive from Clarksville, using Triadelphia Mill, or from Columbia using Homewood, Folly Quarter, Triadelphia, what I call our direct route to Harper’s Choice. Easily accessible from Rte. 32 also.

The farm has U pick strawberry fields in the spring. Pumpkin picking, a corn maze and fall activities in October. And, of course, the Christmas tree cutting.

If you have the chance, check out their products at the markets, and then go visit the farm. Only three weeks until the 2013 markets open. TLV is present at Miller Library, Howard County Hospital, Glenwood Library and Oakland Mills markets.

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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.