Tag Archives: West HoCo

Tulips in January?

Posted on February 1, 2013 by AnnieRie

What is it with the weather here in Howard County? Yesterday my husband told me the tulips were coming up in the front yard.

Yeah, those little leaves poking up in front of the mums I cut back to the ground. Those same tulips that bloomed in March last year.

Those same tulips that bloomed in late April 2009. I wonder when they will bloom this year as they are really early.

2009 April tulips

This week has been one crazy roller coaster ride, with snow, ice, rain, tornado watches, thunderstorms, floods, and super high winds. All we need are plagues of locusts. As for the 2.5 inches of rain in a 24 hour period earlier this week, the stormwater management on the property did what it was supposed to do.

All of the water from our shared driveway and my neighbor’s field came down to the depression that allows it to run into our yard and around the back of the house.

From there,

it heads off past my herb garden on its way to the vegetable garden. That area is the final destination for most of the water, where it will perk back into the ground water and become part of the water table. So far, knock on wood, we have never had to redrill the well even during our worst droughts. Of course, our well is about 500 feet deep, but we are lucky to be in a good location.

Now, if it ever stops raining, I need to finish the garden clean up. I got all the cages and tomato plants out. I just need to clear out those morning glory vines from the fence, and pull up the black fabric barrier. This shaded garden is going to be the new home for many shade tolerant herbs, and I am going to experiment with some cooler weather varieties of plants. Just for the heck of it, I will be putting in pumpkin seeds in one section.

Just cross our fingers the weather doesn’t get nasty for Super Bowl Sunday. We all remember the blizzards of 2010 that weekend, don’t we? Not going to many parties in Howard County when most roads looked like this or worse and it took a week to clear out all the snow from back to back storms.

February 6, 2010

We had 25 inches of snow that Saturday. The equivalent amount of snow that 2.5 inches of rain could have been this year if the temperatures had been lower.

I think I am happier with all the rain. The 2010 blizzard was a real pain to shovel.

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

The Competition for Dinner

Posted on January 30, 2013 by AnnieRie

In keeping with the bird theme this week, I am noticing that the backyard predators are becoming patio and deck predators. They must be running out of field mice, voles and other rodents down in the meadow.

Friday the young Cooper’s hawk decided to hang out in the maple tree off our patio and watch the happenings. What is interesting about this predator, the birds don’t seem to care about him. He is looking for bigger prey usually. While he was there the juncos just remained in the burning bush.

Now today, the sharp shinned hawk felt like making the bird bath his perch in case any small birds were inclined to show up. He didn’t even flinch as I took at least a dozen pictures of him through the patio door. He was about 25 feet away from our door.

He causes the most havoc around here. Swoops in low and at high speed and the birds scatter. Occasionally one hits a window in their panic and he gets an easy meal. It is the trade off here. No cover in the winter on the deciduous trees and bushes, so the birds are more vulnerable.

I do know this year the two of them are doing a very good job at keeping mice out of the house. The population must be smaller due to their constant hunting in the garden and the meadow. I have only trapped one this winter. Usually I have at least half a dozen squeezing up through the openings to the crawl space under the washer and dryer. We have to have traps in the laundry room all winter. This year either the warmer weather, or the presence of two predators is keeping them at bay.

It took me a while to get used to them when we moved here. Being up close and personal to acipitors is just part of the whole experience in this rural setting.

The Chesapeake Watershed

Posted on January 26, 2013 by AnnieRie

Two things this week reminded me of this amazing book by Ned Tillman.

The first is the wellness hike and lecture series for volunteers at the Howard County Conservancy. Ned is the speaker, speaking on the geology of Mt. Pleasant this Tuesday the 29th at 11 am. For all volunteers, or someone really interested in becoming a volunteer, this is the final walk and lecture. Next month volunteer naturalist training begins for the spring field trips.

This lecture, by Ned, will be followed by lunch. Each of us volunteers is bringing some sort of dessert. The Conservancy staff is making us lunch. Truly, this type of volunteering is good for me, and bad for my diet.

The second reminder with respect to the health of the Chesapeake was seeing the story about the proposed stormwater management fee, a bill to be introduced at the February county council session. I have mixed feelings about this approach. If the money collected is actually used to clean up problems created. Those caused by over development by residential and commercial developers with minimal requirements to be responsible stewards of the land. If so, it would be a good thing.

But, with all the reimbursements, credits, bureaucracy involved, it probably won’t have much of an impact. Yee haw, plant a tree. Get a reimbursement. Buy a rain barrel, get a reimbursement. Really?

Bandaids aren’t going to solve this problem. I lived thirty years in Columbia. Face it. They used the streams as the run off collectors. Our old development was built in the 80s. The storm ponds overflowed every hard rain, into an overflow system that went right down into the streams below Rock Coast Road. The ponds weren’t large enough. Trade offs. Large enough storm water collection, or more houses. Guess what won?

Some unintentional issues I saw while reading this bill. Issues from a west county (don’t live in a development) perspective. The GIS data they will be using to assess us for our impervious surfaces doesn’t appear to be very accurate out here. For example, this is a “driveway” on my property. The data base shows about a hundred feet of driveway behind our home.

Now, maybe twenty years ago it was a gravel drive back to the meadow but it has been reclaimed. And, the data doesn’t show my shed. Nor does it show most of the out buildings all over this part of the county. From a management standpoint, not having the data there means more labor to create it all, and to verify it. None of the homes in the new development up the road from us are even in the database. I know there are at least a dozen homes occupied up there. The database shows forest. It seems this could become a logistical nightmare.

Add to that the fact that all the runoff from my house and our driveway stays on our property. I use downspout extenders to water my flower gardens from roof runoff. The driveway drains into our back yard and is collected in a depressed area just past my vegetable garden surrounded by mature trees. The river runs there every time it rains or snow melts.

This is the “river” passing the herb garden on its way to my vegetable garden. All the water from our driveway heads back to that depressed area in the meadow. It is a natural bowl. We have another one in the front corner of the property. Everything from the shared driveway ends up down there. More than half the time you can’t run the tractor there as the water collects under the 100 year old trees. Sixty feet tall. Permanent shade down there. Sometimes a real wetland.

There are no curbs. There are no drains. We live on a well. The nearest stream is over a half mile down the road, with eight homes, meadows and pine forests between us and the stream. But, if it makes a difference, I won’t squawk about paying $69.20 a year. That amount is based on our impervious footprint, with no credits or reimbursements, because our mitigation efforts to keep precious water on our land were already done.

We need to change lots of things we do to keep the Bay healthy. Stop pretending we live on the 18th green at Pebble Beach, and keep the chemicals off the grass. Take care of our cars and trucks so they don’t leak oil and fluids all over the streets where rain washes the debris right into the storm drains. Ultimately into the Bay.

Read Ned’s book sometime. It is really enlightening. But, can we do better when it comes to solving the stormwater management problem?

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Posted in Commentary, Community, Howard County, Nature, Volunteering, West HoCo and tagged commentary, community, hoco loco, Howard County, howard county conservancy, nature, volunteering, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

Heard Around the Water Cooler

Posted on January 21, 2013 by AnnieRie

aka The Bird Bath. I think that my neighborhood birds are all excited that the Ravens won.

They were gathering in earnest today at the bird bath. They also decided the buffet in my yard must have been worth the visit.

These are just the robins and starlings that descended upon us this morning. And, only a fraction of them. There were more out back and in the meadow. My neighbor’s crab apple trees are the big draw along with my heated bird bath. I think this “discussion” is about why the Cardinals didn’t do so well this year, and what they think of the 49ers.

Add to all these new visitors, the red bellied woodpecker decided to chase away the finch from his favorite feeder.

But then he got all introspective and went off to contemplate whatever.

Just another day in West Howard County. Lunchtime entertainment.

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Posted in Birds, Commentary, Howard County, Nature, West HoCo and tagged birds, commentary, Howard County, nature, photography, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

Grocery Shopping: West County Style

Posted on January 19, 2013 by AnnieRie

Today I went shopping. West county style. Hit Breezy Willow Farm Store, open from 10-2 on Saturday. They were doing a brisk business. No milk there, but BBQ pork to make sandwiches for the Ravens game.

The pork BBQ will be served at halftime. That pumpkin hummus from yesterday and also some of my baked veggie chips will be the snacks. Just think, a locavore football party. But, pulled pork needs cole slaw and buns. Royal Farms to the rescue. What can I say? Drive all the way to Clarksville to save a few cents or pick it up at Royal Farms. I did Royal Farms, and also got Cloverland Farms milk for cereal.

As for the rest of my shopping, I bought onions, apples, broccoli and honey graham ice cream (to celebrate or commiserate). The broccoli looked wonderful today.

I also got a dozen eggs. Love that green one among all the brown ones.

Made egg salad today when I got home to use up my “old” eggs. They still won’t float, which means it is a bit harder to peel the eggs. Old eggs are best for egg salad, but with farm fresh eggs you have to leave them sit around a while. These are two weeks old and still don’t have the void inside that makes peeling easier.

While at Breezy Willow, I observed. I was the “old lady” there. Families with little ones. Young shoppers. It seems farm to table is really happening, and not just a slogan. It is good to see people buying locally, and choosing real food for their tables.

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Posted in Farmer's Markets, Food, Howard County, Local Businesses, Locavore, Real Food, West HoCo, Winter Eat Local and tagged farmer's markets, Food, foodie, hoco loco, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, real food, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

Come Meet Your Local Farmers

Posted on January 16, 2013 by AnnieRie

This Sunday the 20th from 2-4:30 the Howard County Conservancy is presenting a program featuring our local farmers. Come and meet the faces behind the farms. Farms that participate in our markets, that have seed sales, pumpkin patches, mazes, fall festivals, farmstands and CSAs.

Particularly the CSAs. Many of the farms will be explaining how their CSAs work. Here is a shot of last year’s April delivery from Zahradka.

Typical April CSA items

If you are interested in learning more, come join the discussions. Besides having information available a few of the farms have items for sale. Like cheese. Honey. Eggs. You can also find out how and where to get local beef, lamb and pork from our farmers.

Farms include: Clarks, Sharp, Breezy Willow, Love Dove, Bowling Green, Zahradka, and Gorman. Maybe you have visited their stands. Maybe bought their items at the markets in Howard County.

Love Dove, at market, also has CSA

Do you know where they are located? How long the land has been farmed? What they now farm and any changes over the years?

There will be an informal panel discussion at 3 pm, with the participants. Ask what they grow, what they love most about farming, what are they planning in their futures?

Check out all the great products brought to us from our local farms. How about seedlings for your herb or vegetable garden?

heirloom tomato seedlings and plugs – Sharp’s farm

Did you know you can order meat to pick up at Clark’s on Saturdays? Or, stop out at Breezy Willow for eggs, meat, dairy and winter veggies? Find out what is available year round. It may be winter but there is quite a bit available to support our local farmers.

Breezy Willow in January

Join us Sunday!

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Posted in Community, CSA, Farmer's Markets, Food, Howard County, Local Businesses, Locavore, People, Real Food, West HoCo and tagged CSA, farmer's markets, Food, gardening, heirloom tomatoes, hoco loco, Howard County, howard county conservancy, local businesses, Locavore, real food, tomatoes, value of CSA, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

Restaurant Weeks

Posted on January 15, 2013 by AnnieRie

I have mixed feelings about restaurant weeks. I know they are designed to bring people into the independently owned restaurants but why do we need an incentive to avoid the chain restaurants and their prepackaged reheated meals.

I love our local small restaurants. Our three favorites these days include Bistro Blanc, Iron Bridge and Elkridge Furnace. All locally owned. All making things using the local farms and cooking from scratch.

I wandered up to Bistro Blanc tonight all by my lonesome as my husband had a club dinner in Frederick. I sit at the bar and talk to Andy or Warren, whoever is bartending. I also get to converse with the locals who frequent the bar as a very casual place to enjoy a meal.

Don’t come here if you are in a hurry. Food here is cooked from scratch. Your burgers are made to order from fresh local meats and nothing beats fresh lamb cooked medium rare, juicy and served on a brioche bun.

The lamb burger was amazing, but so are the frites. Garlicky, with whole roasted cloves of garlic hidden in the bowl. Sprinkled with parmigiano and rosemary. Served with an aioli that is also rich and garlicky. I love my burgers medium rare and it drives me nuts to go to a place that will only incinerate and dry out a burger. But, they usually have premade patties of questionable origin, so maybe incineration is a good thing for them.

I paired the burger with a lovely Domaine Chandon Pinot Meunier. Tuesday is half price wine night. This is a good deal for wines. I brought half of it home for my husband to savor with some cheese later this evening.

Their restaurant week menu looks great. We will be there some night next week for it.

Check out your local Howard County restaurants for their special menus, but more importantly, support them all year long.

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Posted in Food, Local Businesses, Locavore, Real Food, Restaurants, West HoCo, Wine and tagged community, Food, foodie, hoco loco, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, real food, West HoCo, wine. Bookmark the permalink.

Rearranging the Habitat

Posted on January 14, 2013 by AnnieRie

And driving the birds nuts. They don’t like change. They were not happy when everything came down while they did crown cleaning of our maple tree. When I put it all back up, I had moved things around.

I got a new witches hat at Mother Nature’s the other day. Plus, I wanted to protect the suet better. And, I found a new nugget and peanut feeder to replace my gnarly looking old one. Birds don’t like change, as I said. The downy woodpeckers had to take time to figure out how to get onto this new one.

This young downy launched herself at least a half dozen times before figuring it out. She did finally get there. Don’t worry. It isn’t a girl thing. Her brother had just as much trouble. These are two new young woodpeckers that live in my yard somewhere. With their parents. I watched all four of them this summer. Mama very protective while the younguns were learning. Mom and Dad are not afraid of me. The younguns still are.

See, she did figure it out. Besides her, the young newest generation of red bellied woodpeckers took no time to get back here and find his favorite feeders. Even though they all moved around.

He’s up in the tree here, but came down to the suet and to the sunflower/safflower/peanut mix in my left most feeder. He nails that feeder every morning now. He is also still very shy, and flies away immediately when I come out.

As for the blue jays, they are loving the peanuts. And, they have figured out how to hang on the side of the feeder with the spring loaded closing mechanism. Smart birds.

We have at least six blue jays. They are always chasing the hawks, and they definitely know the sound of the top of the feeder closing. The “jay jay” call goes out immediately after I finish filling feeders and flinging peanuts in the shell.

As for smart birds, we now have three crows here. They love me, as I do the peanuts. I can now take their picture. They will fly away the instant my husband appears in the window. He has to start feeding them and make them happy to see him. Besides, they look almost like Ravens, don’t they?

The crows are our alarm clock in the morning. As are the squirrels who think it is cool to jump from our cherry tree onto our roof and run across it early in the morning. Living in a Cape Cod, our roof line does run right across us on my side of the bed. It sounds like an army when they chase each other across there. They love the new location of the corn feeders. They can munch right from the tree. No sweat. No real acrobatics.

I don’t need to pay for entertainment out here in west county. It is right outside my kitchen window.

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A Busy January at the Conservancy

Posted on January 7, 2013 by AnnieRie

It will be a busy month even though it is January. And, with lovely weather coming this weekend, the Beekeepers Program at the Howard county Conservancy this Saturday the 12th should be very popular. It might be warm enough to go out and see the hives, without freezing.

This Saturday is the monthly Wonder “walk”, which in the winter is a wonder talk. Who knew it would be in the high 50s and maybe 60 this weekend.

Add to that, three lovely Tuesday hikes for the volunteer naturalists. Not a volunteer yet, never fear. We are inviting friends who want to become naturalists to join us. Just let us know.

Tomorrow morning, we have a choice of a fitness hike or a leisurely stroll, followed by an educational presentation on the history of Mt. Pleasant, the farm that became host for the Conservancy.

Next week the 15th, we have a talk on native plants, and the 29th one by Ned Tillman on the geology of Mt. Pleasant. The hikes are at 0930 and the talks at 1100. Call the Conservancy to ask about them, if you would like to become a new volunteer helping us lead field trips for the school children.

Also this month, our new program — Meet Your Local Farmers — on January 20th from 2 until 4:30. Discussions, CSA signups, info on what the local farms produce and how to get it in the winter. A really good informal way to learn where you can get good healthy meat, cheese, eggs, produce, dairy, honey and other great stuff from farms in and around Howard County.

Everything this month at the Conservancy is no charge. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to bringing us closer to nature, the farms, the land, the history and the best in Howard County.

Come join us at one or more of these events.

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Sixty @ Sixty Using the Yacon

Posted on January 4, 2013 by AnnieRie

My personal challenge in turning sixty. Use six new exotic veggies. Tonight it was the yacon. Remember the yacon? The weird veggie in my CSA just before Christmas.

Yacon is a relative of the sunflower and the Jerusalem artichoke, only slightly sweeter. Grown mostly in the Andes, this veggie made its way to our home in our organic CSA box, from the Amish in Lancaster. I found a recipe that used it raw in a salad with other fruits and veggies. I decided to try it out this way.

Shaved with the mandoline. Paired with apple, carrot and greens. Finished with pomegranate seeds, pistachios and pepitas. Sprinkled with goat cheese feta.

The salad, and a roasted chicken, were dinner tonight. Served with a Glen Manor wine. The chicken from a local farm. The wine, one of my favorite Sauvignon blancs out there. It tastes like a New Zealand wine.

But the star of the dinner, I have to admit, was the Stone House multigrain bread. Taken out of the freezer and baked for 15 minutes. Crisp crunchy crust. Tons of flavor. It was the highlight of dinner. Thank you TLV farms, for having them at the tree cutting days at the local farm. I stocked up in the freezer with their breads.

Back to mostly local cooking, and good for us veggies. The holidays are over, but good food is still out there. Oh, and the other highlight of the dinner. My birthday roses are still hanging in there. Way to go, Raimondis.