Archive for the 'Gardening' Category
Elizabeth Park- Free Concert Wed. 6/27
This Wednesday evening begins Elizabeth Park’s free summer concert series. Stop by with a blanket and picnic at 6:30PM to enjoy the sounds of the swing group Eight to the Bar…
It’s also still a great time to take in the roses if you missed the Rose Weekend this past Saturday and Sunday.
Berry Season is Upon Us…
June is finally here, which means that it’s the start of berry picking season. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries. We kick off the summer with strawberries and then work our way through the rest.
If you’re like me and don’t mind getting some straw stuck in your knees and burning up in the sun, a great place for Pick-Your-Own berries is Rose’s Berry Farm in Glastonbury. There are two locations, the main farm at Matson Hill and the Wickham Hill Farm Stand located on Hebron Avenue. It’s always best to call before you go, as the different locations are open on different days and you never know when the crop will be ready, picked out, etc. Just dial 860-633-7467 and you’ll get a recorded message telling you what’s available and at which location.
In addition to picking berries, Rose’s has excellent local food products for sale. They are also well known for their Sunday brunch (at the main farm only), so stop by to enjoy a delicious meal with the freshest berries available.
Gardener? Check Out Hartford’s Regional Market
If you have any interest in gardening, you might want to check out the Hartford Regional Market at 101 Reserve Road for fantastic deals on annuals, perennials, ornamental shrubs, and warm weather vegetable seedlings. The Spring season draws farmers and growers from the greater Hartford region each Saturday, starting at 4:00am. Yes, I did say 4:00am, you really need to be an early bird to participate in this event. But if you love gardening or need some shrubs for your yard, it’s a great place to choose from a wide variety, typically for 50% of the price you would pay at a local gardening center or Home Depot.
A few tips I’ve picked up over the years..
1. Arrive early, before 6:00am if possible. There are typically about 2,000 people that will come to shop, so you want to get there early so you can avoid traffic and choose from the best selection possible.
2. If you have a wagon, bring it. Because of the crowds, you’ll park away from the vendors. You’ll be buying flats of plants that aren’t easy to carry. So if you can put them in a wagon, your excursion will be more enjoyable.
3. No need to shower. No one else wants to get up at 5:00am on the weekend (or weekdays for that matter), so just put on a baseball cap, some sweatpants, and you’re good to go.
4. Directions. If you can avoid using Exit 27 off I-91, by all means, please do so. The traffic can be a pain. Here are some alternate routes that are suggested.