The Precious Autumn Sunshine

Now that this week’s brain teasers are out of the way, it’s time to think about quick road trips for the weekend. If you plan on heading up Route 2 west along the Mohawk Trail to catch some of the early fall foliage, there are two stops worth recommending: one food-related (of course!) and one garden-related.

Only open for a few more weeks, Skip’s Roadside Diner is conveniently located on French King Highway, (Route 2) in Gill, MA for quick but delicious roadside fare. Run by an Italian, the polish food is authentic and worth the stop before heading further along the Route 2 fall foliage corridor. Open Monday through Saturday, 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM, it is recommended you call ahead at (413) 863-9991 to verify hours and the closing date in October. (10/17/09 may be the last day.) You can’t miss the little trailer at the intersection of Gill and Turners Falls. The Polish Reuben is tasty; a good choice with a side of pierogies.

As you head back onto Route 2’s fall wonderland, take a trip to one of “New England’s Best Small Towns” recently published by Boston Magazine – Shelburne Falls. (http://www.bostonmagazine.com/new_england_travel/articles/new_englands_best_small_towns/) It is a quaint New England town but one of my favorite highlights is the Bridge of Flowers. (http://www.shelburnefalls.com/attractions/bridge.html) There is something magical about this spot. People of all ages enjoy walking across the bridge; absorbed in the meticulous plant layout surrounded by its exceptional backdrop. More towns should take heed to beautifying what could be derelict.

So enjoy the rest of your week. You may want to take Nathaniel Hawthorne’s advice, which is the inspirational gardening thought of the day. “I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air.”

Tuesday’s with Annie – 9/29/09

If you are looking for the answers from yesterday’s brain teasers, here you go. I’m putting the inspirational gardening thought of the day by Alice Walker before the answers. “Expect nothing, live frugally on surprise.” Now that’s a brain teaser! You might have to think about that one for a bit. Enjoy the day.

True or False – Corn was the first subsidized crop in the United States.
False - The first subsidized crop in the United States was blue false indigo (Baptisia australis). This plant’s flower was used for blue dye; it was extremely valuable to the textile industry.

True or False – Witch Hazel (Hamamelis) blooms in the spring.
This is kind of a trick question depending on your zone and variety. Witch Hazel blooms sporadically in the late fall but its primary bloom time is late winter into early spring. It is one of the first blooming shrubs of the season. Some varieties have spectacular color; yellow, orange and sun-burst. Varieties like Hamamelis mollis 'Pallida' and Hamamelis x intermedia 'Primavera' have an amazing fragrance as well. This interesting shrub should be a potential contender in any home garden.

True or False – The fig is related to the mulberry.
True – the fig and mulberries are both members of the Moraceae family. Bread fruit from the tropics is also included in the Moraceae family.

True or False – Oak trees of different species in New England often cross-pollinate.
True – it is common to find during a walk in the woods all variations of oak leaf forms due to cross-pollination of various oaks.

True or False – The largest known Asian longhorned beetle was found in Central Massachusetts.
Unfortunately for Central Massachusetts, this is true. The Asian longhorned beetle has found a very fertile territory for proliferation. Just last Friday, the Worcester Telegram reported that the Asian longhorned beetle quarantine zone has now expanded another eight miles, which includes the town of West Boylston, Massachusetts. The total square miles of quarantined area has reached 74 miles. http://www.telegram.com/article/20090925/NEWS/909250344 It is an extremely destructive insect. Learn to identify this insect and report any and all sightings to http://massnrc.org/pests/alb/ or by calling 1-866-702-9938.

Monday Morning Brain Teasers: Take Three

It’s a beautiful Monday morning after a full day of much-needed rain. If you couched it yesterday watching football or movies, here are the Monday morning brain teasers to remove the cob-webs and get the mind moving. Have fun. As always, the answers can be found in tomorrow’s blog.

True or False – Corn was the first subsidized crop in the United States.

True or False – Witch Hazel (Hamamelis) blooms in the spring.

True or False – The fig is related to the mulberry.

True or False – Oak trees of different species in New England often cross-pollinate.

True or False – The largest known Asian longhorned beetle was found in Central Massachusetts.

The inspirational gardening thought of the day is by Michelangelo. “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” Annie’s remedy is to find your passion and reach high; stand on your tippy-toes if you must!