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Hot Air Balloon Adventures

summer 2019

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from the editor PUBLISHER Geordie Wilson EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Eli Hoelscher WRITERS Jeanne Marie Ford Gina Gallucci-White Tripp Laino Karen Peacock Christie Wisniewski PHOTOGRAPHERS Bill Green Dan Gross

To me, summer is all about limitless possibilities. School’s out, the rush of spring is wrapped up, and the weather is the best of the year. Step outside your door, and nothing can stop you. There are so many ways to soak up some sun and enjoy the outdoors; the hard thing is just choosing.

SALES EXECUTIVE Connie Hastings

For editorial queries or suggestions, contact Eli Hoelscher, ehoelscher@sunflowerpub.com For advertising queries, contact Connie Hastings, chastings@newspost.com Spires Magazine 351 Ballenger Center Drive Frederick, MD 21703 (301) 662-1163

This issue highlights just a few great ways to make the most of the season around (and above) Frederick County. For a little relaxation, stop and smell the flowers in a vast lavender field or have lunch in the shade—we’ve found the best picnic spots. Those looking for excitement can explore the wonderful local trails and natural areas in a variety of ways. See our articles on local horse stables and hot air ballooning.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying the cool repose of the air-conditioned indoors. Enjoy some of Frederick’s best brunch spots off the beaten path when recovering from all your time out in the sun. Personally, I think a good pancake is a blessing at any time of the year. Or perhaps you’d prefer a nice wine tasting?

No matter how you decide to spend your summer, you’re off to a great start here in Frederick. Remember that sunscreen!

A note on our last issue: The home featured on page 8 was arranged by Staged Above.

Spires Magazine is a collaboration of The Frederick News-Post and Ogden Publications city/regional magazine division.

PUBLISHER Bill Uhler DIRECTOR Bob Cucciniello PRODUCTION MANAGER Jenni Lieste EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Eli Hoelscher GROUP EDITOR Jean Teller DESIGNER Shelly Bryant COPY EDITOR Leslie Andres All material, including text and photography, are copyright Ogden Publications. The use, reprint or distribution of any material without express permission is forbidden.

Eli Hoelscher

Riding Toward Dreams

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ON THE COVER At Loch Moy Farm, a competitor clears an obstacle on the sport jumping ring.

Photograph by Bill Green.

summer 19

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summer 2019

01

c o n t e n t s

in the hom e

04

bringing the outdoors inside Local florists share tips on how to arrange vibrant summer blooms for a splash of indoor color.

08

high-end finishes Upgrade a new build or remodel with the latest on-trend materials.

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eight elements of nature our bodies crave Our bodies crave the elements of nature that once surrounded us. Enhance your family’s health and well-being by incorporating these eight elements into your home.

riding the wind

26

around the home

16

water features Add something special to your landscape with the help of the pros.

20

lavender love & obsession Discover which lavender plant best suits your garden.

away from home

26

riding the wind Everything you should know before going hot air ballooning.

30

what we love right now Romantic spots, picnic spots, and fashions.

02

the top five brunch spots you don’t know about

features

recurring

Mix up your brunch with these great options.

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Frederick’s world-class riding stables

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Equestrians have their pick of great stables for boarding, training, and competing.

Passions intersect on the beautiful Hidden Hills Farm and Vineyard.

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THE HOME

bringing the outdoors inside Local florists share tips on how to arrange vibrant summer blooms for a splash of indoor color.

W “Don’t think you missed your chance just because you didn’t sow in June.”

—Julianne Du Four

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Freshly harvested ranunculus; Julianne Du Four, owner of Petal Patch in Thurmont, waters just-planted zinnias; Sweet William that has just been harvested at Petal Patch; planting zinnias

hen Belle Blooms Farm owner Morgan Patterson walks into Common Market in Frederick with her delivery of flower bouquets, employees often exclaim, “Yay! Morgan is here!”

“Flowers usually bring people cheer,” Patterson says. “Flowers are always well received.”

Whether you cut them from your own garden or buy them from a local florist, summer flowers are a wonderful way to bring the outdoors inside.

“Celosia loves our hot summers and comes in a huge variety of shapes and textures and colors,” Patterson says. “It is one of my favorite flowers. It is a cut-andcome-again (plant). It gives you a lot of stems.”

Zinnias come in different varieties and colors now. “It’s not your grandmother’s zinnias,” Patterson says. The same applies to cosmos, rudbeckia, and sunflowers.

Petal Patch Flower Farm’s Julianne Du Four says, “Zinnias are an easy way to have lots of fun color and shapes because they have tiny (buds) and big ones.”

Dahlias are one of Patterson’s best sellers. “There is a kind of dahlia mania going on right now,” she says. “People just love dahlias. They come in every color under the sun. They can be huge. They can be small. They can be round. They can be spiky. They typically have lots and lots of petals. They just mesmerize people.”

Lisianthus is one of Du Four’s most popular summer flowers. It is not an easy flower to grow as she must start seeds on the first of January each year. “The flowers are beautiful,” she says. “They look almost like roses, but they come in all different shades, all different colors, and they last about two weeks after they are cut.”

Some of Patterson’s other summer favorites include delphinium, ageratum, snapdragons, and foxglove. Du Four likes hollyhocks, echinacea, and baptisia because they can take the Maryland summer heat and aren’t fussy about soil.

There are a number of flowers folks can grow themselves, including celosia, zinnias, cosmos, and sunflowers. “It is literally tossing seeds in the ground, giving

by Gina Gallucci-White

photos by Dan Gross

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them a little moisture, and they will sprout,” Du Four says.

“They sprout with the heat of summer, and you really almost have to do nothing for them. You can plant zinnia seeds up to the end of July, and sunflowers plant through the end of August. Don’t think you missed your chance just because you didn’t sow them in June.”

For those who already have a summer kitchen garden, Patterson says there are benefits to adding a row of flowers, including attracting beneficial insects. “It’s going to make your garden a cheerful place.”

But if you don’t feel like growing your own, you can find Du Four’s flowers at the Leesburg Farmers Market in Virginia on Saturdays, the Frederick City Market on Sundays, and at Common Market.

Patterson mainly Belle Blooms Farm sells directly to bellebloomsfarm.com wholesale designers Frederick, Maryland for weddings and at Common Market. “If Common Market Co+op somebody calls and commonmarket.coop asks to buy flowers, 5728 Buckeystown Pike I’m not going to turn Frederick, Maryland (them) away,” she says.

Open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily “I’m happy to do a custom arrangement if Frederick City Market someone wants.” frederickcitymarket.com Once you’ve 331 N. Market St. found your favorite Frederick, Maryland flowers, there are a Open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. number of ways to get Sundays from May the most out of your through November arrangements.

“The most Petal Patch Flower Farm important thing is petalpatchflowerfarm.com cleanliness,” Du Four Walkersville, Maryland says. “A clean vase, clean water every day, and keeping the stems cut every couple of days keep the stem from clogging, and water will flow freely. You just want to keep the bacteria out of the water.”

Although arrangements look beautiful in sunlit windows, keep flowers out of direct sunlight; they prefer shady areas away from the heat. It’s also best to keep arrangements away from fruits and vegetables. “As they ripen, they give off ethylene that will cause flowers to decay faster,” Du Four says. “Some flowers are more sensitive to it than others. Sweet peas are extremely sensitive to ethylene.”

Patterson notes some flowers last longer longer than others, so be sure to take out the dead or fading stems, leaving only healthy stems in the arrangement.

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Fun Ways to Dress Up Arrangements Before you reach for a favorite vase, look around the house. You may have a variety of creative containers that will add charm and visual appeal to your arrangements.

“Pitchers are really fun,” Patterson says. “They come in so many different heights and colors and shapes and sizes and can just make things look pretty.”

She also likes to put a single flower in containers like medicine jars and old thin vases. “I love putting a flower by your bedside,” she says.

Patterson also likes the classic farm feel of arranging flowers in a mason jar.

If you have a handful of blooms with shorter stems, Du Four suggests using old salt and pepper shakers of varying heights. “You can stagger the height to make the most of a small amount of flowers.”

Perhaps an arrangement in a smaller vase will fit inside a larger vase with rocks, twigs, and other materials found in nature as a base. Or, for extra detail, wrap pieces of white burlap around the middle of a section of the stems before placing the arrangement in a container.

Du Four also suggests cutting a couple of branches off an interesting shrub and bringing them inside. “It doesn’t have to always be a big bouquet,” she says. “It could be a vase with some architectural stems in it.”

Morgan Patterson on her Belle Blooms Farm in Adamstown

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high-end finishes Upgrade a new build or remodel with the latest on-trend materials.

PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) Heather Genau, Heather Lynn Interiors, Paula Tranfaglia, P.T. Designs (3)

story by Gina Gallucci-White

H

igh-end finishes can elevate your home’s kitchen and bathrooms to a new level, and area designers know everyone is looking for a stylish edge in today’s market.

“Whether you are an up-and-coming millennial or downsizing, everybody wants to be ] star,” Paula Tranfaglia of PT Designs Inc. says.

“Everybody wants the best of the best compared to, say, 15 or 20 years ago or [more]. Before, they wanted quality. Now they want quality and to be on-trend to have some glam and sparkle. ... I think everybody wants to be ontrend for themselves and also for the foreseeable future for possible resale.”

Heather O’Connell of Heather Lynn Interiors says having high-end finishes makes homes unique; they stand out from what folks typically see in every other home. “The more everyone goes for the same style and same easy selections, then it doesn’t really make your home or your space unique to yourself,” she says. “People think they can save money on certain things, and then they end up replacing it in a couple of years. I definitely think it is worth putting money into certain aspects of the design that you know are going to be in the space for a long time, like flooring, wall tiles, mill work.

Anything like that is definitely worth putting the money in to do higher-end than just your average off-the-shelf finishes.”

When it comes to flooring, Tranfaglia notes one trend she is seeing in new homes is the installation of Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT). Originally used in commercial spaces because of its durability, LVT comes in myriad designs— everything from rustic wood to porcelain tile or marble.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT A perfectly renovated bathroom creates a serene retreat with a mix of textures, metals, and calming colors; manmade quartz stands up to water and has antibacterial qualities, both of which make it perfect for use in bathrooms; mixing cabinet colors and wooden beams add special touches to a remodeled kitchen.

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“People nowadays want less maintenance,” Tranfaglia says. “They don’t want to have to worry about the dog scratching the floors or the kids coming in with wet or muddy feet. They want to spend their time living and going out and doing things. ... They want more time for themselves and quality time. They don’t want to be taking care of the house.”

Depending on how LVT is applied, either glued down or floating and locking, it is either water-resistant or waterproof and also can be scratchproof. “You literally don’t have to worry about anything,” Tranfaglia says.

“You could have a 100-pound (Labrador dog) and your wood floors will still look gorgeous, because they are LVT, and if you get the nice stuff no one knows. ... It is quite a good product. It will probably be getting more and more prevalent as time goes on.”

Gone are the days when homes had tile in the kitchen with wood and carpet in certain other areas. With the trending open living concept paired with high-end finishes, people are opting for more continuous flooring throughout the first floor of their homes. “Whether it’s a small, medium or large space, (continuous flooring) just seems more expansive,” Tranfaglia says. “It is cleaner and easier on the eye when everything just continues to flow.”

Granite kitchen countertops are no longer on-trend, as quartz is now preferred. “Quartz has been in and it will be in for the foreseeable future,” Tranfaglia says. The manmade product can have different looks and is hard like granite but Heather Lynn Interiors also has antibacterial qualities and heatherlynninteriors.com requires less upkeep than marble. heather@ “Quartz is a nice option if you heatherlynninteriors.com want to have some type of marble countertop look,” she says.

PT Designs Inc. Cement countertops are also (301) 253-2606 a popular option, offering a more paulat.decoratingden.com customizable option because they paula@ptdesignsinc.com are poured on-site. Soapstone, an old colonial stone with a dark, slate gray color, is making a comeback. “It is smooth as a baby’s bottom, and it is absolutely stunning,” Tranfaglia says. She has seen it used in special areas on some custom homes, like on the bar or on a kitchen island. “It’s hard, but it is not as hard as a quartz or a granite, but it is not as soft as a marble,” she says.

Homeowners are also spending extra money on hardware for the bathroom, such as rain and multi-head shower heads. Chrome and nickel continue to be popular with bath fixtures, but there has been a recent movement back into gold tones.

Printed tiles, made in standard porcelain and ceramic, are very popular in bathrooms. “It gives a huge impact on just a small area,” O’Connell says. “(Using them on the) floor gives so much character and personality to a room that you don’t even need many other finishes. You can save money in certain places, and you use a patterned floor and it makes a wow factor for sure.”

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Green Alternatives Not only can high-end finishes make your house stand out from others, but some are also environmentally friendly.

Recycled glass is being used as a countertop material. “It is really pretty,” O’Connell says. “It looks like a solid surface, and it is a great way to be more eco-friendly in your design. ... It’s a cool feature to know that you are using something that is recycled.”

Between 75 to 80 percent of the structure is recycled glass with cement or petroleum used as a binding material.

Residents can get the glass in a variety of different colors.

Houseplants are another popular trend, with the extra benefit of improving air quality; they add a pop of color and interest into a design, according to O’Connell. “Succulents are popular right now, and they are really easy to maintain,” she says. “Fig trees are not as easy to maintain, but a beautiful accessory to any room.” Depending on how much natural light your kitchen gets, green walls featuring different herbs used in cooking can be added.

LED lights are known to be environmentally friendly, but Tranfaglia notes residents need to pick the right kind. “Get a warm light because it is softer on the eyes,” she says. “It is better not only for the way people look but also for the decor. Whatever your color palette is, cool or warm, you want a warm LED. Bright, white, cool LEDs give off a very cold blue light that is not complimentary to anything.”

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eight elements of nature our bodies crave Our bodies crave the elements of nature that once surrounded us. Enhance your family’s health and well-being by incorporating these eight elements into your home.

W

PHOTO Shutterstock

e all know we need nutritious food, adequate exercise, clean air, and secure shelter to thrive.

But did you know our bodies also long for the natural world in very real, concrete ways? By understanding these needs, we can provide the deep satisfaction of communing with Mother Nature in our own homes—where a connection with nature can improve our overall health.

It helps to understand where we came from. Our bodies are essentially the same model our Stone Age ancestors walked around in, although our living environments have changed dramatically since then. Some of those changes feel good—like being warm in winter, cool in summer, dry in the rain, and safe from predators. But we’re also missing a lot.

Our Paleolithic ancestors were adapted to daily sun cycles, monthly moon cycles, and annual seasonal cycles.

They lived with waving fields of grass, scattered trees, flowing water, clean air, the call of birds, breezes, bare feet on earth, and gathering around the fire at day’s end.

Today’s homes and cities are monotonous and overstimulating by comparison—and we’re usually unaware of how much that affects us. But growing numbers of studies show that tweaking basic elements of our surroundings can restore our vital relationship with the living world, making us happier, healthier, and more productive.

Sunlight Many of our bodies’ functions—including regulation of the hormones that control our sleep patterns and weight— are directly affected by sunlight. Electric lighting doesn’t contain all the wavelengths sunshine provides that our bodies need, and it can obliterate our connection with the sun’s daily and seasonal cycles.

Many studies have confirmed the physical importance of exposure to sunlight. Getting prudent, regular sunshine can improve heart health, blood pressure, muscle strength,

immune function, and cholesterol levels. Sunlight also increases production of melatonin, which helps us sleep, and serotonin, a feel-good neurotransmitter. Daily sunshine on just our face and hands can alleviate winter depression. And allowing the sun to light the indoors has been found to improve well-being and enhance school and workplace performance.

Get outside for at least 15 minutes a Tip day—more in comfortable weather. Indoors, try to rely on sunlight rather than electric lighting during the day.

Consider moving furniture closer to windows, making sure your most well-lit rooms are those you use most frequently and, if the rooms in your home are overly dark, installing skylights to bring in additional light.

Dark Nights Our ancient bodies were cued to go to sleep by the darkness of night. Today, the haze of streetlights, porch lights, traffic lights, and flickering electric signs interferes with that cue—and our sleep. In your bedroom at night, with all the lights turned out, can you see your hand? If so, there’s enough stray light to disrupt your melatonin production and therefore your sleep cycle, which can cause health effects similar to jet lag.

Or maybe you’re in the habit of texting or checking email before bed: The blue light of electronic screens mimics sunlight and can throw off our bodies’ natural rhythms, causing insomnia. Experts recommend those with sleeping issues use only warm, red-based light in the two hours before bedtime to prevent blue light from disturbing circadian rhythms.

Tip Turn off night lights and other light sources in and around your bedroom. If streetlights shine into your bedroom, consider installing light-blocking shades.

Avoid bright lights and LCD screens for an hour or two before bedtime.

story by Carol Venolia summer 19

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Water

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Of course, drinking water is necessary for our survival and health, but soaking in it or simply gazing at it is good for us, too. A view of clean, moving water sends a strong “I can thrive here” message to our Paleolithic souls.

Studies show that soaking in warm water can balance the nervous system and reduce stress. In one study, patients with anxiety disorders felt less tension and nervousness after just 15 minutes of immersion in warm water. Got insomnia? A warm footbath can reduce stress and help ease your way into sleep.

To add water to your Tip environment, install a pond, fountain, or a large dish of water in your yard or deck (birds and other wildlife will thank you, too). Indoors, a tabletop fountain or other indoor water feature can satisfy our primal need to see water.

Greenery Nothing tells our subconscious mind “life flourishes here” better than lush, green plants. In fact, an entire field of psychology called plant therapy studies the ways caring for plants gives people a sense of meaning and delight. Studies in hospitals have found that patients who see greenery recover more quickly; a single plant in a windowless office has been found to lower blood pressure and make workers more efficient and accurate; and in urban settings, neighborhood greenery has helped foster social connections.

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Tip Look for places around your home and office where you can see or add green plants. Consider your views to the outdoors; can you see greenery from your desk or your favorite chair? If not, how about moving the chair, adding some landscaping or installing a window-box planter? Also, decorate with houseplants in your home and office.

Sensory Nourishment All of our senses thrive on gentle, meaningful change and rich textures. Monotony dulls them. For example, our eyes work best when lighting levels are varied in a room, there’s a variety of scales and colors to explore visually, and we can shift between near and far focus from time to time.

Our hearing is best adapted to relatively quiet, varying background sounds—a stream, wind in the trees, birdsong—with occasional louder sounds that convey important information (avalanche!). Meaningless loud noises (traffic, construction) and monotonous sounds (the heating system, buzzing lights) can sap energy.

Our olfactory nerve (the sense of smell) gives us information about new scents, but goes to sleep when our smell environment is unchanging (so trust that first whiff when you enter a space!).

Tip Tune in to all of your senses in the places where you spend the most time. What could you do to add visual, auditory or scent variety—and how might you minimize monotonous or unpleasant sensory inputs?

PHOTO Shutterstock

Soil As children, many of us were taught that we should avoid dirt for good health. But our deep and symbiotic connection with other living things extends to the microscopic soil life we evolved with for centuries.

Certain bacteria that grow in healthy soil (specifically Mycobacterium vaccae and Lactobacillus bulgaricus) can positively affect our immune systems, mental function, and mood by increasing levels of serotonin and norepinephrine.

In one study, mice given M. vaccae navigated a maze twice as fast as a control group—while exhibiting less anxiety.

Tip Through skin contact or inhalation, you may take in these beneficial bacteria in the wild or in your own backyard (if the soil hasn’t been poisoned by chemical pesticides and insecticides). So get your family outdoors, garden, or go hiking or camping—and breathe deeply!

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THE HOME

Other Animals In evolutionary terms, we are not accustomed to living in human-only environments. We instinctually prefer living in places where we’re surrounded by other life. This is why pet therapy is often so effective for shut-ins and children with behavior problems. It’s also why property values are higher in areas with diverse bird life, according to a 2011 study published in the journal Urban Ecosystems. Gazing at fish swimming in a tank can reduce blood pressure and anxiety, and just looking at photos of baby animals can improve concentration and productivity at work.

Tip Spend time with pets; set up a bird feeder and birdbath in your yard; plant a backyard wildlife habitat garden; get out to a local park more often and enjoy the squirrels and birds—or just gaze at photos of cute animal babies online.

A Sense of Safety We have an inborn desire to feel both protected and able to see what’s coming, preferring places that provide what environmental psychologists call “prospect and refuge.” This means we like to have a solid wall behind us and an open vista before us; in primitive terms, we want to see dinner, not be dinner. This is why gunslingers in the Old

West avoided sitting with their back to the barroom door, and why feng shui practitioners recommend having your chair in the “command position,” where you can easily see who’s entering the room.

Tip Look around your home and workplace to see if you can increase your sense of protection by moving furniture to put something solid at your back while having a clear view before you.

While each of these factors is important individually, our bodies crave the whole symphony of these eight environmental “nutrients” in constantly changing dynamic synergy—just like Mother Nature brings them to us in wilder surroundings. Sunlight, darkness, plants, soil, water, and critters all play together in the grand dance of vitality.

Restoring our relationship with the living world isn’t just a good health prescription; it can also be good for the whole earth. Living in harmony with natural cycles of light and dark saves energy. Providing wildlife habitat improves local biodiversity and helps reweave the web of life. Feeling our oneness with living systems deepens our desire to take care of them.

When we give our bodies what they crave from our surroundings, necessity and delight come together for the good of all.

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Water Features Add something special to your landscape with the help of the pros.

story by Christie Wisniewski

around THE HOME

A

walk around a pond or time spent sitting by a stream is incredibly relaxing, but sometimes the drive to get to this tranquility is a hassle. Why not bring that tranquility to your own property? More and more homeowners are opting to install gorgeous, eye-catching water features in their own yards. Some choose a simple water garden with cheerful waterlilies, while others may want to add more life to their ponds by stocking brightly colored koi.

Water features aren’t limited to ponds, however. Designers can create a trickling stone waterfall or your own tiny version of a babbling brook. Whichever feature floats your boat, Frederick has plenty of local companies that can help you plan and build your dream water feature.

Premier Ponds (301) 918-5733 | premierpond.com Despite being headquartered in Burtonsville, Premier Ponds has close ties to Frederick: Co-owner Mike Kurylo lives in Urbana and thoroughly enjoys working in Frederick County to install water features, from small rock fountains to intricate pond projects.

Premier Ponds offers a complete range of water feature services, from building and installation to renovation and repair.

Additionally, it offers follow-up maintenance once a feature is installed.

“We build and stay with you,” Kurylo says.

Kurylo believes Premier Ponds’ ownership makes it —Peter Kremers stand out from other companies. There are three owners, each with a background that lends itself well to the business: one worked in the pool industry for more than two decades, another is an engineer, and Kurylo himself was an architect for 14 years.

“The three of us together—we can always come up with a solution,” Kurylo says.

Premier Ponds is currently expanding its services to include lighting, and it boasts cutting-edge technologies coupled with natural remedies whenever possible. The company believes that ponds should be treated as natural ecosystems and strives to use the best materials to make a well-functioning, attractive pond.

PHOTO Courtesy Lilypons Water Gardens

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Did you know downtown Frederick may be home to the world’s longestplanted water garden? Since 2012, local organization Color on the Creek (coloronthecreek.com) has brightened Carroll Creek Linear Park with thousands of eye-catching perennial and tropical plants, including water lilies and lotuses.

Peter Kremers, who co-founded Color on the Creek with Lisa Collins in 2012, says the group now has more than a thousand volunteers and donors who offer their time or funds to help beautify the town’s beloved creek.

Kremers has one major piece of advice to those who are considering getting a water garden of their own: Talk to an expert first. Pros can determine appropriate placing, plant varieties, and design based on the characteristics of your property.

“You’ll save yourself a lot of heartache if you talk to a couple people who are knowledgeable,” he says.

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Poole’s Stone & Garden, Inc. (301) 874-5653 poolesstoneandgarden.com

Lilypons Water Gardens (800) 999-5459 lilypons.com

Not only does Poole’s Stone & Garden offer landscaping and masonry services, it also builds ponds, waterfalls, and other water features in Maryland, northern Virginia, and West Virginia. It specializes in natural stone and native landscaping design.

Owners Sharon and Bruce Poole are heavily involved in the consultation and planning process and are proud of their hardworking employees, who stay up-to-date on the latest techniques.

“Poole’s Stone & Garden offers the attention of a small company with extremely thoughtful designs produced in-house and implemented by our own skilled craftsmen with over 25 years of experience and consistent training,” Sharon Poole says.

Since Poole’s does not have a brick-and-mortar location, the owners work out of a small house they built on their property overlooking a waterfall and koi pond; appointments are scheduled over the phone. A client can expect to meet with Sharon Poole for an initial appointment, while Bruce Poole oversees the plans with the rest of the team.

Poole’s primarily does work as a design-build company, but they are also happy to collaborate with remodelers, building contractors, and landscape architects.

Self-described as “The Source for Water Gardening” and nestled in Adamstown near the Monocacy River, Lilypons Water Gardens not only offers pond design and installation but everything needed for creating and maintaining an aquatic garden— including plants, fish, tadpoles, tools, pumps, filters and more.

The company offers client services like pond installation and maintenance within a 45-mile radius of its location, and it also offers maintenance services for existing ponds even if it did not originally build them. Lilypons regularly does start-to-finish projects, too.

Most of the aquatic plants Lilypons offers are grown on-site, so customers are usually receiving a plant picked straight from the pond when they purchase it.

“Eighty percent of the plants we sell, we grow here,” says Margaret Koogle, who is the fourth generation of her family to oversee the business, which has expanded to online sales in addition to in-store sales.

Those who live far away from Lilypons can still order products online, even plants and fish.

Lilypons is also the perfect place for those in need of inspiration for planning the pond they desire.

Nature lovers, bird watchers, photographers and owners with well-behaved dogs are all welcome to enjoy the premises.

FROM LEFT Volunteers work in the water of Carroll Creek Linear Park; a waterfall installed by Poole’s Stone & Garden; variegated sweet flag in a water garden. OPPOSITE Water lilies and other plants cover the waters of the Carroll Creel Linear Park in downtown Frederick.

PHOTOS (FROM LEFT) Bill Green, Courtesy Poole’s Stone & Garden, Inc., Courtesy Lilypons Water Gardens (2)

Color on the Creek

Lavender Love & Obsession story by Sarah Berringer Bader

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n a warm, sunny day, it doesn’t get much better than brushing up against a lavender plant and inhaling the intoxicating aroma. You can experience this just about anywhere in your landscape. From pathways to rock gardens, lavender makes a wonderful focal point, and it is useful as well.

Any warm, sunny spot will do, as long as the soil allows for proper drainage and the plant gets plenty of room to grow.

There are more than 450 lavender varieties or cultivars, and more are being discovered all the time. Lavender belongs to the Lamiaceae (mint) family, which includes oregano, sage, and other fragrant herbs. There are several species within the genus Lavandula, grouping plants together based on characteristics such as hardiness, leaf shape, and fragrance. Some species are available only in certain parts of the world, and only about four species can be grown outside of tropical climates.

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decks, sunrooms, A Great Addition Lavender beautiful addition to just about any concrete, oris aporches garden. Lavender foliage colors range from various shades of

green through gray-green to silver; variegated cultivars are IRES 6/30/19 even available. The flowers are not just lavender but come in

a spectrum of colors, from blues and purples to whites and pinks. These plants also come in a variety of sizes: There are dwarf lavenders, medium-sized lavenders, and lavenders that grow quite large to fit into any landscape design. More and more people are realizing how easy lavender is to grow and how useful it can be in the garden.

Once lavender is established, it doesn’t need to be watered very often. Plants are considered drought-tolerant if they can survive a dry period with little or no supplemental watering. With lavender’s sunny disposition, it certainly falls into this category. In fact, when lavender is placed in the right spot—where it has full sun, good drainage and plenty of room to grow—it will thrive with very little care, even through the summer. With many municipalities restricting water use, these plants can hold their own and help conserve water.

Lavender attracts a wide range of pollinators that are not only beneficial to your garden but also are great for the environment. A lavender plant draws the bugs you want in your garden that, in turn, eat the ones you don’t. On a hot, sunny day, anyone can become mesmerized by watching the level of activity on one lavender plant. Bumblebees, honeybees, butterflies, ladybugs, and praying mantises are only some of the beneficial insects a lavender plant will attract. These pollinator, predator, and parasitic species not only help the plants and flowers thrive, but they also greatly reduce the need for pesticides throughout your garden.

If you have had deer wander in your yard, you know that they like to nibble on just about anything. The only way to really keep a deer out of your garden permanently is a tall fence, but lavender is considered a deer-resistant plant, meaning they do

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not prefer the taste of lavender. If hungry enough, they may nibble the tops of young plants a bit, but they normally stay clear of established plants. Rabbits don’t like lavender, either.

Lavender plants are built-in aromatherapy. They add a wonderful fragrance to your garden, and the lavender flowers can also be brought indoors for herbal teas, homemade crafts, and sachets for your drawers. It’s hard to think of another plant that can add this much beauty and joy to our lives.

How to Plant Lavenders come in a wide range of sizes, habits, and bloom colors. The best lavender for you to plant will depend upon both the growing conditions you can offer and the effect you want to achieve in your garden.

Lavender has been grown for centuries in many parts of the world. In North America, however, the lavender industry is still in its infancy. The topography of the United States and Canada is expansive and diverse. To date, very little research has been done to determine which cultivars of lavender can grow well in which particular locations. Growing lavender can be “iffy” in regions of North America where temperatures regularly plunge below freezing in the winter. And areas with higher humidity during summer may be limited to growing lavender species that can withstand these conditions.

If you live in an area that has four seasons, you will have the most success with hardy lavenders, such as Lavandula angustifolia and L. × intermedia. Most true lavenders or L. angustifolia varieties have the same hardiness rating, so if you have success growing L. angustifolia ‘Betty’s Blue,’ chances are you will have the same success growing L. angustifolia ‘Royal Velvet.’ Lavendula stoechas can withstand colder temperatures for a short time but are not considered hardy.

Range of Fragrance Plant fragrance among lavenders is varied. Each has its own phytochemistry, which produces a unique combination of aromatics, which collectively generate complex scents. In general, L. angustifolia varieties tend to have a more distinctive floral note. As a result, oil from this species is found in higherend cosmetics and perfumes. L. × intermedia varieties contain more camphor—a sharper, woodier fragrance—and their oil is used in detergents at a higher volume. Lavendula stoechas has a high ketone content, making it particularly pungent. Other factors that affect fragrance include soil, age of the plant, when the lavender is harvested, and even rainfall levels. Which type of lavender fragrance smells best is a matter of personal opinion.

Rub the leaves and flowers of different species and varieties in your fingers and discover your own favorites.

The source for water gardening since 1917

Is It English or French?

For the sake of simplicity, it is easy to get into the habit of nicknaming plant species to avoid long, hard-to-pronounce 22

The source for water gardening since 1917

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botanical names. Lavender has fallen victim to this process, and terms such as English, French, Spanish, and even German are commonly used to identify particular groups of lavender. In the United States, we hear Lavendula stoechas referred to as Spanish lavender, while in the United Kingdom, it’s commonly called French lavender. Here in the States, the common name French lavender is generally used for the species that you would imagine would grow in France, namely L. × intermedia, but French lavender is actually the common name for L. dentata, a toothed lavender that is altogether different from L. × intermedia. In Australia, English lavender can mean both L. angustifolia and L. × intermedia, and Lavendula stoechas is called Italian lavender. In France, L. angustifolia is called la lavande, yet in other countries it is called English. L. × intermedia ‘Dutch’ was misread as ‘Deutsch’ along the way and is sometimes referred to as German lavender.

Confusing, isn’t it?

If you really want to shorten the names for classification, English lavenders or varieties of L. angustifolia can be called true or common lavender. Varieties of L. × intermedia are referred to as lavandins. Lavendula stoechas is technically French lavender, as it came from the southern coast of France, but using this name can be confusing to someone who has a different idea of what French lavender is. It is probably best to refer to it as stoechas.

PHOTO Shutterstock

Past and Future Lavender has been a staple in gardens around the globe for centuries. The earliest accounts on record indicate that lavender was used for a multitude of purposes. In medieval times, powdered lavender was used as a condiment and preservative to mask disagreeable flavors. Plants were introduced in England around 1265, and lavender plant cuttings were often used as floor bedding to keep pests away.

France has used lavender as a cash crop for the lavender oil industry and produces more than 1,000 tons of lavender essence each year to perfume detergents and the like.

Commercial lavender production began in North America sometime around 1924 in Seattle. Since then, interest in lavender production has taken root, and some lavender farms have established themselves as tourist destinations. As more farmers are realizing the value of growing this wondrous herb, lavender farms in several regions across the United States have joined forces to offer collective tours for visitors to enjoy.

With an increasing number of people incorporating alternative methods of healing and wellness, lavender is making a stand thanks to its wide range of uses in cooking, crafting, aromatherapy and the like.

This article is excerpted from The Lavender Lover’s Handbook (Timber Press, 2012).

10 Great Lavender Plants Lavandula angustifolia ‘Betty’s Blue’ The first wreath I ever made was with ‘Betty’s Blue,’ and the lavender plant is still a top choice for wreaths I make today. The flower heads hold together well for drying, and the deep blue color is captivating.

L. angustifolia ‘Buena Vista’ A supersweet fragrance and rich purple flowers on a plant that blooms all summer—what more could you ask for? ‘Buena Vista’ is also a great lavender choice for culinary use.

L. angustifolia ‘Folgate’ This is my all-around favorite lavender. ‘Folgate’ can withstand colder temperatures and is one of the first to bloom in the season. The soft periwinkle blue flowers are my first choice for fresh cuts, and the plant has a tight bloom habit that looks great all year long.

L. angustifolia ‘Royal Purple’ This larger-than-life lavender makes a statement. Boasting hundreds of long-stemmed light purple flowers, it makes an excellent choice for a hedge or a focal point in the garden.

L. angustifolia ‘Royal Velvet’ As its name suggests, this lavender has a rich, velvety flower head, along with long stems for crafts. One of the top picks for all-around great lavender.

L. Ðchaytorae ‘Ana Luisa’ All who see ‘Ana Luisa’ blooming have to have one for their collection. The combination of light silvery foliage and long, deep purple blossoms is stunning. ‘Ana Luisa’ can withstand higher humidity in the summer, making it a good choice for warm, humid climates.

L. angustifolia ‘Melissa’ Pink lavenders are known for their sweet fragrance, and ‘Melissa’ is no exception. This cultivar is a top pick for use in your favorite lavender recipes.

L. Ðintermedia ‘Gros Bleu’ ‘Gros Bleu’ combines the rich color of the angustifolias with the bloom habit and long stems of lavandin varieties.

Because it has less camphor than other lavandins, it has a light, clean lavender scent.

L. angustifolia ‘Purple Bouquet’ If you want a deep, rich purple flower combined with long stems, this lavender is an excellent choice. ‘Purple Bouquet’ also blooms twice during the season.

L. Ðintermedia ‘Grosso’ When customers ask which lavender has the strongest scent, this is the lavender plant I always recommend.

‘Grosso’ is also the preferred cultivar for lavender wands and sachets. summer 19

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Local Lavender The calming scent of lavender plants is never far away. story by Christie Wisniewski The best place to get your fill St. Angelo says. “Our cold winters up of everything lavender in Frederick in Thurmont can be difficult for certain County might be Springfield Manor in varieties as well.”

Thurmont, where the winery-distilleryIf you’re looking to grow lavender brewery also offers a beautiful outdoor outdoors, keep in mind that weeds like lavender farm with nearly 3,000 plants. crabgrass can be a problem; not only The manor embraced its lavendercan it outgrow the lavender, but it also is loving status and became home to the difficult and time-consuming to remove.

Maryland Lavender Festival, which is Thankfully, though, lavender is resistant typically held in mid-June to coincide to being eaten by local wildlife. with the bloom of the fragrant flowers.

“On a small scale, a couple of This year’s festival may be over, these plants can be a beautiful addition but not to worry: A to a kitchen or flower 2020 festival is in the garden or to a backyard works. Free tastings landscaping plan,” St. of the manor’s own Angelo says. award-winning lavender While lavender thrives gin will be offered to best outdoors, it can also patrons age 21 and up. be grown successfully Eventgoers can also indoors if it is placed in Dutch Plant Farm enjoy various wines, a west or south facing 151 Baughmans Lane beers, and spirits; window where it receives Frederick, Maryland peruse vendors; watch four to five hours of direct demonstrations; and sunlight, says Jodi Knotts, Meadows Farms tour the aromatic consultant to the Dutch 5432 Old National Park lavender fields.

Plant Farm on Baughmans Frederick, Maryland These fields grow Lane. Additionally, it can both English and French be fertilized with halfSpringfield Manor varieties of lavender. strength liquid plant food 11836 Auburn Road Twice a year, the English every four weeks during Thurmont, Maryland variety blooms—once in the growing season. mid-June and once in In addition to selling September. This variety a diverse mix of tropical has a sweet scent and is used often in plants, ornamental trees and shrubs, the culinary world, such as to infuse vegetables, and other herbs, the Dutch liquor. In contrast, French lavender has a Plant Farm also carries multiple types longer stem, a paler hue, and a stronger of lavender. aroma. Its fragrance makes it ideal for Not all varieties are in stock at use in aromatherapy and bath products. the same time, but there is always a Amie St. Angelo, co-owner of selection of several varieties, including Springfield Manor with her husband ‘Hidcote,’ ‘Munstead,’ ‘Provence,’ John, says the plant can be difficult ‘Superblue,’ French, ‘Blue Cushion,’ ‘Dilly to grow in Frederick County on a Dilly,’ ‘Essence Purple,’ White, ‘Grosso,’ commercial level since it requires welland more. Not sure which variety is best draining soil. for you? Ask one of the staff members “Wet summers like last year and the to help you figure out the best type for year before can decimate entire fields,” your needs.

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PHOTOS Shutterstock (2), Getty Images

Where to purchase lavender plants near Frederick

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S

o it’s a sunny Friday, and the weather forecast is calling for more of the same over the weekend. On a whim, you decide to surprise your beloved with a hot air balloon ride after lunch on Saturday. You plan to ask the pilot to fly over your home and several other meaningful locations. Read on to see why a little planning can go a long way.

riding the wind Everything you should know before going hot air ballooning.

PHOTO Friendhip Hot Air Balloon Co.

story by Karen Peacock

You won’t be flying in the early afternoon.

Reservations for hot air balloons rides can be made only for sunrise or one to two hours before sunset, when winds are the calmest.

Ballooning is dependent on the weather.

Ron Broderick, owner of Friendship Hot Air Balloon Co., is one of only five balloon pilots in Maryland, and he has trained three of them. He offers rides over Frederick, Carroll, and Howard counties. Broderick has witnessed more than 100 proposals and three weddings, but he notes that there must be flexibility when planning a special occasion ride.

Though flights can be scheduled for every day of the week, that doesn’t mean they always take off. Rain and winds of more than 7 miles per hour can ground a flight. On the other hand, balloons can’t fly when the atmosphere is dead calm either. Pilots don’t like canceling, but safety is paramount. A balloon ride celebrating a wedding, anniversary or birthday might not happen on the exact date.

“The weather can look perfect on the ground and be unsafe at a balloon’s altitude,” says Broderick. “Pilots can’t fly within 75 miles of a thunderstorm. Pocket cells of rain can pop up.”

The change in Maryland’s climate has made scheduling balloon rides more challenging than ever. Broderick says that today’s weather patterns are more unpredictable than when he began his business in 1992, so patience is a crucial trait for a balloon pilot.

If a flight must be canceled, those passengers will have priority when the weather improves.

Forget about choosing your route.

Hot air balloons don’t have a steering apparatus. When early versions of these flying machines got off the ground in the 18th century, there were hopes that they would aid transportation, mail delivery, and even warfare. It soon became clear that their strength was in their entertainment value. Though there are now other ways of flying, nothing compares to the 360-degree views from a balloon serenely floating over the countryside.

Wind blows in different directions and at different speeds depending on the altitude. Skilled pilots know how to choose the right spot to ride the wind by adjusting the aircraft’s burners.

Two men take a ride courtesy of Friendship Hot Air Balloon Co. Sunrise and sunset are the best times to go hot air ballooning.

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The Envelope This is what we think of when we think of hot air balloons. They are made of colorful nylon or a similar fabric and are most commonly round and tapered at the bottom. Specialty balloons can be stock or custom-made in shapes including bees, motorcycles, and castles.

The Burner Fueled by propane, it produces the flame that heats the air inside the envelope. Hot air is less dense, so this causes the balloon to float.

The Basket Also called the gondola, this is where the pilot and passengers stand. You will also find the propane tanks and navigational instruments there. The basket is made of a lightweight yet strong material like rattan.

A complete system with the envelope, burners, and basket runs about $30,000 to $40,000.

Balloons rise when the air inside the envelope is heated to a temperature warmer than the outside atmosphere. When it’s time to descend, the pilot opens a valve at the top of the balloon to release some of the heated air.

Pilots must be alert and ready to improvise at a moment’s notice. Besides watching for changes in the weather, they must avoid tree limbs and power lines. They are always on the lookout for an appropriate landing spot. A twoperson chase crew follows the balloon and gets permission for it to land on a homeowner’s property whenever possible.

Because there are no brakes or steering, pilots need more space for a gentle landing if it’s breezy, so they can’t always pick and choose.

“We respect the landowner’s property and will fly on whenever possible if we see crops or animals,” says Broderick.

Attracted by the sound of the burner, a crowd will sometimes follow the chase vehicle. Once, Broderick and his passengers found emergency vehicles waiting for them after a routine landing. An observer noticed them flying low and thought they were in trouble when, in fact, the pilot was just looking for a suitable place to land.

Most people are delighted to find a balloon on their property. It’s not uncommon for them to help pack up before the ground crew transports the passengers back to the launch area.

Don’t lie about your weight.

Most of us have a driver’s license that shows a weight that is more aspirational than accurate. Honesty is the best policy when flying in a hot air balloon. For safety reasons, all companies have weight requirements. For example, Friendship Hot Air Balloon Company has a maximum combined weight total of 750 pounds for four passengers.

An individual’s weight limit is 280 pounds so that the balloon can be properly balanced. A balloon can safely take on less weight on a hot day versus a cooler day.

Because it takes 6,500 pounds of hot air to lift 100 pounds, balloons must be huge. The envelope of Broderick’s “DreamStar” is about 90 feet high.

Know who’s flying.

To charge for flights, a pilot must have a commercial license with the FAA. As with anything, the more experience, the better. It doesn’t hurt to ask about the pilot’s flight time and safety record.

You might get hooked.

Ron Broderick took his first balloon ride at a festival in 1990 and was immediately captivated by the sport. A year later he bought his first balloon and the rest, as they say, is history.

PHOTO Adobe Stock/mohdnadlyaizat

Main Parts of a Balloon

Local Companies Friendship Hot Air Balloon Co. ballooningusa.com flights@ballooningusa.com Tailwinds Over Frederick tailwindsoverfrederick.com tailwindsoverfrederick@gmail.com

Balloon Festivals Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta The famed Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has been around since 1972 and is the largest in the world.

Two festivals closer to home are coming up.

Chesapeake Bay Balloon Festival The Chesapeake Bay Balloon Festival runs from August 2 to 4 in Cordova, Maryland.

Balloons Over Sussex Festival Georgetown, Delaware, hosts the Balloons Over Sussex Festival on September 14 and 15. “Balloonmeister� Ron Broderick is coordinating flight activities at both events.

what we love right now Romantic spots, picnic spots, and fashions.

story by Christie Wisniewski

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romantic spots. one.

HOOTCH & BANTER

Sophisticated yet relaxed, the recently opened upstairs lounge at Hootch & Banter provides an intimate space to share delicious modern American cuisine and carefully crafted cocktails. The first-floor restaurant offers a lively atmosphere with menu options like “Tender Lovin,” a 10-ounce filet, or a 16-ounce Angus New York strip aptly named “Strip Tease” (hootchandbanter.com).

PHOTOS Dan Gross

two.

THE WINE KITCHEN ON THE CREEK One of downtown’s best spots for date night offers delicious food, endless beverage options, and a gorgeous view overlooking Carroll Creek Linear Park. With a lush living canopy of red and white flowers, the Wine Kitchen’s outdoor patio is one of a kind and perfect for a peaceful night under the stars (thewinekitchen.com). three.

AYSE MEZE LOUNGE On the corner of Everedy Square, this Mediterranean restaurant with a cozy blue-and-white hued interior serves up authentic Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese cuisine in small dishes. Its large outdoor brick patio is ideal for a date on a warm summer’s night; on a chilly evening, ask to sit by the fireplace in the lounge (aysemeze.com).

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picnic spots. one.

BAKER PARK For the ultimate downtown picnic experience, grab a “Taste of 200” picnic basket from Lebherz Oil and Vinegar Emporium (L.O.V.E.) and take a stroll to Baker Park.

This basket includes a picnic for two sourced from downtown businesses, including Hippy Chick Hummus, Crisafulli’s Cheese Shop, Cakes to Die For, and the North Market Pop Shop. Order your basket at least 24 hours in advance on L.O.V.E.’s website, loveoliveoilvinegar.com.

A 15-minute drive outside of Frederick City lands you in beautiful Gambrill State Park, which offers three accessible stone overlooks and 16 miles of hiking trails on the ridge of the Catoctin Mountains. Whether you picnic five steps from your car or trek a mile down the trail, this park caters to all (search the website, dnr.maryland.gov). three.

CITY HALL LAWN Another great spot walkable from downtown is the lawn of City Hall. Its sculpted fountain, large trees, and park benches make it the perfect place to spend a peaceful lunch break or an afternoon with a friend (cityoffrederick.com).

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PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT) Shutterstock, Dan Gross, Shutterstock, Dan Gross

two.

GAMBRILL STATE PARK

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fashions. one.

ZEBOP Botanical romper This bright and breezy romper from Zebop is great for an evening out or a stroll on the beach; it can be dressed up with a summer hat and some earth-toned wedges or gladiator sandals, or made casual with solid-colored flip-flops. It features a drawstring waist, comfortable lightweight fabric, and convenient pockets (Facebook: zebopfrederick). two.

MOLLY’S MEANDERINGS

PHOTOS Dan Gross

Floral embroidered jeans Summer is made for wearing bright, bold colors, and these artfully embroidered jeans are no exception.

Hand-sewn flowers in a range of eyecatching hues make these soft denim pants your next statement piece.

Pair with a solid-colored top and muted flats or sandals for a comfy yet fashion-forward look (Facebook: MollysMeanderings). three.

VELVET LOUNGE Dolce Vita ‘Cait’ sandals Step up your summer wardrobe with these subtle-yet-stylish leather slip-on sandals from Dolce Vita, offered at the Velvet Lounge.

Interwoven leather bands with a hint of snakeskin pattern and a three-quarters-inch stacked wedge heel make these your next go-to pair of shoes this season (velvetloungeboutique.com).

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five brunch spots you don’t want to miss Mix up your brunch with these great options. story by Tripp Laino

I

t’s Saturday or Sunday morning, and you’re in dire need of brunch dishes, like the eggs Benedict with fried green sustenance. Maybe you indulged a bit too much last night, tomatoes, biscuits and sausage gravy with peppered bacon or maybe you’re just ready to jumpstart your day with in the sausage, or the chicken and waffles, available in Thai, some seriously delicious breakfast options. Luckily, we’ve buffalo, or buffalo-Benedict styles. discovered some to satisfy your morning cravings.

But even as they put a twist on classics, they pay Kenneth MacFawn owns White Rabbit Gastropub attention to the details to nail the classic part—their (18 Market Space, Frederick; whiterabbitgastropub.com), waffle iron is Belgian made, and requires a special power a truly off-the-beaten-path spot conversion in the kitchen to function. (behind a parking garage on Market The iron is what takes their breakfast Street), where you can find great food to the next level, MacFawn says. and drinks.

“We had the same waffle mix “What we found with the great with an American waffle iron, and customers of Frederick County and the waffles were good, but we got surrounding areas is they appreciate a this iron, and they started coming quality product at a fair price, and we out so much better,” MacFawn says. focus on that and let the experience “They have this great browning on the sell itself and let people tell friends outside, and they’re still so fluffy in and family about it,” MacFawn says. the middle. It has this caramel, vanilla –Kenneth MacFawn “We’re approaching two years now, crispness to the outside. I didn’t and if you’re coming in on Friday or Saturday night, you understand what a heating element could do to a product probably need a reservation.” before we had that.”

In addition to great food options, White Rabbit also If you’re looking for vegan-friendly options, Glory has 42 beer taps showcasing local and Maryland-made Dough and Diner on East Church is a perfect fit beers, as well as wine and cocktail options. When it comes (glorydoughnuts.com). Keirsten Straiter and her wife Alissa to brunch, the restaurant puts a bit of spin on some classic first began selling their vegan doughnuts at a few spots

PHOTO Shutterstock

“They have this great browning on the outside, and they’re still so fluffy in the middle.”

There’s a plethora of different mouth-watering brunch choices in Frederick.

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FROM HOME

Looking for something else?

There are plenty of places to indulge your brunch cravings. Here are three more gems in Frederick County.

Airways Inn 310 Aviation Way, Frederick airwaysinnoffrederick.com

Cafe Bueno 503 N. East Street, Frederick cafebuenofrederick.com You might already know about this East Street spot serving up delicious Mexican favorites (their rotating specials are almost always worth the trip!), but have you tried the breakfast menu? It includes classics like huevos rancheros (eggs, salsa, and cheese on tortillas) as well as a chorizo omelet for those who like a little spice in the morning.

Wilcom’s Inn 11234 Fingerboard Road, Monrovia wilcoms.com This Monrovia spot offers up not only a buffet-style weekend brunch ($32.95 for adults; $15.95 for kids 12 and younger), but also a la carte brunch during lunch service Tuesday through Friday—so keep this place in mind if you find yourself craving chicken and waffles or steak and eggs during the week.

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TOP Kelly Johnsen, her children and other family members enjoy a Mother’s Day brunch at the White Rabbit Gastropub off North Market Street In Frederick. BOTTOM LEFT Cajun shrimp and grits from Wilcom’s Inn. BOTTOM RIGHT Waffles with fresh berries from Wilcom’s Inn.

PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) Bill Green, Graham Cullen (2)

throughout Frederick, then opened the restaurant about five years ago.

They still offer at least eight flavors of doughnuts on weekends, in addition to other baked goods like muffins and whoopie pies, but you can now order many other breakfast (and lunch) dishes. While the entire menu is vegan, omnivores are likely to enjoy many of the delicious dishes as well.

“With the breakfast menu, we were looking to have comfort food that every person wants for breakfast but usually isn’t available to people with dietary restrictions or that are choosing a plant-based lifestyle,” Keirsten Straiter says. “Our creative process is really just talking after work in the living room, coming up with what do people want for breakfast and how can we make it different, enhance it a little bit?”

The breakfast menu includes fun options like a Pabst Blue Ribbon Belgian waffle (the beer provides the leavening that eggs normally provide, Keirsten says), oven-baked pancakes with lemon zest and fresh seasonal fruit, and on weekends, salted apple pie stuffed French toast. Pressed to pick a favorite, she says she always comes back to the pancakes.

“Half of it’s nostalgia, and the other half is definitely that it’s made from scratch. They’re really light and fluffy and I can’t get enough—I always make myself one,” she says with a laugh. “We’ve had breakfast since we opened the shop originally, and it’s just been a hit from day one.”

Located at the Frederick Municipal Airport, Airways Inn offers classic breakfast dishes with a fabulous view of planes taking arriving and departing.

Specialties include eggs Montgomery, which combines eggs with crab meat, asparagus and hollandaise sauce, and chef’s eggs Chesapeake, which adds crab cakes to a classic eggs Benedict.

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FREDERICK’S WORLD-CLASS

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RIDING STABLES Equestrians have their pick of great stables for boarding, training, and competing.

B Y

J E A N N E

F O R D

The equine industry contributes

more than $1 million That’s according to Frederick County’s Office of Economic Development. From pint-sized pony riders to Olympians, equestrians span a variety of interest levels and disciplines. Among the most popular activities are adrenaline-generating jumping and dressage, with their complex sequence of precise movements.

Whether they’re interested in trail riding or barrel jumping, English or Western style, beginner lessons or world-class competitions, riders can find it all in Frederick County.

LOCH MOY FARM lockmoyfarm.com | 1235 Park Mills Road | Adamstown, MD 21710 | (301) 514-0111

The first event Carolyn Mackintosh Martin hosted at Loch Moy Farm in 2006 happened to be her daughter Alex’s last as a competitive rider. Even though Alex has stopped riding and competing, her influence remains very much a part of the Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm.

During the transformation of her Adamstown cow farm into a world-class venue for competitive events, Martin purchased equipment from Alex’s favorite local venue, Menfelt, which had recently closed. She also recruited Menfelt’s owner, Dale Clabaugh, who has now worked in several roles at Loch Moy—volunteer coordinator, announcer, and competition judge.

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Martin visited venues from Kentucky to New Zealand to observe how the world’s top events were run. She then employed Captain Mark Phillips of the United Kingdom to design her first competition and training courses.

Today, Loch Moy Farm runs dozens of events annually for riders of all levels, from novices to Olympians. An all-weather cross-country facility features rings across eight acres and more than a hundred jumps so local riders can continue training during the winter.

In addition to United States Eventing Association-sanctioned events, the more informal Twilight Eventing in the springtime is geared toward less experienced riders. It includes dressage, show jumping, and cross-country jumping in a chooseyour-own-adventure format.

With luxurious stabling for event participants, Loch Moy attracts equestrians from across the country. It hosts clinics with top riding experts, adult eventing camps, and hunter/jumper shows.

An annual wintertime Donation Derby has raised thousands of dollars for charity.

Not content to rest on her laurels, Martin continues to make improvements to the venue based on rider feedback, employing esteemed course designers such as Ian Stark. Thanks to Martin’s dedication and attention to detail, Loch Moy Farm is widely considered one of the premier venues in the region.

Hidden Hills Farm co-owner Robin Sagoskin enjoys some playful time with her one of her horses, Enchantress. Hidden Hills also grows grapes in the nearby vineyard and has a wine tasting room on the farm.

PHOTO Bill Green

to the county’s economy.

PARADISE STABLES paradisestablesllc.com | paradisestablesllc@ yahoo.com | (301) 865-4800

PHOTOS Bill Green

Paradise Stables owner Elizabeth Tate sits on a wooden rocker on her Mount Airy property and gestures toward the green pastures below. “What I really wanted was an indoor arena for myself, and then it turned into this,” she says with a smile.

With a master’s degree in pastoral counseling and a background in defense contracting, Tate had recently returned to riding as an adult when an opportunity arose for a career change. In 2006, she built a barn on a farm her father had purchased in the 1980s.

“There was a big learning curve for me, coming from the corporate HR end of the world to do this,” she says. Yet soon she had turned Paradise Stables into one of the area’s leading equine facilities.

Paradise boasts 18 climate-controlled stalls on 150 acres with another 320 acres of wooded riding trails. Currently, a total of 47 horses, mules, and donkeys live on the property, most of them stable or field boarders. Amenities include wash stalls with hot and cold water, a laundry room and towel service, showers, and a lounge.

The barn has a resort-like feel, with an expansive front porch, rockers, and picnic tables. Tate notes that it was built to maximize air flow and minimize respiratory problems, and it smells more like a wood cabin than a stable. The indoor arena is steam cleaned, and the wood is polished annually. In the tack rooms, every bridle and blanket is in its place.

“We’re all about neat and tidy,” she says.

Sawdust is imported from Canada, while high-quality hay comes from Jeff England at nearby England Acres Farm. Fresh food is shipped in every week, and a color-coded whiteboard lists information about each horse’s dietary and medical needs. A layup pen allows horses recovering from injury to take mild exercise under an employee’s watchful eye. The horses’ intake of grass is watched carefully, and Tate refers fondly to one of the dozen pastures as the “Weight Watcher’s field.” The quality of care is so highly regarded that three veterinarians board their horses at Paradise Stables.

While Paradise does not have a lesson program, Tate runs clinics, and boarding clients often bring in trainers for their own horses.

She describes her riding program as eclectic, including English and Western styles, dressage, and jumping. Her objective is to allow boarders to enjoy their horses as they please in a drama-free environment.

Tate’s husband, Wayne Kitzmiller, maintains the landscape and “is the reason everything looks so beautiful,” she says. She lauds the efforts of her staff of 11, who “make it possible (and) give us the freedom to give back” to the community.

Tate has done horse rescue work with Days End Farm and various local humane societies. “In 2012, I was awarded the Horsewoman of the Year through Days End,” she says. A picture taken at the awards ceremony of Tate’s parents now hangs in the barn’s observation room. It was the last photo of the couple together. “They’re kind of overseeing things now,” she says, adding that she feels honored to be living out their legacy on the farm.

“Boarding is our main business, but the work that we’re doing in helping folks recover from trauma is more rewarding than I ever thought it would be.”

–Elizabeth Tate, Owner, Paradise Stables

Therapeutic work with military veterans has led to an upcoming partnership with a national organization that aids first responders, veterans, and family members who have experienced trauma.

“Boarding is our main business,” Tate says, “but the work that we’re doing in helping folks recover from trauma is more rewarding than I ever thought it would be.” She adds, “I feel like of all the things I’ve done, they were all meant to lead to this path, because I’m using pretty much everything I ever learned.”

“It’s been a dream to figure out how to give back, and it’s now here,” she says. “I love it here. It is a really peaceful place to be.”

TOP Carla Abramcheck adjusts the harnesses of two horses before they enter the sport jumping ring at Loch Moy Farms near Adamstown.

BOTTOM The cross county course there has many obstacles in the open fields and also runs through a wooded area.

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Just down the road from Paradise Stables, Hidden Hills Horse Farm is another luxury boarding facility that offers topnotch care and facilities. It is owned by Dr. Arthur Sagoskin, co-founder of Shady Grove Fertility Center, and his wife, Robin.

Robin Sagoskin wraps up a riding lesson with her trainer before she sits down to discuss the evolution of her career: from high-powered investment banker, to high school French and Spanish teacher, to horse farm owner upon marrying her first love and settling down at Hidden Hills.

The Sagoskins focus on making their farm a premier boarding facility that offers the very best horse care. In addition to high-quality food and hay, barn manager Ashley Hanold explains that having a small barn of only 14 stalls allows them to rotate fields in order to maintain the grass in top condition.

Hanold remains onsite all day long, and a highly trained caretaker who lives on the property checks in on the horses each night.

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Boarders often bring in their own trainers, and several of the riders compete at the highest levels of the sport. An indoor arena features new Eurofelt footing, which is graded every day. Hidden Hills also has two outdoor arenas with professionally designed jumps. Upstairs and downstairs observation rooms are another unique feature. Riding trails on an adjacent farm are available for boarders to use.

In order to make even more use of their expansive farm, the Sagoskins have branched out into another venture. “We both love wine, we both love travel, and we both love the land,” Robin says.

“Take those three things, and the thing that really made sense was wine.”

Hidden Hills Vineyard put its first vines in the ground in 2014 and has quickly evolved into an award-winning winery. “It’s been a beautiful journey, just seeing the land here get even more beautiful and sharing it with more people,” she says.

Visitors can use an online booking system to reserve personalized tours of the barn and vineyard.

“We’re integrating my two great loves,” Sagoskin says.

“If you have a quality product in terms of boarding and in terms of wine, then it will make people happy.”

TOP Two buddies in the well-kept staples at Paradise Stables.

RIGHT Spence Dyson, 12, watches the course at Loch Moy Farm before competing for the first time in an event.

PHOTOS Bill Green

HIDDEN HILLS HORSE FARM hiddenhillshorsefarm.com | 7550 Green Valley Road | Frederick, MD 21701

backstory EQUINES TO WINES Passions intersect on the beautiful Hidden Hills Farm and Vineyard.

“Art was the first boy I ever kissed when I was 14 years old,” Robin Sagoskin says of her husband, Dr. Arthur Sagoskin, her eyes still lighting up at the memory. Hidden Hills Farm and Vineyard’s first wine told the story of their romance on the back of its bottle.

After the couple established Hidden Hills Horse Farm, Robin Sagoskin branched out with the dream of producing delicious wines by growing their own grapes. The equestrian theme makes its way into every aspect of Hidden Hills’ wines. The Perlino Vidal Blanc, named for its resemblance to the color of a Perlino horse, won the 2018 Maryland Governor’s Cup gold medal.

The 2016 Raven honors a championship horse that boards at the farm. Auctioning off naming rights to a new wine also helped raise thousands of dollars for Days End Farm Horse Rescue, a charity close to Sagoskin’s heart.

Hidden Hills wines are European in style, dry and refined. A winemaking consultant from the Bordeaux region of France visits several times each year, bringing his knowledge and experience to help the Sagoskins refine their products. “Our wines have done very well in terms of the quality recognition,” Robin Sagoskin says.

The vineyard features varietals specifically selected to thrive in the Maryland countryside, among them Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc,

Vidal Blanc, and Chambourcin. Robin Sagoskin plans on adding other varietals as they become more experienced as vintners.

A Hidden Hills’ wine club has grown quickly by word of mouth. A tasting room in the basement of the Sagoskins’ house is furnished with an expansive bar, leather sofas, and patio seating just outside. The farm regularly schedules wine tasting events for members and the public to experience the fine wines created in small batches.

“Our focus is not only on producing fine wines but the experience folks have when they come here,” general manager Barbry Williams says.

Williams was previously the tasting room manager at nearby Black Ankle Vineyards for seven years.

“Customer service is key,” Williams says. “We treat people like they’re family. ... There’s a lot of intimidation about wine, and we try to remove that right away so folks are able to just concentrate on what they’re feeling about the wine.”

With rapidly increasing demand for their wines, Hidden Hills is in the process of building a formal tasting room that will integrate both the equestrian and vineyard themes. Robin Sagoskin is excited at the prospect of attracting more visitors to the farm. For her, there is one bottom line: “I just enjoy sharing this place (the horse farm, the vineyards, and the wines) with people,” she says.

story by Jeanne Ford

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PHOTOS Shutterstock

Visit the website, hiddenhillsfarmandvineyard.com, for details on events and tours.

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