One of my favorite moments from this season of Mad Men is when Bert Cooper is celebrating their (too-early) plan to go public. Pete offers to pour him a drink and Bert asks if Pete has any “spirits of elderflower”. It’s a fantastic and decidedly European request, hilariously placed for a strange man of the world like Bert Cooper. So what is a spirit of elderflower? It’s a liquer made from the flowers of the elderberry plant. The most well-known is St. Germain, a French liquer (/another France Hamdam reference) that is traditionally drunk straight or mixed with champagne. It’s also traditionally used in several old-timey cocktails if you ever go to one of those fancy cocktail bars that have lately become the rage.

But liquers of elderflower are not easy to make. The flowers do not grow well in nurseries, every known bottler picks them from the wild in the Alps. They only flower for a 4-6 week period. They’re very fragile, having to be picked by hand, and lose a lot of flavor soon after picking*. After they’re picked by hand, they’re moved only by bicycle, not truck (yes, really) to be macerated right in the alpine fields. Exact recipes for the commercial brands are all a secret, but in general they all boast of how careful their picking and bottling process is to maintain the flavor of the flowers. So next time you’re in a liquor store, maybe seek out some spirits of elderflower. It’s a tasty liquer that is delicately hand-made and shipped around the world for your consumptive tastes. It’s a beautiful world sometimes.

*Ever notice that fresh store-bought blueberries suck compared to frozen ones? Same problem of losing flavor immediately after picking. Frozen blueberries are flash-frozen in the field on special trucks, it’s why they’re so much tastier than ones you buy “fresh” at the store. Every decent bakery and restaurant uses frozen blueberries, it’s the key to good flavor in your muffin/pancake/etc.

Article source: http://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/2013/5/17/4342166/hamsterdam-is-drinking-with-bert-cooper

PUBLISHED:

16:31 EST, 17 May 2013

|

UPDATED:

16:31 EST, 17 May 2013

Green roofs have been popping up everywhere at the Chelsea Flower Show in recent years. The idea is simple: instead of using hard materials such as concrete, why not grow plants on that surface?

Green roofs also help keep buildings cool in summer and warm in winter, and they have great aesthetic appeal.

The RBC New Wild Garden, winner of a Silver-Gilt medal at 2011’s Chelsea Flower Show, attracted a lot of attention for its roof planted with a mixture of wildflowers, sedums, herbs and flowering perennials, all selected to enhance biodiversity.

A green roof planted with sedum

Nigel Dunnett, one of the designers, says that any plot, whatever its size, can accommodate a green roof. ‘Garden sheds, porches, summerhouses, balconies, garages and small extensions all offer great potential for planting green roofs.’

Before embarking on a green roof, it’s important to consider whether your roof can take the weight of soil or compost and plants.

You will need a minimum soil depth of 7.5cm (3in) for planting, and damp earth is heavy stuff. Normal garden compost is fine for a green roof.

Nigel Dunnett, one of the designers, says that any plot, whatever its size, can accommodate a green roof.

Always check the structural soundness of a building before planting anything on it: if in any doubt, get professional advice.

The existing roof must also be waterproof – pond liner is ideal for this.

Green roofs can be positioned in full sun or partial shade, although you will have to vary your planting depending on the conditions.

Sedums are a popular planting choice, and you can create a simple green roof by securing a pregrown mat of sedums, which are widely available from specialist suppliers like www.enviromat.co.uk, onto the surface of your roof.

Or you could create a colourful wildflower meadow, or recreate an alpine field.

‘Many typical alpines such as dianthus are excellent for green roofs, as are low-growing species of tulips,’ says Nigel Dunnett.

‘Native wildflowers such as cowslips will increase the wildlife value of the roof.’

And if your roof is in partial shade, you could grow alpine strawberries and ferns.

All green roofs will need watering for the first month or so, but after that should be left to their own devices.

Take Chelsea Home by Chris Young is published by Mitchell Beazley, price £20.

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Article source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/gardening/article-2326240/Grow-roof-As-years-Chelsea-Flower-Show-opens-RHS-expert-Chris-Young-key-looks.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Fish plants

Fish and Game had trout plants scheduled for Alpine Lake, Angels Creek, Beaver Creek, White Pines Lake and the North Fork of the Stanislaus River this week. For a complete listing of plants throughout the state, go to dfg.ca.gov/ fish/ hatcheries/fishplanting.

Highway 4 corridor

By Bill Reynolds, Ebbetts Pass Sporting Goods

Ebbetts Pass is now open. The high country lakes are still partially frozen, but some of creeks are fish-able. The road to Spicer Reservoir is now completely open and the dock is in the water. Top lining seemed to work the best as the fish are still toward the top. The last we heard about Lake Alpine, the new dock is still not in.

Ebbetts Pass is now open. The high country lakes are still partially frozen, but some of creeks are fish-able. This week’s trout plants include White Pines Lake, Beaver Creek, North Fork of the Stanislaus, Angels Creek, and Lake Alpine.

White Pines Lake: White Pines Lake located near Arnold will be planted this week. Bait casters should try using Berkley Gulp Eggs, Galic Power Eggs, Garlic Power Bait, Power Bait, Salmon Peach Power Bait, Grape Nymph Power Bait, Berkley Mice Tails, Berkley Gulp Worms, salmon eggs, and Nightcrawlers with a sliding sinker rig or with a cast-a-bubble rig with 30″-36″ leader. Lure casters should try Kastmasters, Panther Martin spinners, Rooster Tails, Mepps, Blue Fox spinners, Berkley Splinter Spoons, and Thomas Bouyants. Fly fishermen should try woolly buggers, sparrow nymphs, adams, female adams, humpy’s, blue wing olive, pale morning dun, caddis flies, ants, and bead head nymphs.

North Fork of the Stanislaus: You can check the flows for The North Fork of the Stanislaus by going to dreamflows.com. The North Fork of the Stanislaus will be planted this week. Lure fishermen should try Rapala’s, Panther Martin spinners, Rooster Tails, Mepps, Blue Fox spinners, Daiwa Lures, Kastmasters, Berkley Splinter Spoons, and Thomas Bouyants. Bait casters should try using salmon eggs, Berkley Gulp Eggs, Garlic Power Eggs, Berkley Mice Tails, Berkley Gulp Woms, Nightcrawlers, and crickets with a split shot rig. Fly fishermen should try wooly buggers, caddis flies, adams, ants, para light cahill, royal wulff, and bead head nymphs. Camping at the Sourgrass area will be limited to disperse camping only. Remember you will need a campfire permit.

Big Trees State will be open for camping on a first come, first serve basis in the North Grove only. The Oak Hollow campground will be open for Memorial Day. You can contact Big Trees State Park at 209 795–3840 for more information regarding the Park.

Beaver Creek: . Beaver Creek will be planted this week. Lure fishermen should try Panther Martin spinners, Rooster Tails, Mepps,and Blue Fox spinners. Bait fishermen should try nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, crickets, Berkley Gulp Eggs, Garlic Power Eggs, and Berkley Gulp Worms. Fly fishermen should try adams, pale morning dun, female para adams, blue wing olive, humpy’s, ants, and bead head nymphs.

Spicer Res.: The road to Spicer is now completely open and the dock is in the water.Fly fishermen should try ants, woolly buggers, sparrow nymphs, stone flies, caddis, bead head nymphs, mayflies, adams, femmale adams, blue wing olive, gnats, and PMD. Lure fishermen should try Panther Martin’s, Rooster Tails, Vibrax Bullet’s, Mepps, and Kastmasters. Bait casters should try Berkley Salmon Peach, Garlic Power Bait, Garlic Power Bait, Gulp Eggs, New Gulp Hollow Worms, Berkley Mice Tails, Gulp Garlic Power Bait, salmon eggs, crickets, and nightcrawlers on a sliding sinker rig or with a cast-a-buble rig. Trollers should try using Apex, Wedding Rings, Glitter Bugs, Needlefish, Cripplure, Humdinger, Berkley Atomic Teazer behind your favoorite flasher or dodger tipped with either a nightcrawler or berkley maggots. Try using scent on your bait to leave a scent trail. It does work. Top lining seemed to work the best as the fish are still toward the top. HOBART CREEK IS NOT OPEN TO FISHING AS IS THE LAKE LEVEL FLOW UNTIL JULY 1ST. 2013. Avoid a ticket and stay away from Hobart Creek and the flow into the lake.

Lake Alpine: Lake Alpine is due to be planted this week Try using Berkley Garlic Power Eggs, Berkley Gulp Eggs, Berkley Garlic Gulp, Gulp Garlic Eggs, and Salmon Peach, Grape Nymph Power Bait, Mice Tails, salmon eggs and nightcrawlers, using a sliding sinker rig with a 30″ leader. Fly fishermen should try sparrow nymphs, woolly buggers, stone flies, and bead head nymphs. Fish slow with a intermediate sinking line for the best results. Lure fishermen should try using Panther Martin spinners, Rooster Tails, Kastmasters, Vibrax Bulletts, Thomas Bouyants, and Mepps. The last we heard the new dock is still not in.

New Melones

By Melanie Lewis, Glory Hole Sports

New Melones Lake is currently 990 feet above sea level and 97 feet from full. Water temperature is warming daily with the average being 68-72 degrees. The lake is slightly stained with mud lines forming near the shore in the afternoon.

Trout: Fair. The trout are feeding in the main lake and near the mouths of major creek arms. There is a large population of shad in the lake, and the trout are targeting them as their primary forage. The shad vary in size from 2-5 inches. Also, there is a short period of time in the mornings and evenings where the trout will be feeding on the surface. Trolling anglers try using your electronics to find large balls of shad. The trout will be near them waiting for a few to stray away from the school. Use shad patterned Needlefish, Excel spoons, and Rapalas, to target these fish. The brown trout bite has been good for a few weeks now. The browns are feeding on large shad and small kokanee. To target these fish try trolling in 30-50 feet of water with a J11 Rapala or a small boot tail swim bait. Bank anglers have been catching a few trout using a Power Egg/crawler combo or fan casting a Kastmaster.

Kokanee: Good. Most anglers are finding their limits in a few hours of fishing. Main lake near the spillway, and the dam have been the most productive areas to locate schools. The fish will be closer to the surface in the morning. Try trolling 20-30 feet until the sun comes up, then drop down to 40-50 feet throughout the afternoon. Pink has been the hot color with orange coming in a close second. Uncle Larry’s spinners have been working well, and come in many different fish catching colors. Also, small micro hoochies, and bugs have been getting bites. Often times when the fish aren’t biting it is a good idea to put on a large sling blade. The larger blade swinging violently through the school will aggravate the fish into biting. Be sure to tip your baits with dyed and scented shoe peg corn. Pro Cure scents that work are garlic, anise, carp spit, and kokanee special.

Bass: Fair. The fish are finishing up with the spawn and are in a post-spawn mode. The majority of fish have pulled off the bank due to dropping water levels. They will move up in the morning and evenings to feed and then head out to deeper water midday. Early morning top water bite has been good. Try using a walk the dog type bait such as a Spook, Rover, or Sammy. Or, twitch a popper near the shoreline. Add a feather tail to your bait to improve the action and get a few more blow-ups. Once the top water bite dies, switch to a soft plastic presentation. A Carolina rig with a brush hog is a great way to cover water and fish at various depths. Also, try fishing a wacky rig Senko on main lake structure. Natural crawdad colors are working well and brighter colors will stand out better in stained water.

Catfish: Good. The larger catfish are moving to shallow water to spawn a feed. Melones catfish tend to be fish-eaters rather than bottom foragers, so use live minnows, frozen shad, mackerel, or anchovies for best success. Also while bait fishing, it is a good idea to drag your bait across the bottom every few minutes to attract nearby fish. Use a sliding sinker with a bead to create a ticking noise as your bait is moving.

Crappie: Good. Try using a crappie jig with live minnow, fished under a slip-float. The crappie will suspend in standing timber and brush. Try casting past the cover and fishing your presentation into it. The night fishing bite has started to pick up. Anglers using a drop light in the backs of coves have been catching some nice crappie, bass, and trout.

Lake Pardee

By Fred Dorman

The northern cove behind the marina continues to produce some trout. Bank fishing has been better since the last plant around the usual good spots, the “Mud Hole” at the rear of the EBMUD boathouse, Rainbow and Blue Herron Points. Baits and set ups remain unchanged; anglers are using chartreuse, white or rainbow Power Bait (eggs or worms) with garlic and glitter. Pistol Pete’s and Mouse (mice) Tails, in addition pink Power Worms on a water bobber have been successful lately. Blue/silver Kastmasters are also hot right after the plant. Wooly Buggers behind a clear plastic float have also been working well. There has also been some crappie spotted along the front side of the Marina and the adjacent coves.

Trollers continue to concentrate in the South end of the Lake adjacent to the intake tower. Boaters continue to land some nice in this area. Kokanee have been elusive throughout the week. The fish have gone a bit deeper with the warming surface temperatures, most have dropped down to 40 to 60 feet. The winning combos have been Uncle Larry’s and Apex lures with night crawlers or scented corn behind medium flashers or medium size dodgers in red, blue, and chrome. Check at the Marina for all your fishing supplies, snacks, updated fishing information and hot spots.

Bass fishermen have found better luck in the river arm lately near exposed rock edges all along the shore, some activity continues at the south end and around the River mouth. White spinner baits and drop shots are still the ticket. Catfish are showing up in increasing numbers as well in the river arm.

Water level has risen since last report and is now about 10-12 feet below the spillway and is inching upward. Water temperatures are still in the mid-60s at the marina. Water clarity is good to about 15-feet plus in the marina.

Article source: http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/sports/article_fdef6b54-be73-11e2-98e4-001a4bcf887a.html

By LINDSEY TAYLOR

Enlarge Image

Meredith Heuer for The Wall Street Journal

MICROBEAUTIES | Petite landscapes of alpine plants, sedums, thyme, dwarf ice plant and a tiny spruce thrive in hypertufa troughs from Oliver Nurseries in Fairfield, Conn.

I’VE NEVER THOUGHT of myself as someone who’s into miniature worlds, but, looking back, I was admittedly obsessed with my dollhouse. Then came my late-’90s terrarium phase, when I coaxed tiny tropical ferns and mosses to grow inside glass containers of all ilks for indoor enjoyment. More recently, my unofficial passion for the minuscule has shifted outdoors, to what’s known as trough gardening—the cultivation of Lilliputian landscapes in pseudo-stone containers called hypertufa troughs.

Enlarge Image

Meredith Heuer for The Wall Street Journal

Trough gardening was born in England in the late 1800s.

I’m not alone, judging from the swarms of poker-faced gardeners I’ve spotted at some nurseries loading up their cars with almost laughably small plants, especially the alpines that flourish in hypertufa. Lori Chips from Oliver Nurseries in Fairfield, Conn., who’s been making troughs for 18 years, has observed a burgeoning interest in the trend among her customers. “The troughs are little worlds where you can play,” she said, “changing your style from trough to trough if you choose—a monoculture [limited to a single plant type] in one, a tapestry garden in another, or a Zen effect with moss and stones.”

Trough gardening was born in England in the late 1800s, when the wealthy were madly collecting flora from all over the world, and adapting the stone basins from which horses drank to show off their collections of alpine plants. The rough-hewed basins not only mimicked the rocky environs in which alpines typically grow, they were porous, allowing for the quick drainage such plants require. These days, authentic stone basins are scarcer than bustles, so trough- planting zealots have taken to making their own equally porous (and much lighter) containers out of hypertufa—a mixture of portland cement, peat moss, perlite and fibermesh.

Not all plants are suited to trough culture. Pansies, for instance, said Ms. Chips, would be “a waste of a great vessel and opportunity. Troughs are designed for diminutive plants. Start with the easier ones to grow, like sedums and sempervivums, then work up to an expanded palette,” including dwarf evergreens no taller than 3 inches, dwarf iris or cushions of the shrimpiest dianthus you’ve ever seen. You need to factor in the depth of your vessel. While shallow-rooting plants, like succulents, can thrive in a low trough, the roots of dwarf evergreens need a container at least 9 inches deep. Another key to success is the right soil; places that sell troughs often sell the soil mix, too.

Troughs, effective as single showpieces, are even better as a collection staged on a stone wall. Their size also makes them a strategic choice for city terraces and rooftops. My hunch is that trough gardening might just displace the now-ubiquitous terrarium in the hierarchy of green trends. Or at least give it a run for its money as a discipline that lets closet miniaturists like me garden at a manageable scale and price.

To learn more about trough gardening, to order plants or to take a class in hypertufa trough-making, explore these resources: Oliver Nurseries in Fairfield, Conn.,
olivernurseries.com

; Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring, N.Y.,
stonecrop.org

; Wrightman Alpine Nurseries, Adelaide Metcalfe, Ont.,
wrightmanalpines.com
.

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A version of this article appeared May 18, 2013, on page D10 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Ta-Ta, Terrariums…Hello, Troughs.

Article source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323716304578482942872414974.html

There are plenty of opportunities to encounter such stillness in the far-flung American wilds. The key, said Dan Austin, founder of Austin-Lehman Adventures, is to look for destinations with limited access. “The tougher the access, the fewer visitors, the more wildlife, and the better the fishing,” he told me. Thanks in large part to the conservation ethos that is particularly American, one can still find the wild corners of a state or national park, a secluded section of United States Forest Service land, or a remote river canyon — “one that is everything but tame.” Here is a handful of guided trips to help you find yours.

HAVASU FALLS, GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA

Outfitter Austin-Lehman Adventures, austinlehman.com. A five-day journey takes hikers far from the Grand Canyon’s main rim, traveling through labyrinthine red-sandstone canyons and stands of cottonwood and lush fern gardens. The destination: 100-foot Havasu Falls and the Havasupai village of Supai, one of the country’s most remote towns, where food, mail and supplies still arrive by America’s last “pony express.” Two miles farther is your base camp, from which you can go fossil-hunting, explore underwater grottoes and trek across pristine streams, meadows of wild grapevine and up spectacular 1,000-foot canyons. The backcountry’s bubbling blue-green mineral waters are natural Jacuzzis — perfect for a tranquil end-of-day soak.

Skill Level Moderate to challenging.

Cost $1,548, including lodging, base camp accommodations, gear, meals, packhorses.

UPPER PENINSULA, MICHIGAN

Outfitter Keweenaw Adventure, keweenawadventure.com. Miles of logging roads and rolling single-track mountain bike trails wend through wilderness on the sparsely populated tip of Michigan. The daylong guided “To the Point” tour takes cyclists along Lake Superior’s farthest shores, venturing through towering old-growth white pine and through the Nature Conservancy preserve at Horseshoe Harbor, where the dramatic, rippling rock ridges of the ancient bedrock beach protect the interior boreal forest against the powerful wind and wave erosion of the lake. You’ll climb and roll under stands of balsam fir, white cedar and white spruce, home to black bears, peregrine falcons, snowshoe hares and all kinds of warblers. The reward for all that hard work: a land’s end view of the vast lake and Manitou Island from atop a 700-foot bluff.

Skill Level Moderate to challenging.

Cost $125, including dual-suspension mountain bike rental.

LANAI, HAWAII

Outfitter Trilogy Excursions, sailtrilogy.com. Quiet Lanai, a 141-square-mile island, has no traffic lights and a population of just over 3,000. Its lovely southern coastline, lined with empty, flour-sand beaches, was the onetime playground for King Kamehameha I and other Hawaiian royalty. On the Lanai Seafari you will spend a day retracing the royals’ wanderings with Trilogy’s rigged sailing catamaran and snorkel alongside moray eels, spiny lobsters and one of the region’s largest pods of spinner dolphins, accompanied by a naturalist guide. You’ll also explore the pristine waters around Kaunolu, a favorite fishing retreat for Kamehameha I and a sacred spot for Hawaiians, and Kaumalapau Harbor, and see striking views of spiny sea cliffs, tumbling down to secluded beaches.

Skill Level Easy (provided you know how to swim).

Cost $199, including snorkel equipment, eco-tour, breakfast and lunch.

GLACIER BAY, ALASKA

Outfitter REI Adventures, rei.com/adventures. An eight-day Glacier Bay and Inside Passage itinerary takes travelers into the distant corners and coves of Glacier Bay National Park on a small 76-passenger ship. Excursions by kayak, skiff and on foot give guests the chance to watch the ebb and flow of the World Heritage site’s tidewater glaciers. The sheer range of ways to experience the stunning environment sets this trip apart; active travelers can paddleboard a fjord, hike far-off trails or do a polar bear swim in chilly waters, while onboard viewing decks and glacier walks cater to those who want to take in the sights at a more leisurely pace. Trip highlights: Icy Strait, one of the state’s best whale-viewing spots, and Chichagof Island, home to the one of the densest brown bear populations in the world.

Skill Level Easy to moderate (abundant activity options are a plus).

Cost From $2,795, including airport transfers, meals, gear, guides. Departures are scheduled between May 18 and Aug. 31.

WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Outfitter Appalachian Mountain Club, outdoors.org/lodging/whitemountains/custom-adventures.cfm. You don’t have to be a hard-core hiker on the Appalachian Trail to appreciate the region’s magnificent high-altitude wilderness. The Appalachian Mountain Club leads customized hiking adventures with experienced guides; book a weekend lodge-to-hut trip that starts at one of the club’s two New Hampshire lodges, traversing hardwood forests, beaver ponds and mountain ridgelines and overnighting at backcountry huts. One recommended stop is Zealand Falls Hut, a four-season spot near cascading waterfalls and the eastern edge of the Pemigewasset Wilderness, one of the most isolated wild areas in the state. Guides are trained in wilderness medicine and natural history, so you can work on perfecting outdoor skills and learn about the moose, stars or alpine flowers you spot along the way. In the summer, hearty breakfasts and dinners are served at lodges and huts.

Skill Level Moderate to challenging (trips are customized).

Cost $350 per guide per night for four to six people, including use of equipment and outdoor clothing (not lodging and meals).

MARQUESAS KEYS, FLORIDA

Outfitter Adventure Watersports Charters, adventurewatersportcharters.com. For the past four years, the wildlife biologists and ecologists Ryan and Rebecca Means have been identifying and documenting the remotest place in each of the 50 states for their continuing Project Remote (remotefootprints.org). In Florida, they’ve homed in on the Marquesas Keys, a ring of uninhabited islands formed by a meteorite and protected as part of the Key West National Wildlife Refuge (25 miles from the nearest road, the Marquesas are also the Means’s preliminary pick for remotest spot in the lower 48). Take a full-day boat charter to explore the atoll’s mangroves, lagoons and rich underwater life; hammerhead sharks, loggerhead turtles, eagle rays, sailfish and yellowtail snapper make for outstanding diving and fishing.

Skill Level Easy to moderate.

Cost $249, including four dives and lunch.

Article source: http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/travel/seeking-solitude-with-a-guide.html?pagewanted=all

View full size PHOTO OF THE WEEK: “Iris in late afternoon sun.” In the weekly calendar we are featuring a photo that was an entry in our 2012 photo contest. The winners ran in the Dec. 22 weekend edition of Homes Gardens of the Northwest.

Diane Krueger, Corvallis
Events are free unless noted. Fees usually include materials; call to confirm. All area codes are 503 unless noted.

TOURS

Eastside Garden Tour
Tour gardens in the west Columbia River Gorge.
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 18-19
Tickets: $20
Details: 492-2900 or 866-367-4667 or eastsidegardentour.com
Benefits: West Columbia Gorge Consortium

Oswego Heritage Council Historic Home Tour
Tour five historic homes and gardens in Lake Oswego.
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 18
Tickets: $30
Details: 635-6373 or www.oswegoheritage.org/events/hometour.html

Sellwood Garden Tour
Tour gardens in Garthwick, Sellwood and Moreland neighborhoods.
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, May 19
Tickets: $25
Details: www.facebook.com/SellwoodGardenTour
Benefits: Sellwood Middle School

Inviting Vines VI
Tour five private gardens in Southwest Portland and the Rogerson Clematis Collection Garden at Luscher Farm in West Linn. Presented by the Friends of the Rogerson Clematis Collection.
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 25
Tickets: $20
Details: 231-0025 or lucyflora@comcast.net or rogersonclematiscollection.org

EVENTS

SATURDAY, MAY 18

Elk Rock Garden Plant Sale: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 18-19. Vines, unusual perennials, shrubs, rock garden specimens and more. Elk Rock Garden at the Bishop’s Close, 11800 S.W. Military Lane; elkrockgarden.org or 971-207-4379

Community Garden Club of Camas/Washougal Plant Sale: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Camas United Methodist Church, 706 14th St., Camas, Wash.; 360-834-2976

Schreiner’s Iris Gardens Bloom Season: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, through June 9. Iris display gardens, plant sale, live music and more. See website for schedule. Schreiner’s Iris Gardens, 3625 Quinaby Road N.E., Salem; www.schreinersgardens.com or 800-525-2367

SW Portland Fuchsia Club Sale: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Unusual upright varieties, trailing varieties and baskets. Lamb’s Thriftway on Scholls, 12220 S.W. Scholls Ferry Road, Tigard; 644-1966

Beaverton Garden Club Plant Sale: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Perennials, succulents, shrubs from members’ gardens and small trees. Beaverton Resource Center, 12500 S.W. Allen Blvd., Beaverton; 267-7649

Herb, Vegetable and Sustainable Living Fair: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, May 18-19. The 33rd annual festival features vendors, information booths, presentations on sustainable living practices, tours of the historic Pomeroy log house and more. Pomeroy Living History Farm, 20902 N.E. Lucia Falls Road, Yacolt, Wash.; pomeroyfarm.org or 360-686-3537

Peony and Iris Farm in Bloom: View more than 250 varieties of old-fashioned and new peony varieties and 1,000 varieties of bearded iris. Stroll the peony fields and the iris garden/arboretum. Potted plants, cut flowers, peony bouquets and iris plants for sale; or order bare-root peonies for fall planting. Daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through June 16. Brooks Gardens, 6219 Topaz St. N.E., Brooks; www.brooksgardens.com or 393-7999

Spring Fever Open House: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, May 18-19. Several specialty nurseries along the Cascade Nursery Trail in the north Willamette Valley open their doors to the public. See website for details. cascadenurserytrail.com or 651-2006

Rare Plant Research: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 18-19. Three nurseries and a garden open to the public during the weekend; wine tastings offered by King’s Raven Winery. Call or see website for updated details on participating nurseries. Rare Plant Research, 11900 S. Criteser Road, Oregon City; www.rareplantresearch.com

SUNDAY, MAY 19

Sunset Bonsai Club: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Demonstrations and lectures. Bring your tree to prune and learn how to maintain its shape. Beaverton City Library, 12375 S.W. Fifth St., Beaverton; www.sunsetbonsaiclub.com

MONDAY, MAY 20

Morning Bird-song Walks: Guided walks led by Audubon/Tryon volunteers Rick and Stephanie Wagner. Weekly 7 a.m. Mondays, through May 27 (including Memorial Day). Tryon Creek State Natural Area, 11321 S.W. Terwilliger Blvd.; www.tryonfriends.org or 636-9886, ext. 225

TUESDAY, MAY 21

Therapeutic Garden Volunteer Information Sessions: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Get information on how to help with garden maintenance, planting projects, clerical work and other volunteer opportunities in the Legacy Health System Horticultural Therapy Program. Registration required; meeting details given at that time. Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center, 1015 N.W. 22nd Ave.; www.legacyhealth.org/gardens or 413-7012

Paradise on Earth — the Beautiful Flowers of Kashmir: 7:30 p.m. Chris Chadwell gives a presentation on alpine and perennial treasures of Kashmir in this program of the Columbia-Willamette Rock Garden Society. Smile Station, 8210 S.E. 13th Ave.; cwnargs.org or 232-2346

THURSDAY, MAY 23

Clark County Master Gardeners on the Road Tour: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. See how four gardeners transformed their properties. Register by May 20; meeting details given at that time. $30; ocrs.wsu.edu/signup/?eventid=893  or 360-397-6060, ext. 5738

SATURDAY, MAY 25

Invasive Species: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Snacks and tools provided. Registration required by email. Columbia Grove, 3412 S.E. Riverwood Court, Vancouver; www.columbiasprings.org or 360-882-0936 or volunteer@columbiasprings.org

The Greater Portland Iris Society Floral Show: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Showcasing the early, middle- and late-season blooms of the iris genus. On the second floor near Sears and Marshalls. Lloyd Center, 2201 Lloyd Center; greaterportlandirissociety.org or 360-835-1016 or 503-668-9230

CLASSES + DEMONSTRATIONS

SATURDAY, MAY 18

Greenhouse Building and Growing: 9 a.m. Learn about building a custom greenhouse, setting up a greenhouse kit, and summer greenhouse management. Registration required. Greenhouse Catalog Co., 3740 Brooklake Road N.E., Salem; www.greenhousecatalog.com/clinic or 393-3973 or Michael@GreenhouseCatalog.com

Naturescaping Basics: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn how to design a low-maintenance, chemical-free landscape that conserves water and minimizes pollution while saving time, money and energy. Offered through East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District. Registration required at the website. Troutdale City Conference Building, 223 S. Buxton Ave., Troutdale; emswcd.org or 222-7645

Children’s Garden Club — Flower Containers: 10-11 a.m. Children learn about annual flowers and design and plant a container to take home. Registration required at the website. Portland Nursery, 9000 S.E. Division St.; www.portlandnursery.com or 788-9000

Growing and Arranging Peonies: 1:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 18-19. 1:30 p.m.: Walking educational field tour with Carol Adelman. 2:30 p.m.: Floral arranging with peonies. Adelman Peony Gardens, 5690 Brooklake Road N.E., Brooks; www.peonyparadise.com or 393-6185

SUNDAY, MAY 19

Make Your Own Mixed-herb Container: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Make and take home a container full of culinary herbs to harvest throughout the fall and winter. Registration required at website. Portland Nursery, 9000 S.E. Division St.; $25, includes all plants and materials; www.portlandnursery.com or 788-9000

Fine Foliage: 1 p.m. Learn to create eye-catching combinations and vignettes, plus how to use old favorites. Joy Creek Nursery, 20300 N.W. Watson Road, Scappoose; www.joycreek.com or 543-7474

Make Your Own Vegetable Container: 1-2:30 p.m. Make and take home a container full of vegetables. Registration required at website. Portland Nursery, 9000 S.E. Division St.; $25, includes all plants and materials; www.portlandnursery.com or 788-9000

TUESDAY, MAY 21

Tomato Planting 101: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Vern Vanderzanden on getting the most out of the growing season. Hosted by the Washington County Master Gardeners. Demonstration Garden at Washington County Fair Complex, 882 N.E. 28th Ave., Hillsboro; metromastergardeners.org/washington

SATURDAY, MAY 25

The Buzz About Bees: 9:30-11:30 a.m. Beekeeper Glen Andresen on mason bees, bumblebees and honeybees. Learn how to help them thrive in your yard and how to build a mason bee block. Then visit the garden’s honeybee hives for an inside look and search for the queen. For age 12 and older. Registration required. Leach Botanical Garden, 6704 S.E. 122nd Ave.; $8; leachgarden.org or 823-1671

Gardening on the Move: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Practical skills with container gardening, creating movable planting areas, transplanting and proper plant care, as well as how to address some of the more emotional challenges of caring for a garden that goes with you wherever you go. Registration required at website. Portland Nursery, 9000 S.E. Division St.; www.portlandnursery.com or 788-9000

Tomatoes Tomatoes Tomatoes: 1 p.m. Planting times, cultural requirements, fertilizing needs, watering systems and more. Portland Nursery, 5050 S.E. Stark St.; www.portlandnursery.com or 231-5050

Click for public gardens.

Calendar items run on a space-available basis. Please submit notices at least one month before the event to Homes Gardens Listings Desk, The Oregonian, 1320 S.W. Broadway, Portland, OR 97201; or by email (send as a plain text file, with Homes Gardens in the subject line) to listings@oregonian.com. Except for cancellations and corrections, notices cannot be accepted by phone.

Article source: http://www.oregonlive.com/hg/index.ssf/2013/05/homes_gardens_events_in_oregon_40.html

Good causes

BENEFIT FOR VNA CARE NETWORK HOSPICE. Saturday, May 18, 7 p.m., John Archer Estate, 10 North St., Danvers. Evening of fashion and live music. Bless by Bless Couture will preview their spring collection. Just in Time and pianist Nathan Johnson will perform live. Event includes silent and live auctions and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Tickets cost $50. www.vnacarenetwork.org or 888-663-3688, ext. 1361.

MOTHER’S DAY TEA. Sunday, May 19, 1 p.m., St. Michael’s Hall, 15 Endicott St., Peabody. Hosted by the Daughters of St. Joseph. Admission is free, but donations of unwrapped gifts for newborn infants are requested. Gifts will be donated to an organization that offers comprehensive pre- and postnatal education and support programs for teens and young mothers. Those planning to attend should call Lola Busta, 978-531-5592; Ann Kostos, 978-774-0985; or Janis Marren, 978-531-8837.

Sustainable earth

DIG IN @ PEM/PM: DIRT!. Thursday, May 16, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, Salem. Celebrate growing gardens, learn new ways to use seasonal and locally grown food, learn how to create a seedbomb, draw a costumed, live model from Modern Millie Vintage and Consignments, and enjoy live music by Dan The Wildfire. Event includes cocktails and local food. Free/PEM members and Salem residents with ID, $10/nonmembers. 866-745-1876 or www.pem.org.

CALLING ALL CANS AND BOTTLES. Saturday, May 18, 8 a.m. to noon, Shaw’s Supermarket, 71 Dodge St.; Henry’s Market, 588 Cabot St.; and Super Stop Shop, 224 Elliott St. and 37 Enon St., Beverly. The Beverly Homecoming Committee will be at four locations accepting cans and plastic bottles, which will be recycled at deposit centers; monies raised from can and bottle deposits will benefit the Homecoming Fireworks display.

ELECTRONICS RECYCLING COLLECTION. Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Landmark School, 429 Hale St., Beverly. Each item costs $5, and a small box of random equipment is $5; $15 fee for TVs. Proceeds support a service learning trip to Jamaica. www.landmarkschool.org.

GREENFEST 2013. Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Brown Elementary School, 150 Lynn St., Peabody. Peabody’s third annual event features dozens of educational exhibits by environmentally-focused organizations and institutions, “green” storytelling, recycling arts and crafts, and student-led recycling and garden club tours. For a minimal fee, old electronics and paperwork may be dropped off for recycling; paperwork will be confidentially shred. For a complete list of exhibitors and information, visit www.greenpeabody.org/greenfest or join the GreenPeabody group on Facebook.

ELECTRONIC RECYCLING AND SHREDDING EVENT. Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. to noon, Ipswich High School, 134 High St., Ipswich. All proceeds will benefit the Ipswich High School softball program. Recycling fees: TVs, $15; computer monitors, $10; all other electronics, $5. Shredding fees: $10 per 13-gallon bag and $15 per file box. Doug Woodworth, 978-356-5507, ext. 119.

EDIBLE LANDSCAPING CLASS. Saturday, May 18, 11 a.m. to noon, Green Meadows Farm, 656 Asbury St., Hamilton. Barbara Emerson of “Edible Boston” will answer questions and offer advice on using edible plants to beautify grounds. Free. Space is limited; register at 978-468-2277.

SOLAR ENERGY DAY. Saturday, May 18, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Greenergy Park, corner of Sohier and Tozer roads, Beverly. Eighth annual event at America’s longest-running solar facility to celebrate clean energy. Includes tours of the solar field, food and live music. Located at the wind and solar site next to Beverly High School. Free admission and parking; bring non-perishable food items to donate to Beverly Bootstraps Food Pantry or Friends of Beverly Animals. www.solarnow.org.

Get outside and explore

COLORFUL FEDERAL STREET: EXTERIOR PAINT TREATMENTS AND THE HISTORY BEHIND THE COLORS. Saturday, May 18, 9:30 a.m., meet at the corner of North and Federal streets, Salem. Historic New England and Historic Salem Inc. present a historic walking tour in the Federal Street neighborhood with architectural historian and color specialist Sally Zimmerman, senior manager of historic preservation services at Historic New England. Zimmerman will focus on how paint color and architectural style come together to add value and character to a neighborhood that has some of the oldest houses in Salem. Also, local historian Hannah Diozzi of Salem Strolls brings the “colorful” history of the neighborhood to life during the tour. Visitors are welcome to bring along photos of their homes for a basic color consultation. $20/nonmembers, $5/Historic New England and Historic Salem Inc. members. Registration suggested at 978-744-0440 or www.historicnewengland.org.

SWAMPWALK GRAND OPENING. Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m., rail trail entrance, Route 97, Wenham. Open Space Recreation Committee hosts at the north entrance to the boardwalk. Refreshments served. Rain or shine. Prizes awarded for observing an off-the-endangered-list spotted turtle and any member of the three beaver families.

BIODIVERSITY BY THE SEA: EXPLORING BEVERLY’S TIDE POOLS. Saturday, May 18, 11 a.m. to noon, Lynch Park, 55 Ober St., Beverly. Meet and learn about the strange and surprising creatures inhabiting these miniature seas with naturalist Paul Erickson, a former New England Aquarium staffer and “Good Morning America” special correspondent. All of the animals investigated will be returned to their natural habitats. Children must be accompanied by an attentive parent or guardian. Bring warm footwear that will keep feet dry and stable on slippery rocks. Park in parking lot and gather at the seawall entryway to the beach. Free; part of Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee’s Earth Day nature walks. Rain or shine.

MAYOR’S RIDE. Saturday, May 18, 2 p.m., Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot St., Beverly. Join Mayor Bill Scanlon, the Bicycle Beverly Committee, and River House for the second annual bicycle ride, to Hospital Point Lighthouse and back. Participants of all ages and all cycling abilities invited. The easy, scenic route will be marshalled for safety and concludes with Hoodsies and additional refreshments back at City Hall. Donations for River House will be accepted. 978-927-4599.

BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY 101. Sunday, May 19, 8 to 9:30 a.m., Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. Join Nancy Landry, avid bird photographer and author of “The Birds of Plum Island Calendar,” for a walk, during which she will share tips for finding and photographing birds. Bring either a digital single lens reflex camera or a “point and shoot” type camera with an electric view finder and minimum 10X zoom lens. Binoculars and a birding guide are suggested, but optional. Limited to 10. $12/adult, $10/Mass Audubon members. Advance registration required at 978-887-9264.

FOX HILL: EXPLORATION BIO-BLIZT. Sunday, May 19, 1 p.m., Fox Hill, park and gather at the end of Tall Tree Drive, Beverly. Join Mass Audubon ecologist Dr. Robert Buchsbaum for an exploration of this open space woodland, where a newly established access trail has opened for public walking, biking and nature study. The walk will focus on identifying and recording just about everything that attendees find. Bring binoculars and a magnifying glass. Carpool if possible as parking is limited. Free; rain or shine. Event is part of Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee’s Earth Day nature walks.

Presentations, discussions and lectures

FARMS BRANCH BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP. Thursday, May 16, 7 p.m., Beverly Public Library, Farms Branch, 24 Vine St., Beverly Farms. Group will discuss “The Language of Flowers” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. New members welcome. Handicapped-accessible. Discussion titles available at the checkout desk; alternate formats may be available. 978-921-6066 or ingalls@noblenet.org.

MANHATTAN IN MARBLEHEAD: JASON ALEXANDER ISRAEL. Thursday, May 16, 8 p.m., Jewish Community Center, 4 Community Road, Marblehead. Jason Alexander, known for his role in “Seinfeld,” is teaming up with One Voice, the teen organization pushing for peace in Israel. Hear from Alexander and several world players as they discuss “A Blueprint for the Middle East” in New York City, which will be simulcast live at the JCC. Ask questions and be a part of the debate. Event part of the JCC’s Manhattan in Marblehead series. Reserve a spot at 781-631-8330. http://www.jccns.org/manhattan-in-marblehead/.

THOMAS JEFFERSON: AN AMERICAN PARADOX. Friday, May 17, 10 a.m. to noon, Explorers Lifelong Learning Institute, 10 Federal St., Salem. Anthony Guerriero, Salem State University history instructor, will discuss the enigmatic personality of the famous Founding Father who wrote that all men are created equal, yet owned his own slaves and carried on a forbidden relationship with a slave for 38 years. Donations appreciated from nonmembers in attendance. 978-744-0804 or www.explorerslli.org.

NEW ENGLAND LIGHTHOUSE EXPERT TO SPEAK. Saturday, May 18, 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 221 Cabot St., Beverly. Jeremy D’Entremont will present a talk on “Lighthouses of the North Shore” and will be available to sign copies of his books. Desserts and coffee served. $10/adults, $5/seniors and children under 12. The event is a fundraiser for the First Baptist Church in Beverly, known as the “Church With the Harbor Light,” the only church in the United States with an operating lighthouse. 978-922-3295.

MONDAY NIGHT BOOK CLUB. Monday, May 20, 7:15 to 8:30 p.m., Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, 14 Union St., South Hamilton. Club will discuss “Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War,” by Madeline Albright. Copies of the book are available at the reference desk. Rebecca Shea, 978-468-5577 or rshea@mvlc.org.

AUTHOR, PHOTOGRAPHER AND GUIDE PRESENTATION. Tuesday, May 21, 7 to 8 p.m., Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, 14 Union St., South Hamilton. Andrew Martinez presents “Marine Life of the North Atlantic.” Martinez has spent more than 30 years photographing marine life of the North Atlantic. Photo assignments sponsored by National Geographic World Magazine have taken him to Fiji, Bonaire, and Cape Cod. www.hwlibrary.org.

“THE ROSE MAN.” Tuesday, May 21, 7 p.m., Beverly Public Library, 32 Essex St., Beverly. Friendly Garden Club will host Dr. Erwin Ehrenreich who will present a basic rose lecture that will cover rose history, classification, care and a year in the rose garden from spring pruning to winter protection. His lecture will include a photo slideshow of roses, some of which are from his own rose garden. Ehrenreich is a member of the American Rose Society, the Rose Hybridizers Association, and the Heritage Rose Foundation. Kerry Baser, 978-712-0712.

EVENING BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP. Tuesday, May 21, 7:30 to 8:45 p.m., Beverly Public Library, 32 Essex St., Beverly. Group will discuss “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” by Harriet Beecher Stowe. New members welcome. Handicapped-accessible. Discussion titles available at the checkout desk; alternate formats may be available. 978-921-6062 or bev@noblenet.org.

FISH TALES FROM THE FISH HOUSE LECTURE. Wednesday, May 22, 7 p.m., Swampscott Yacht Club, second floor of the Fish House at Fisherman’s Beach, 425 Humphrey St. Swampscott Yacht Club presents “Vintage Swampscott,” featuring local historian Lou Gallo who will show historic photos of Swampscott and tell tales of the town’s rich and colorful past. Free. Cash bar will be open. Reservations required at 781-962-5587.

Poetry

TEEN POETRY CONTEST RECEPTION. Thursday, May 16, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, 14 Union St., South Hamilton. Featured speaker: Dan Sklar, author and professor at Endicott College. Following Sklar’s talk, contest winners will read or recite their poems aloud. http://informedteenshwlibrary.blogspot.com.

ANNUAL POETS NIGHT. Tuesday, May 21, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Middleton Senior Center, 39 Maple St. Middleton Arts Association’s event features a presentation of original poetry shared by members of the Massachusetts State Poetry Society, the Wordcrafters Poetry Group, North Shore Poets Forum, and friends of the Art Association. Anyone is welcome to read at the open mike. Free admission; refreshments served. Building is handicapped-accessible. Parking and entry on the left side of the building. Direct questions to Beverley, 978-740-3212.

Commemorations

“SALUTE TO OUR VIETNAM VETERANS.” Thursday, May 16, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Tapley Memorial Hall, 13 Page St., Danvers. The Danvers Historical Society will salute Vietnam veterans and their families. All veterans are invited to attend. Free admission to all members and veterans. Light refreshments to follow. Reservations are appreciated by calling the Society office, 978-777-1666, or emailing Cathy Gareri, cgareri@danvershistory.org.

350 YEARS IN WORDS AND MUSIC. Sunday, May 19, 5 p.m., Meeting House, corner of Main and Washington streets, Topsfield. The Congregational Church of Topsfield’s 350-year celebration concert features the Combined Choirs, CCoT Chancel and Handbell Choir, the Arlington Ward Choir of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, organ and trumpet accompaniment, narration and audience participation. Admission is free and all are welcome. Wendy S. Colby, 978-887-2101, ext. 11, or wendy@topsfieldchurch.org.

Music and dance

THE ORCHESTRA ON THE HILL CONCERT. Thursday, May 16, 7:30 p.m., Crane Estate, 290 Argilla Road, Ipswich. Under the musical direction of Thomas Palance, the orchestra will perform an all-concerto program featuring seven soloists performing four concertos. $20 at the door. m71pearlman@gmail.com or 978-356-3845.

METHEE COFFEEHOUSE CONCERT. Friday, May 17, Unitarian Universalist Church, 28 Mugford St., Marblehead. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., concert at 8 p.m. Ryan Montbleau with Tall Heights. Tickets cost $22 in advance and $25 at the door. 781-631-8987 or www.meandthee.org.

THE WORKINGMAN’S BAND. Saturday, May 18, 4 to 7 p.m., Village Tavern Grill, 168 Essex St., Salem. The Workingman’s Band, featuring guitarist and vocalist Tom Yates, will perform classic country, rockabilly and blues music.

¡VIVA! THE COLORS AND SOUNDS OF THE CARIBBEAN. Sunday, May 19, 1 to 3 p.m., The House of the Seven Gables’ Seaside Garden, 115 Derby St., Salem. The Ricardo Monzón Orchestra will perform live music as teens from Express Yourself execute their dance from their May 15 performance at the Citi Performing Arts Center — Wang Theatre in Boston. Event includes Latin music, large visual arts display created by Express Yourself youth and a scholarship awards presentation by the Gables Settlement Association. Free admission. Reserve a spot with Stephen Weber at 978-744-0991, ext. 104.

PAUL MADORE CHORALE CONCERT. Sunday, May 19, 3 p.m., First Universalist Church, 211 Bridge St., Salem. The Paul Madore Chorale and soloists will perform “The Seasons” by Franz Josef Haydn. Based on an epic poem by James Thomson, “The Seasons” is a four-part oratorio composed by Haydn toward the end of his career. $25/general, $22/seniors, $18/students. Purchase tickets at Sophia’s, 105 Essex St., Salem; Arnould Gallery, 111 Washington St., Marblehead; or www.mktix.com/pmc. 781-592-7284, 978-774-7981, or www.paulmadorechorale.org.

PIANIST JACQUELINE SCHWAB IN CONCERT. Sunday, May 19, 3 p.m., Marblehead Arts Association, King Hooper Mansion, 8 Hooper St., Marblehead. Schwab, who has played for several Ken Burns documentaries on PBS, has specialized in meditative, spirited arrangements based on traditional and vintage tunes from America, England, Scotland and elsewhere, which she accompanies with stories. Tickets are $20, $15 for MAA members, and may be purchased at 781-631-2608.

SWING INTO SPRING. Monday, May 20, 7 to 9 p.m., Masconomet Regional High School, 20 Endicott Road, Topsfield. Masconomet Regional High School and Middle School Jazz Bands, Percussion Ensemble and Jazz Choir will perform a special selection of music while attendees enjoy an ice cream sundae bar, raffles and more. $12/ticket in advance, $15/at the door. Fundraiser for the Masconomet Music Parents Association, which annually awards over $12,000 in merit scholarships to underclassmen and seniors for music lessons, enrichment programs and post graduate studies. Details and reservations available at www.mascomusicparents.org or by contacting Glaudia Giustra at cgiustra@gmail.com.

Theater

“NEXT TO NORMAL.” Thursday, May 16, Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, May 19, 2 p.m., Marblehead Firehouse, 12 School St. Marblehead Little Theatre presents a rock musical with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. Tickets cost $23 for adults, $15 for students (matinees only). Tickets available at the Spirit of ’76 Bookstore or www.mltlive.org.

“HONK!” Friday, May 17, 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 18, 3 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, May 19, 3 p.m., Collins Middle School, 29 Highland Ave., Salem. North Shore Children’s Theatre presents a musical journey of the Ugly Duckling. www.northshorechildrenstheatre.org.

“A DELICATE BALANCE.” On stage through Saturday, June 1, at the Salem Theatre Company Theater, 90 Lafayette St., Salem. The STC concludes its 10th anniversary season with a production of Edward Albee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Performances run on Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for students. www.salemtheatre.com, info@salemtheatre.com, or 978-790-8546.

“BRAIDS.” Fridays, May 17 and 24, 8 p.m., and Saturdays, May 18 and 25, 3 and 8 p.m., Dane Street Church, 10 Dane St., Beverly. The Sea Change Theatre Company presents Joseph Frost’s lyrical one-act play as the final production in its inaugural season. In the play, the lives of three women, a mother and her daughters, intertwine as they struggle with the perplexities of womanhood, family responsibilities, and abandonment. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. To purchase tickets, call 978-500-3885, or email boxoffice@seachangetheatre.com. Run time is approximately 40 minutes.

Film

HERITAGE INDEPENDENT FILMS. Thursday, May 16, and Tuesday, May 21, 11:40 a.m., “Mysteries of Essex County”; 12:10 p.m. “Ghosts at Damon House”; and 12:35 p.m., “O’l Tyme Radio,” at Hollywood Hits Theatre, 7 Hutchinson Drive, Danvers. $5 admission. 978-777-2711.

INSPIRATIONAL EVENINGS: “MIRACLES.” Monday, May 20, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m., Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, 14 Union St., South Hamilton. “Miracles” incorporates Jorgelina “Jayzee” Zeoli’s two autobiographical films about healing from trauma through self-awareness, spirituality, music and art. Videotaped discussions with holistic practitioners, trauma survivors and members of different faiths follow both films. Registration is requested by contacting Rebecca Shea, 978-468-5577 or rshea@mvlc.org.

Art

GRADUATE ART SHOW RECEPTION. Friday, May 17, 4 to 9 p.m., Van Loan Cyber Cafe, Endicott College, 376 Hale St., Beverly. Exhibit reception for Master of Education Arts and Learning Graduate Art Show, titled “Art from the Creative Process.” Exhibit on view through May 26. Details at www.endicott.edu/gps/artsandlearning.

ANNUAL STUDENT ART AND FASHION SHOW. Tuesday, May 21, 6 to 9 p.m., Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, 485 Lowell St., Peabody. Presented by PVMHS’s Visual Arts and Family and Consumer Science departments. Opening reception for teachers, students, parents and the public, 6 to 8 p.m. Art show will be on display in the upper balcony of the field house with an awards ceremony at 6:45 p.m. Fashion show begins at 7:15 p.m. in the main hallway of the high school’s second floor. Free. Katy Millman, PVMHS chair of visual arts, 978-536-4522.

VISUAL THESIS PROJECTS EXHIBITED. On view at the Walter J. Manninen Center for the Arts, Endicott College, 376 Hale St., Beverly. An exhibit, featuring projects created by graduating seniors from the Endicott College School of Visual and Performing Arts, on display through Friday, May 24. Free. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kathleen Moore, 978-232-2655 or kmoore@endicott.edu.

WORKS BY ARTHUR WESLEY DOW ON VIEW. Exhibit on display throughout the summer at First Ipswich Bank, 31 Market St., Ipswich. View two paintings by Arthur Wesley Dow and works by other local artists during the bank’s regular business hours. First Ipswich Bank is a stop along Ipswich Museum’s “A Walking Tour.” Details available at firstipswich.com.

“THE PAINTED STORY: NEW WORK BY BRIAN BROGAN.” On view through Friday, May 24, True North Gallery, 25 Woodbury St., Hamilton. Exhibit features North Shore artist Brogan’s vibrant paintings inspired by indigenous traditions from around the world. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment. 978-468-1962 or gallerydirector@truenorthgallery.net.

SPRING EXHIBIT. On view through Thursday, May 30, at the Gallery at Grosvenor Park, 7 Loring Hills Ave., Salem. Exhibit features work by local artists Peggy Farrell of Marblehead and Jan Condon of Salem. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends. Handicapped-accessible. 978-741-5700.

For children and families

ART CLUB. Friday, May 17, 1 to 2 p.m., Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, 14 Union St., South Hamilton. Children in preschool and older are invited to experiment with straw painting. Sessions are drop-in and free-form. www.hwlibrary.org.

EARLY CHILDHOOD NATURE EDUCATION WORKSHOP. Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. Workshop designed to help those who work with children ages 3 to 6 to increase their awareness of, curiosity about and appreciation of the natural world through direct outdoor experiences. Workshop suitable for an early childhood educator, a child care provider, after-school teacher, parent or Scout leader. Hands-on activities and take-home activity sheets included. A portion of the workshop will be outside on the sanctuary; dress for weather and bring a lunch. $50/adult, $45/Mass Audubon members. Registration required at 978-887-9264.

KEEPING KIDS SAFE PROJECT. Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Honda North, 382 Newbury St., Danvers. S.I.P. Kids, a national child safety organization that tours the country providing free FBI-quality digital fingerprints for children, will host a free child safety fair. Local organizations and law enforcement agencies will help educate children and their families on how to avoid dangerous situations. Free digital fingerprinting.

AUTHOR READING AND BOOK SIGNING. Wednesday, May 22, 3:30 to 5 p.m., Wenham Tea House, 4 Monument St., Wenham. Reading specialist Jeana Khan will read from and sign copies of her second children’s book, “Eli The Elephant.” Program suitable for young readers, ages 3 to 9. For reservations, call Wenham Tea House at 978-468-1398.

Plant and yard sales

PLANT SALE FUNDRAISER. Saturday, May 18, 8 a.m. to noon, Marblehead Community Center, 10 Humphrey St., Marblehead. The Marblehead High School Class of 2016 will offer a variety of outdoor plants, including hanging plants, annuals, perennials and vegetables. lavender.michael@marbleheadschools.org.

MACK PARK ANNUAL YARD SALE. Saturday, May 18, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mack Park, 31 Grove St., Salem. Hosted by the Mack Park Neighborhood Association. Rain date May 18. Drop off items at Mack Park on Friday, May 17, 5 to 6 p.m., and Saturday, May 18, 7 to 9 a.m. tlcook1965@aol.com.

CRAFT AND YARD SALE. Saturday, May 18, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Northshore Unitarian Universalist Church, 323 Locust St., Danvers. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the NSUU Sound System Fund for Hearing Accessibility. www.nsuu.org.

MARINE PRODUCTS YARD SALE. Saturday, May 18, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 135 Lafayette St., Marblehead. Featuring used equipment at low prices. For more information, contact Bill O’Meara or Rick Howard at marine@standrewsmhd.org, or call the parish office at 781-631-4951.

HAMILTON-WENHAM GARDEN CLUB ANNUAL PLANT SALE. Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. to noon, Hamilton Council on Aging, 299 Bay Road, Hamilton. Hosted by the club on the front lawn. www.hwgcsite.org.

PEABODY GARDEN CLUB ANNUAL PLANT SALE. Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Peabody City Hall, 24 Lowell St. Features perennials, annuals, herbs and other plants along with baked goods, white elephant table and raffles. Members will be available to answer questions. Proceeds support community projects around Peabody, activities and speakers at the club’s monthly meetings, and the club’s scholarship fund. 978-535-2228, 978-531-4558 or 978-531-7943.

SALEM BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE PLANT SALE FUNDRAISER. Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday, May 19, 9 a.m. to noon, Salem Common. Annuals, hanging baskets and homegrown perennials. 978-745-9595, ext. 5676.

FRIENDLY GARDEN CLUB PLANT SALE. Saturday, May 18, 9 to 11:30 a.m., Beverly Senior Center, 90 Colon St., Beverly. Features perennials, annuals, veggies, and herbs grown by club members, a garden boutique, raffle, and specialty container gardens. Plants may be purchased by cash or check made payable to FGC. Kerry Baser, 978-712-0712.

COTTAGE GARDENERS’ PLANT SALE. Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church, 67 Cornell Road, Marblehead. Featuring perennials, herbs, vegetables and ground covers from members’ gardens. The Cottage Gardeners welcomes new members; club meets on the second Tuesday of the month, except during the summer. For more information, contact Charlene Tyler at charlene.tyler@yahoo.com or 781-639-2203.

TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL LONG HILL PLANT SALE. Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Long Hill gardens, 572 Essex St., Beverly. Features a vast selection of unusual plants, rare woody and herbaceous plants, hundreds of perennials, empty and planted hypertufa troughs and some planted with dwarf alpine plants, vegetable seedlings provided by the Food Project, and sand-cast leaf ornaments. Also, stroll through the Sedgwick Gardens, which will be in peak bloom. Horticultural experts will be on hand to answer gardening questions. Rain or shine. Member-only preview sale from 9 to 10 a.m. bogrady@ttor.org; 978-921-1944, ext. 1825; or www.thetrustees.org.

Article source: http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1169352185/North-Shore-Entertainment-Calendar

Mount Everest Climbers’ Waste Could Power Local Villages

The village of Gorak Shep. Photo: Frank Kehren

There is no plumbing on Mount Everest. When nature calls, climbers must use makeshift holes dug by sherpas, or use buckets as substitute toilets. With the ever-increasing number of climbers attempting to scale the mountain, containing all of that human waste is no small problem.

Currently, National Geographic reports, much of the excrement is carried in sealed containers on the backs of porters to the nearby village of Gorak Shep (which also lacks plumbing or sanitation facilities), where it is emptied into open pits. Up to 12 metric tons of the stuff can be hauled to Gorak Shep in a single year. But the village is running out of space for containing the mess, and last year researchers discovered that the refuse had contaminated one of the village’s two major water sources.  

Seattle climber and engineer Garry Porter witnessed the problem first hand when he attempted to scale Everest ten years ago. Since then, the image of all of that waste has stuck with him. ”I couldn’t shake the feeling that my final tribute to Nepal and the people of Everest was having my waste dumped in these open pits. It just didn’t seem right,” he told National Geographic.

Porter decided to found the Mount Everest Biogas Project as a potential fix, along with Everest guide Dan Mazur.

In biogas production, bacteria feed on organic waste (like feces) and produce several gases as a byproduct. One of these is methane, which is the primary component of natural gas and can be burned for heat and light, or converted to electricity. One cubic meter of biogas provides about two kilowatt-hours of useable energy. This is enough to power a 60-watt light bulb for more than a day, or an efficient 15-watt CFL bulb for nearly six days. A biogas reactor at Gorak Shep could address the fecal contamination problem while providing the perennially low-income community with a sustainable source of methane gas for energy, especially for cooking, Porter says.

The team plans to keep the biogas digester tanks warm (they stop working if temperatures drop below freezing) with solar panels.

In addition to getting rid of all the feces, the team hopes that the biogas project will relieve some of the pressure on Everest’s natural resources. All of those poop-producing climbers also need to eat, and cooking fuel often takes the form of native plants harvested around Everest, including an endangered species, the alpine juniper. If successful, the project will be the world’s highest elevation biogas reactor and could be introduced to other high altitude areas around the world.  

More from Smithsonian.com:

Mount Everest Is Not Immune to Climate Change 
Conquering Everest 

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Article source: http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews/2013/05/mount-everest-climbers-waste-could-power-local-villages/

A trek up Little Smith Mountain

Published 10:34am Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Thursday afternoon Jimmy Lanier, the founder of the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association, took me, my wife Mary Lyman, TPI’s magazine editor Betsy Iler and her husband, Rev. Rob Iler, on a walk.

It was a walk to remember, a walk on the brand new 2.2 mile Little Smith Mountain Trail.

Jimmy is a personal friend and something of a marvel. He’s 74 and has more energy and stamina than a guy 20 years younger … like me.

Jimmy is an enthusiastic hiker who heads for the trails about three times a week, which probably has a lot to do with his energy level. Many other days you can find him scouting trails, building trails or bolting together the Smith Mountain Fire Tower, a project he headed and spent countless hours on over the past couple of years. Jimmy’s a joy to hike with, especially when he’s showing off one of his new trails. So when he called and asked if I was interested in seeing his newest creation, I packed up my camera and jumped at the opportunity for some fresh air.

If you’ve been to the top of Smith Mountain, you’ve seen one of the most beautiful places on Lake Martin. And you’ve seen Little Smith Mountain, which is the next big rise just south of the fire tower and right beside Lake Martin. The new trail starts at the fire tower and circles Little Smith Mountain in a round-about path that zigzags back and forth across the face of the mountain, around down by the lake, back to the top of Little Smith Mountain, then down to the parking lot.

Along the way, hikers are treated to a number of different ecosystems. My personal favorite is the gorgeous open longleaf pine forest. Longleaf forest is not like any other ecosystem in our area, in contrast to most of the dense woodlands in our area, you can see for hundreds of yards through the longleafs.

The hiking trail is amazingly soft, almost bouncy in places, where years and years of longleaf pine needles cushion the ground. Line after line of vertical dark pine trunks rise up on all sides and the green canopy scores of feet overhead gives the forest a cathedral-like feeling. It feels like you’re walking through a holy place.

That feeling is enhanced in many places where the pine-needle forest floor is carpeted by acres of lush green ferns and tiny wild blueberry bushes. Huge gray boulders dot the forest in places, and lichens growing on their faces painted the rocks bright orange.

As the trail continues around Little Smith Mountain, it winds down through hardwood bottoms and deep groves of rhododendrons and mountain laurel.

This month the mountain laurel is in full bloom. It’s bunches of cup-shaped white blooms flecked with red are a natural treasure in our area that I’d put in the same you-gotta-see-it category as the Cahaba lilies blooming now in our rocky streams. If you’re not able to hike, you can see these flowers from a boat in Lake Martin, but walking through them is an even more impressive sight.

As we continued around the mountain, we walked through patches of dead longleafs killed by an intense fire several years ago.

Jimmy said he used to hate that some of the trees are dead, but he’s grown to love the sight. I agree. The silver trunks are create wild, towering, modern-art shapes that contrast with the living trees nearby.

And when we arrived at the top of Little Smith Mountain just before sunset, we had a view over the forest and out over the lake, sweetened by a strong breeze, that was simply breath-taking. Or maybe that was the hike. In any case, I was quite happy to stay up there for a while to enjoy the majestic view and to catch my breath and attempt to let my soaked shirt dry. It didn’t. And I didn’t care.

We finished our hike as the sky was turning cobalt blue, walking down through the shadowed hardwood forest until we arrived at the foot of the mountain and my truck.

Mary Lyman and I make an annual fall pilgrimage to the Smoky Mountains to hike with friends. It’s a place famous for its beauty. But as we were walking around Little Smith Mountain this week, we both said that we need to invite our Smoky Mountain hiking buddies down to Lake Martin because the trails here in our home forest are just as beautiful.

If you enjoy the outdoors, give yourself a treat and hike the new Little Smith Mountain Trail this month, while the mountain laurels are still in bloom. And if you can’t, be sure to look for the photo essay in June’s Lake magazine.

Boone is publisher of The Outlook.

Article source: http://www.alexcityoutlook.com/2013/05/14/a-trek-up-little-smith-mountain/

Long summer days, fresh air, beautiful surroundings: the essential ingredients for the perfect family adventure. Take a break from the everyday life of computer screens, commuting and domestic chores and get everyone canoeing, cycling, horse riding, snorkeling, bivouacking, water trampolining … or even milking cows.

HuffPost UK Lifestyle, in conjunction with Jack Wolfskin, brings you 10 fun ideas for active holidays for all the family. You’ll also find Jack Wolfskin’s range of products will kit out your children as well as yourselves, bringing the same high standards of hi-tech design and durability to inner and outer clothes, footwear, sleeping bags and accessories.

The same Texapore waterproof yet breathable materials are used in boys’ Rascal and girls’ Purple Rain hiking shoes. In addition, you’ll find kids’ Wild River, Water Rat or Seven Seas sandals ideal for canoeing, sailing, paddling in the sea or messing about on the beach.

When it comes to equipment and accessories, Jack Wolfskin’s got it covered. There are rucksacks, sleeping bags, hats, even Thermo bottles – all specially designed for children.

There’s really no excuse then to leave your children behind this summer; you’re guaranteed to have your very own entourage of mini-alpinists, sailors, trekkers and cyclists!

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• 1. Stay on a working farm in Devon, UK

  Roll up your sleeves and get stuck into all kinds of old-fashioned countryside activities at Aller Farm near Stockland, Devon. Learn to milk a cow, feed the calves, build dens (with special kits provided), scrump for apples in the orchards, toast marshmallows on the camp fire, take trips to the beach a few miles away and generally run amok. An added bonus is that the River Cottage Canteen and Deli is located close by. For accommodation, tents are provided, and you can even have a private hot tub and shower set up outside your tent. Baby equipment is also laid on, and pets are welcome too.

• 2. Cycling holidays – Holland

  Holland is the ideal location for family holidays on two wheels. Cycle paths are flat and mostly asphalted, and there’s no shortage of rental companies that will kit out all the family (consider a href=”http://wheel2wheelholidays.com/” target=”_blank”Wheel2Wheel/a for example). Hire your bikes and helmets in Amsterdam and pedal along the canals and through the parks before heading out to the historic cities of Den Haag, Delft and Rotterdam. Accommodation (camping, hostels and guesthouses) is plentiful and reasonably priced. Jack Wolfskin produce a href=”http://www.jack-wolfskin.co.uk/equipment/bags-and-travel-bags.aspx” target=”_blank”10- and 15-litre courier bags/a to stow your belongings, and you might also consider investing in their waterproof-yet-breathable a href=”http://www.jack-wolfskin.co.uk/apparel/children/all-jackets.aspx” target=”_blank”softshell jackets/a (available in children’s sizes too).

• 3. Sailing – Greece

  Learn to sail as a family in Greece, and you won’t risk putting your children off for life because of freezing water or muddy shoes. Soak up the sun instead in the safe environment of Club Vounaki (run by a href=”http://www.sunsail.co.uk/” target=”_blank”Sunsail/a), and take advantage of opportunities for dinghy sailing and yacht and catamaran charters, using the latest equipment and expert instruction for all levels of experience. And if some members of the family really do insist on keeping their feet on dry land, there’s free use of mountain bikes, tennis courts and a gym, as well as ‘Minnows’ childcare for ages 4 months to 2 years and a variety of kids’ activity clubs for other age groups.

• 4. Walking in Austria, Sound of Music-style

  Head for the flower-strewn pastures of the Tyrolean Alps for a holiday straight out of ‘The Sound of Music’. Choose your route along the well-marked paths according to your stamina and appetite for altitude and you’ll encounter unspoilt valleys and idyllic villages along the way. Mountain trains, funiculars and cable cars will give tired legs a rest for sections of the journey. Companies such as a href=”http://www.inntravel.co.uk/” target=”_blank”Inntravel /acan organise itineraries with comfortable hotels with pools and spas to soothe sore feet and aching limbs. They’ll also arrange for your luggage to be transferred to each port of call, so all you’ll need during the day is a light pack (such as a href=”http://www.jack-wolfskin.co.uk/equipment/rucksacks/alpine-rucksacks.aspx” target=”_blank”Jack Wolfskin’s Stowaway 22/a) for water bottles and other necessities.

• 5. Moose spotting in Norway

  Outdoorsy activities are a way of life in Norway, and at Gålå Høg¬fjellshotell you too can participate in a whole range of bracing pastimes, including fishing, cycling, walking and even a moose safari. Accommodation is in wooden cabins (with grass growing on the roofs, their own saunas and wood-burning stoves). If you’re feeling particularly hardy, there’s the prospect a freshwater swim early in the morning (though doubtless many will still prefer the heated swimming pool instead). And for your packing list, don’t forget a href=”http://www.jack-wolfskin.co.uk/footwear.aspx” target=”_blank”boots/a, a href=”http://www.jack-wolfskin.co.uk/apparel/men/all-jackets.aspx” target=”_blank”jackets/a and a href=”http://www.jack-wolfskin.co.uk/apparel/men/fleece.aspx” target=”_blank”fleeces/a to insulate yourself against the northern climate.

• 6. Canoeing – France

  Canoeing on the Gorge du Tarn in southwest France offers gentle drifting waters as well as foaming rapids, so families can take their pick to suit ages and abilities. Companies such as Aigue Vive (a href=”http://www.canoekayakgorgesdutarn.com” target=”_blank”www.canoekayakgorgesdutarn.com/a) run shuttle buses that drop you and your canoe off at the start of the day, and pick you up again at the end to take you back to your campsite or gîte. One, two and even three-person canoes are available, and when the river’s high there’s rafting too (with instructors).

• 7. Walking with donkeys – Spain

  Walking emen famille/em in the province of Segovia, just north of Madrid, is made a lot easier when you’re accompanied by your own donkey. Children take turns to ride or lead their trusty steed as you follow ancient droving paths through protected countryside where birds of prey circle overhead and deer flee at your approach. Trip organisers a href=”http://www.inntravel.co.uk/” target=”_blank”Inntravel/a will arrange for your luggage to be ferried from hotel to hotel so you can travel unencumbered.

• 8. Underwater exploration – Greece

  Discover a world of underwater adventure at Cape Sounio near Athens. Run by the son of Jacques Cousteau, the greatest marine explorer of them all, these week-long holidays are on offer from April to October each year, and provide children aged four to 12 the opportunities for snorkelling expeditions, underwater photography, studying tides, astronomy and even ‘junk to funk’ recycling experiments. Accommodation is in bungalows and villas set around the main swimming pool, and facilities also include an indoor heated pool, a separate children’s pool, tennis courts and a free children’s club for the littler ones.

• 9. Corralea Activity Centre – Northern Ireland

  Corralea offers fun, healthy and green activities in the beautiful setting of the Fermanagh Lakeland. There’s canoeing, water trampolining, surfing and windsurfing, mountain biking, climbing, archery and even orienteering. You can visit for a day or stay a weekend or longer in the self-catering cottages nestled amidst natural woodland. And while you’re there, don’t miss out on nearby attractions such as the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark or the romantic monastic ruins of Devenish Island or the grand houses and forest parks of the National Trust’s Florence Court, Castle Coole and Castle Archdale.

• 10. Horse riding – Spain

  Head for the mountains of Southern Spain to a finca that runs horseriding breaks for all the family (a href=”http://www.unicorntrails.com/europe/spain/andalusiaretreat”target=”_blank”www.unicorntrails.com/europe/spain/andalusiaretreat/a). Some may just want to have lessons on the Andalusian horses; others may feel more adventurous and follow the paths that wind through the mountains. And when you’re feeling a little saddle-sore, relax in the swimming pool, doze in a hammock in the orange groves, or head for the beaches only a short drive away.

Article source: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/05/14/10-ways-to-get-active-with-the-family_n_3271528.html