Innehållsförteckning för April/May 2020 från Country

AFTER ENDURING ALL OF APRIL’S SHOWERS, it’s about time for some May flowers. At my house, spring has officially sprung when the tulips and peonies blossom and the rhubarb is ready for picking. Flowers are everywhere in this issue. Tag along for a romp through tulip fields (page 12), check out flower festivals across the country (page 22), plan your next trip to a national park during wildflower season (page 32) and tour Michigan’s fruit country (page 40). And, hopefully, you’ll find inspiration to do something for pollinators on page 52. That’s where you’ll read about Doug and Ronda Bonsell, Montana ranchers who planted more than 3 acres of wildflowers on their land to help birds, bees and other critters. Their story resonated with me because a few springs ago,…

Country is written by readers for readers. It’s easy to share your stories and photos. Simply visit country-magazine.com and click Share Your Story. Give us your take on the topics below, and you might get published in a future issue: Scenic Drives Do you love to spend an afternoon cruising a backcountry road that leads to gorgeous views and small-town charm? Tell us about your favorite scenic drives, and include photos. Please label your submission “Scenic Drives.” Fall Traditions In autumn, we all look forward to leaves changing, visits to the pumpkin patch, Thanksgiving and other traditions. Share your favorite annual fall activities, and label your submission “Fall Traditions.” The Great Outdoors Being close to nature is a part of country life. Tell us about how you and your family enjoy the beauty…

Wildlife Watching In additon to the elk, deer, turkey and black bears roam the forests and meadows. For the best viewing, arrive in the early morning or evening when the animals seek food and water. Remember these animals are unpredictable, so watch from a distance. Cast a Line If catching wild trout is on your fishing bucket list, you’ll find several in Cataloochee Creek and its tributaries (in fact, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has 2,900 miles of streams). Before packing your tacklebox, be sure to get a fishing permit. Pitch a Tent A primitive campground that accommodates tents and RVs up to 30 feet long is open from mid-March through October. Reservations are required. Trail Trekking Boogerman Loop is a popular hike that winds through an old-growth forest. Local…

My hibernating roots call to me as they awaken in the distant hard soil of my origins. Although many miles may span between us, my clan and I are connected by the seasons. We come from the land where planting and harvesting mark the passage of time, and our awakening signals the arrival of spring. I am a branch of the Rhubarb clan of southwestern Nebraska. We are the hardy variety, the species that grows like a weed, resilient, self-sustaining and perennial. No pampered greenhouse propagation for us. We easily thrive in homemade gardens, backyards and wide open fields, growing sturdy and large. We root our feet in the dirt, authentic and truthful. We are not the “best of show,” but rather the best of the earth. Solid. Dependable. Our…

Slamming the kitchen door behind me, I sped down the path toward the barn. I’d threatened to run away before, but this time I really meant it! I reached the barn and kept on running, then plopped down in the tall grass to catch my breath and think. It all started when Mom asked me to set the table for lunch. “Why do I have to do everything around here?” I complained. She was always asking me to do things. On Saturday mornings, I had to help dust the furniture and windowsills. Sometimes she made me iron the handkerchiefs and pillowcases. After supper I had to either wash or dry the glasses and silverware. I hated to wash because the water got cold before I finished. “You’d get through sooner…

St. Donatus Catholic Church serves about 135 families in the Jackson County area, near Dubuque, Iowa. Built in 1908, the church is a beautiful structure with a bell tower that was constructed of stone quarried from nearby bluffs. But it’s what lies just beyond the church that drew our family’s attention during a road trip along the Mississippi River. Through tall trees and rocky ground, a meandering self-guided path rises up a moderately steep hill behind the church. Every couple of hundred feet along the way, in small brick structures with arched openings, black-and-white lithographs display the scenes of Jesus on his journey to the cross. These outdoor stations were built in the 1860s and are considered to be the first outdoor Way of the Cross in the United States.…

Dear Country… Chicks Dig Me! On a recent visit to a farm in Pennsylvania, my grandson delighted in hearing the baby chicks peep and holding them in his hands. His T-shirt and smile say it all! ANN APPOLLONI Elverson, Pennsylvania WHAT A TOUCHING article with a profound message: This primitive, yet graceful old church standing silently in the piney woods of Floyd County, Georgia, still speaks to the price some paid to preserve their freedom and religious liberties. Thank you for “Glendale Chapel Reborn” in the Feb/March issue (page 42). This article about the restoration of a beloved country church was so beautifully written by reader Annie Shields. LINDA CARRUTH DAVIS Homerville, Georgia I’VE BEEN READING Debbie Macomber’s book Where Angels Go, and part of the story takes place in…

APRIL 12 Happy Easter “Flowers and bunnies come to mind when I think of spring. And what says spring better than a bunny smelling a flower?” —Wendy Brouse Fruita, Colorado April 24 ARBOR DAY Trees are Mother Nature’s air filter! Receive 10 free trees to plant when you join the Arbor Day Foundation. arborday.org ALL ABOUT BEES Get the inside scoop in in Hilary Kearney’s The Little Book of Bees. This delightful volume is full of beautiful illustrations, fun facts and step-by-step beekeeping instructions. abramsbooks.com Flower Festivals APRIL 1-5 North Carolina Azalea Festival Southern hospitality and lovely azaleas in bloom are causes to celebrate during Wilmington’s annual festival. Take in a shag dancing competition, tour public and private gardens, and experience the sights and sounds of the street fair. ncazaleafestival.org…

Roll Up Your Sleeves A well-prepared site, free of grass, weeds and other vegetation, is the ultimate foundation for a flourishing flower garden. Choose a Good Spot Place your wildflower garden where you will see or walk past it often. Also, access to water for optimal maintenance and care is key. Do Your Research Ask your local seed dealer, conservation district or Natural Resources Conservation Service to suggest the best native wildflowers to start from seed. Try to mix six to seven species of flowers so you’ll have blooms all season long. Stick with it Establishment is the hardest part! Don’t get discouraged; patience and extra care pay off in the first year. Keep in mind that it may take two years for flowers to get fully established. Learn more…

My wife, Jill, and I live on 12 acres in southern New Jersey with cats, dogs, horses and rabbits. The rabbits were a recent addition. Jill wanted the big breed known as Angora rabbits. I wasn’t excited about having two 12-pound rabbits running around, but she got her way this time. Jill wanted two female bunnies that she would call Faith and Truth, after themes in the Bible. However, Jill came home with two male bunnies—and she kept the names the same. I told her we could not name two males Faith and Truth, but Jill refused to change her mind. A few months later it was time to have the rabbits fixed at the vet’s office. I was the one elected to take the cute creatures into the office…

Ode to a Gopher In my garden there’s a Gopher who won’t go away. He’s having too much fun Digging tunnels every day. My plants are disappearing Deep down into his hole. I bet by now his stomach Is feeling very full. This gopher likes my yard He loves to gnaw and chew On the tasty vegetables That I so proudly grew. But one day I’ll get even And spray him with a hose. Then I’ll laugh as I watch To see how fast he goes! CAROLYN BOLZ Riverside, California Homemade Chicken Soup When my parents, Al and Esther, were in their 60s and 70s, they traveled by train from Chicago to New Jersey to visit us. The trip was over 24 hours, so Mom packed sandwiches and snacks. Rushing…

1. MINI GARDENER My daughter is the sunshine of my life. She brightens up every day and radiates happiness. ERICA ERSIK Aliquippa, Pennsylvania 2. SWING AWAY This was an unplanned spring night. We sat in the yard on a blanket, enjoying each other’s company, and then decided to swing. An amazing sunset ended our perfect day. BECKY OSBORNE Lowell, Michigan 3. PURR-FECT PALS This is my daughter Kari, who lives in Hana, Hawaii, with her cat, Leroi, and their friendly neighbor, Sadie the calf. Leroi and Sadie visit each other every day. KATHLEEN HAGEDORN Rocky Mount, Missouri 4. CUTE CHICKS Country life gives children the chance to enjoy animal babies of all kinds. My granddaughters Emery, age 4, and Audrey, age 7, were so excited to experience the cuteness of…

1. Share your photos and stories with us using the online form, country-magazine.com/submit. 2. Note which department you are submitting for, and whether the material has been published before. However, your item may be selected to run in any section of our magazine, or elsewhere. 3. We do not return submitted materials. Although we are unable to acknowledge receipt of a submission, we will let you know if it is published. 4. We accept high-resolution digital images. Digital images should be about 4x6 inches at a minimum resolution of 300 dots per inch, or about 1200x1800 pixels. Photos must be in focus and of good quality. Please send submissions only through our online form. 5. If we print your submission in the magazine, we will send you a complimentary copy…