Photo by Jessica Hibbard Gray-headed Coneflower (Ratibida paniculata) is one of my favorite perennials. (I know, I know, I say that about every plant ...)

After a vacation-induced hiatus, this weekly roundup of local flora is back! Here's what you might see flowering in the Frederick area this week:

Trees:

• Crapemyrtle (+)
• Goldenrain Tree (+)
• Mimosa (+)
• Southern Magnolia
• Sumac (+)

Shrubs & Vines:

• Abelia (+)
• Bottlebrush Buckeye (+)
• Clematis
• Hydrangea
• Oakleaf Hydrangea
• Roses
• Trumpet Vine (+)

Perennials & Bulbs:

• Asian Lily
• Balloon Flower (+)
• Bee Balm (+)
• Black-Eyed Susan (+)
• Blue-Eyed Grass
• Coneflower - Echinacea/Ratibida
• Coreopsis
• Daylily
• Geranium
• Gladiola (+)
• Golden Star - a.k.a. Chrysogonum
• Hosta
• Lavender
• Liatris (+)
• Oenothera - a.k.a. Evening Primrose, Sundrops
• Plumbago (+)
• Russian Sage (+)
• Scabiosa
• Sedum
• Shasta Daisy (+)
• Spiderwort
• Sweet Pea - Perennial (+)
• Yarrow

The (+) symbol indicates plants that are new to the list this week. Let me know if I'm forgetting anything: jesshibb@gmail.com.

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Snow Queen Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia). Despite some hard rain, these blossoms have held up beautifully. This shrub also has exfoliating bark and beautiful fall color.

It's that time again -- Here's what you might see flowering in the Frederick area this week:

Trees:

• Kousa Dogwood
• Southern Magnolia (+)

Shrubs & Vines:

• Azalea & Rhododendron
• Elderberry
• Hydrangea (+)
• Oakleaf Hydrangea
• Potentilla - a.k.a. Cinquefoil (+)
• Sweetspire - a.k.a. Itea

Perennials & Bulbs:

• Asian Lily (+)
• Astilbe
• Blue-Eyed Grass
• Clematis
• Coneflower/Echinacea
• Coreopsis (+)
• Daylily (+)
• Dianthus
• Geranium
• Golden Star - a.k.a. Chrysogonum
• Hosta (+)
• Lavender (+)
• Oenothera - a.k.a. Evening Primrose, Sundrops
• Roses
• Salvia
• Scabiosa
• Sedum
• Spiderwort
• Yarrow

The (+) symbol indicates plants that are new to the list this week. Let me know if I'm forgetting anything: jesshibb@gmail.com.

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Yellow Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa). I recently saw this species, a lovely addition to the more typical Purple Coneflower (E. purpurea), at Grasshopper Perennials in Knoxville, Md.

The super-hot weather kept me indoors most of the weekend. As a result, I had some free time to think about blogging, so I have some fun posts planned for this week. 

Since it's Monday, let's ease into it with our weekly list of what you might see flowering in the Frederick area:

Trees:

• Catalpa (+)
• Japanese Snowbell
• Kousa Dogwood
• Lilac Tree

Shrubs & Vines:

• Azalea & Rhododendron
• Blackberry
• Elderberry (+)
• Mountain Laurel
• Ninebark
• Oakleaf Hydrangea (+)
• Smokebush
• Sweetspire - a.k.a. Itea (+)
• Viburnum

Perennials & Bulbs:

• Astilbe
• Blue-Eyed Grass
• Blue False Indigo
• Clematis
• Columbine
• Coneflower/Echinacea (+)
• Dianthus
• Geranium
• Golden Star - a.k.a. Chrysogonum
• Jack-in-the-Pulpit
• Oenothera - a.k.a. Evening Primrose, Sundrops (+)
• Peony
• Roses
• Salvia
• Scabiosa
• Sedum
• Spiderwort
• Yarrow (+)

The (+) symbol indicates plants that are new to the list this week. Let me know if I'm forgetting anything: jesshibb@gmail.com.

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis). This large, native perennial is one of my favorites.

Well, the warm summery weather has finally kicked in. That's good news for a lot of plants! Here's what you might see flowering this week in the Frederick area:

Trees:

• Japanese Snowbell
• Kousa Dogwood
• Lilac Tree

Shrubs & Vines:

• Azalea & Rhododendron
• Blackberry (+)
• Deutzia
• Mountain Laurel (+)
• Ninebark
• Smokebush
• Viburnum
• Weigela

Perennials & Bulbs:

• Astilbe (+)
• Blue-Eyed Grass
• Blue False Indigo
• Chives
• Clematis
• Columbine
• Dianthus
• Geranium
• Golden Star a.k.a. Chrysogonum
• Jack-in-the-Pulpit
• Peony
• Roses
• Salvia
• Scabiosa
• Sedum (+)
• Spiderwort

The (+) symbol indicates plants that are new to the list this week. Let me know if I'm forgetting anything: jesshibb@gmail.com.

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Diablo Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diablo'). This is a really striking addition to the landscape. Diablo sports purple foliage, pink buds, and white flowers.

Hope everyone's had a nice Memorial Day! Seems like this was a pretty big home improvement weekend ... Home Depot was buzzing on Saturday morning, and everyone in my neighborhood seemed to be doing some work outside.

If you spent time in your own garden, or were out and about this weekend, here's what you might have seen blooming:

Trees:

• Black Cherry
• Black Locust
• Buckeye
• Japanese Snowbell (+)
• Kousa Dogwood
• Lilac Tree (+)
• Tulip Poplar

Shrubs & Vines:

• Azalea & Rhododendron
• Deutzia (+)
• Ninebark
• Smokebush
• Spiraea
• Sweet Mockorange
• Viburnum
• Weigela

Perennials & Bulbs:

• Blue-Eyed Grass
• Blue False Indigo
• Chives
• Clematis (+)
• Columbine
• Dianthus (+)
• Geranium (+)
• Golden Star a.k.a. Chrysogonum
• Iris
• Jack-in-the-Pulpit
• Peony
• Roses (+)
• Salvia
• Scabiosa (+)
• Spiderwort (+)
• Strawberry

The (+) symbol indicates plants that to the list this week. Let me know if I'm forgetting anything: jesshibb@gmail.com.

UPDATE: For some reason, I keep forgetting to add roses! Obviously, they're blooming now and they're all over the place. My apologies to all the rose afficionados out there.

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium), is a member of the Iris family. This native plant is not actually a grass, but a small-flowering perennial.

It's that time again ... Here's this week's list of plants you might find in bloom around Frederick:

Trees:

• Black Cherry
• Black Locust (+)
• Buckeye
• Kousa Dogwood
• Pagoda Dogwood
• Tulip Poplar (+)

Shrubs & Vines:

• Azalea & Rhododendron
• Ninebark (+)
• Smokebush (+)
• Spiraea
• Sweetshrub / Carolina Allspice
• Sweet Mockorange
• Viburnum
• Weigela

Perennials & Bulbs:

• Blue-Eyed Grass (+)
• Blue False Indigo (+)
• Chives
• Columbine
• Golden Star a.k.a. Chrysogonum (+)
• Iris
• Jack-in-the-Pulpit (+)
• Peony (+)
• Salvia
• Strawberry
• Tiarella a.k.a. Foam Flower

The (+) symbol indicates plants that to the list this week. Let me know if I'm forgetting anything: jesshibb@gmail.com.

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Iris

I found some time to take a walk around town yesterday, which is where I found the new additions to this week's list. It's a good thing I made it out of the house when I did -- Today's rain is really putting a damper on my weekend gardening time!

Here's this week's list of plants you might find in bloom around Frederick:

Trees:

• Black Cherry (+)
• Buckeye (+)
• Kousa Dogwood (+)
• Pagoda Dogwood (+)

Shrubs & Vines:

• Azalea & Rhododendron
• Spiraea
• Sweetshrub / Carolina Allspice (+)
• Sweet Mockorange (+)
• Viburnum
• Weigela (+)

Perennials & Bulbs:

• Anemone
• Chives
• Columbine (+)
• Iris
• Salvia (+)
• Shale Barrens ('Larinem Park') Sedum
• Solomon's Seal
• Strawberry
• Tiarella/Foam Flower
• Tree Peony
• Poppy
• Trillium

The (+) symbol indicates plants that to the list this week. I really feel like I'm forgetting a plant or two that I intended to add. If you know of something I've forgotten, let me know: jesshibb@gmail.com.

UPDATE: My husband, the horticulturist, assumed the role of Monday morning quarterback today ... So I've made a few additions to the list.

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)

I'm really excited to add some of my favorite edibles to the list this week -- Chive flowers (which are both edible and ornamental) are just starting to open, and strawberries have been blooming for the past week. Actually, my strawberry plants are already starting to form tiny green fruits. Luckily, rhubarb is also ready to pick, so I see some delicious pies in my future.

Ok, before I drool all over my computer ... Here's this week's list of plants you might find in bloom around Frederick:

Trees:

• Dogwood

Shrubs & Vines:

• Azalea & Rhododendron
• Blueberry
• Cherry Laurel
• Chokeberry (+)
• Fothergilla
• Spiraea
• Viburnum
• Wisteria

Perennials & Bulbs:

• Anemone (+)
• Brunnera
• Chives (+)
• Iberis/Candytuft
• Iris (+)
• Shale Barrens ('Larinem Park') Sedum (+)
• Solomon's Seal
• Strawberry (+)
• Tiarella/Foam Flower
• Tree Peony (+)
• Poppy (+)
• Trillium
• Tulip
• Virginia Bluebells

The (+) symbol indicates plants that to the list this week. I really racked my brain trying to think of some ornamental trees other than dogwood, but I really can't come up with any at the moment. If you see a tree, shrub, or perennial that I should add to next week's list, send me an email: jesshibb@gmail.com.

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Mt. Airy Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii x major). The white flowers smell like honey. The foliage looks similar to Witch Hazel, and has a brilliant orange-red fall color.

Well, this is quickly becoming a fun Sunday afternoon tradition. I just returned from a walk around Baker Park, where I saw a few new plants that can be added to the list. Here's what you might find blooming in the Frederick area this week:

Trees:

• Apple (+)
• Cherry
• Dogwood
• Plum
• Redbud

Shrubs & Vines:

• Azalea & Rhododendron
• Blueberry (+)
• Cherry Laurel (+)
• Fothergilla (+)
• Lilac
• Spiraea
• Viburnum
• Wisteria (+)

Perennials & Bulbs:

• Bleeding Heart (+)
• Brunnera
• Iberis/Candytuft (+)
• Solomon's Seal (+)
• Tiarella/Foam Flower (+)
• Trillium (+)
• Tulip
• Virginia Bluebells

The (+) symbol indicates plants that to the list this week. Did I forget something that's flowering in your neighborhood? Let me know via email: jesshibb@gmail.com.

Celebrate Frederick just announced the lineup for their 2008 garden tour. Here's the info from their press release:

Celebrate Frederick's 2008 Beyond the Garden Gates Garden Tour features seven private gardens and three public gardens, all in Frederick. The tour will be held in Frederick, Maryland on Saturday, May 17th and Sunday, May 18th, from 1 to 5 p.m., rain or shine.

• 18th Century Heritage Garden -- Schifferstadt Architectural Museum at 1110 Rosemont Ave.
• Heritage Garden -- Historical Society of Frederick County at 24 E. Church St.
• The Garden of Doug Bailey, ASID & Dick Williams at 220 E. Church St.
• The Garden of George & Diane Ruszat at 240 E.Church St.
• The Garden of Michael McCrossin at 117 E. Patrick St.
• The Garden of Eugene E. Perreault at 109 E. Patrick St.
• The Market Street Garden & The Director's Rose Garden --  The Federated Charities of Frederick at 22 S. Market St.
• The Garden of John & Ethel Frye at 121 W. Church St.
• Old C. Burr Artz Library at 120 Record St.
• Governor Lowe Condominium -- The Garden of Pete & Eleanor Bowers, Greg Feeser, Warren & Carole Larkin and Tom & Carol Patterson at 100-102 E. Second St.

Tickets for the tour cost $15 per person and are available starting May 1, 2008 at locations throughout downtown.

For more information, please call The City of Frederick Office of Special Events at 301-600-CITY (2489) or visit the Celebrate Frederick web site. 

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

Greetings, gardeners and plant appreciators! Here's what you might find blooming around Frederick this week:

Trees:

• Cherry
• Crabapple (+)
• Dogwood (+)
• Magnolia
• Pear
• Plum
• Redbud (+)
• Serviceberry

Shrubs:

• Azalea & Rhododendron
• Lilac (+)
• Kerria (+)
• Spicebush
• Spiraea
• Viburnum

Perennials & Bulbs:

• Brunnera
• Daffodil (aka Narcissus, Jonquil)
• Hyacinth
• Tulip
• Virginia Bluebells (+)

The (+) symbol indicates plants that to the list this week. Cherry, Pear, and Magnolia blossoms are really starting to fade, but I kept them on the list anyway.

Of course, flowers aren't the only things that make plants interesting this time of year. I'm a big fan of the miniature, emerging leaves on trees and shrubs ... They're often more colorful and textural than more mature, summertime foliage. Step up close to a tree nearby, or check out some of the recent photos on my Flickr page.

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)

Now that the growing season has officially started, I'm rolling out a new weekly feature -- A brief list of flowering ornamental plants currently in bloom around Frederick. These plants are now  flowering in a yard near you.

Trees:

• Cherry
• Magnolia
• Pear
• Plum
• Serviceberry

Shrubs:

• Azalea & Rhododendron
• Forsythia
• Mahonia
• Quince
• Spicebush
• Spiraea
• Viburnum

Perennials & Bulbs:

• Brunnera
• Daffodil (aka Narcissus, Jonquil)
• Hyacinth
• Tulip

A brief note about this new weekly list -- You may have noticed that I haven't named any annuals. For one, I'm not as knowledgeable about those plants, so it's more difficult for me to identify them from the sidewalk or street. The other thing is, most are grown in greenhouses or started indoors from seed, so their bloom time isn't determined by nature and seasonal changes as much as perennials and shrubs.

So ... What's blooming in your garden? Email to let me know. (If you include a picture, you may even see it here with next week's list.)

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Yesterday's coating of ice made these dogwood branches look like something from another planet.

You have to love our crazy weather. If for no other reason than it gives Marylanders something to talk about.

Obviously, ice storms present serious problems ... Power outages, traffic jams, injuries, and tree casualties, just to name a few. For those of us who are garage-less, it also turns cleaning off the car into a major production.

Despite the minor annoyance of slipping and sliding around my driveway yesterday, I couldn't help but notice how interesting the ice looked on my dogwood.

	Photo by VTscapes, via Flickr.com http://flickr.com/photos/vtscapes/305840970/

Attention history buffs: Today is Abraham Lincoln's birthday, a perfect time to introduce yourself to Hildene.

What the heck is Hildene? I'm so glad you asked.

Hildene is Robert Todd Lincoln's summer home, located in the beautiful town of Manchester, Vermont. (Robert Todd was Abraham and Mary Todd's oldest son.) When the last Lincoln family descendant died in 1975, the estate was taken over by the Friends of Hildene.

Today, the property has been restored, and is open for tours and events. Make a plan to visit in warmer weather, when you can enjoy the huge (1000+) collection of peonies in estate's gardens, which have also been restored.

Of course, if you don't want to make the trip to Vermont, there's a selection of photos on the official web site, and even more images on Flickr.

	Photo by dominomag.com

Maxed out on family festivities around the holidays? Retreat to a quiet corner for a little solo DIY time! Here are some fun ideas, from some of my favorite places around the web:

• Holiday gifts for gardeners to make (You Grow Girl)
• Memories contained (decor8)
• Cozy candle jars (decor8)
• Homemade marshmallows (Design*Sponge)
• Modern holiday wreath (Design*Sponge)
• Photograph Christmas lights & ornaments (Photojojo) ... then ...
• Turn your digital photo into a puzzle (befuddlr)
• Whimsical animal ornaments (Domino Magazine)

And with that, I'm off for the holidays ... I'll be back in 2008 with more DIY, before & after, local sources, and seasonal ideas. As always, feel free to email me with your ideas. Happy New Year!

	Photo by amazon.com "The New Green Christmas: How to make this and every holiday an environmental celebration" by The Evergreen Alliance

I was looking for something on my bookshelf when this little paperback caught my eye. My parents bought it in the early '90s, and somehow it wound up in my own personal library.

Now that we're approaching 2008, reading it is sort of a trip down memory lane. But in light of recent water restrictions and public discussions about waste, energy, and recycling, many of the ideas are surprisingly up-to-date:

• Low-flow aerators that screw on to bath and kitchen faucets are the perfect size for stocking stuffers. Bonus: The recipients will reduce water usage by 50%, an average of 300 gallons per month for a family of four ... Plus, you know you love the thrill of shopping for Christmas gifts at the hardware store.
• Make your Christmas cards edible -- Bake an extra-large cookie and write your greeting in icing. Bonus: Since there's no waste, the recipients can completely avoid the incinerator vs. recycling debate with this one.
• Give a down comforter (and a good night's sleep) to someone special. Bonus: The recipient will feel comfortable enough to click the thermostat down a few extra degrees at night, which saves money and fossil fuel.

And, if you'd really like to know what my semi-hippie childhood was like ... Try one of these DIY projects, both of which received my mom's wholehearted endorsement:

• Cut the tops off laundry soap and cereal boxes and reuse as magazine holders. If you're feeling fancy, cut at an angle and cover with colorful paper.
• Make some snazzy firestarters using pine cones: Melt a bunch of old candles in a double-boiler, and use the hot wax to half-fill the cups in an old muffin tin. Add a cotton string wick and a pinecone to each cup. After the wax cools, stick the entire tin in the freezer for a few minutes, then pop out the finished product. Eat your heart out, Martha!

	Photo by wikipedia.org Poinsettias don't last in my house, but some people (including my grandmother) find ways to keep them alive for years on end.

'Tis the season for holiday plants. Poinsettias, Christmas Cactus, Amaryllis ... Most of us receive one of these plants as a gift at some point in time.

Though I'm seriously passionate about landscape plants, I usually adopt the motto of "only the strong survive" when it comes to houseplants. For one thing, there are several cats in my house, all of whom love to munch on greenery. So all of my indoor plants sit in my office window, and are lucky to get so much as a sprinkle of water each week.

It turns out that most houseplants do just fine with only occasional attention. However, some holiday gift plants aren't known for their longevity and user-friendly behavior. If you're determined to make your prized poinsettia show festive color in time for next Christmas, you'll probably need to expend some effort.

Before making a major commitment to a plant (or giving a high-maintenance plant as a gift), it doesn't hurt to read up. Here's some helpful linkage:

• Plant care guide (Teleflora)
• Caring for poinsettias - PDF (Maryland Cooperative Extension)
• IPM for houseplants - PDF (Maryland Cooperative Extension)
• Specialty potted plants - PDF (Virginia Cooperative Extension)

And if you really want to psych yourself up for the holy grail of houseplants, check out this post on Derek Powazek's orchids at You Grow Girl.

If you've been putting off the chore of raking up the leaves in your yard, don't worry. The City of Frederick has extended its leaf collection campaign -- City residents now have until December 16 to set out leaves, which will be collected by December 21.

Residents are asked to spread leaves in a low pile along the gutter to make it easier for the street sweeper to clean the street. Use off-street parking where available.

For more info, call the Department of Public Works at 301-600-1440.

	Photo by designspongeonline.com

There's a lot of pressure to decorate for the holidays, and this year I've sort of been rebelling. But unlike building your own island, this simple DIY project is something that I might actually find myself doing!

These paper ornaments require nothing more than construction paper, cutting tools, ruler, stapler, and some thread for hanging. They'd look great in a doorway, or as pictured, hanging as a group from the ceiling. Heck, if the colors aren't to Christmas-y, you could leave them up all year long!

Design*Sponge, a constant source of inspiration, features a different DIY project each Wednesday, and this one is the most recent. Here's a link to all the D*S DIY projects.

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Our own small yard in Frederick is now a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

It's always this time of year, when the trees start to look bare and the temperature drops, that I start thinking about all the critters outside who don't migrate south for the winter. Their needs for food and shelter are even greater than usual at this time of year ... And if you know what they're looking for, you can create a backyard habitat that's a magnet for some pretty entertaining wildlife!

Over the past couple years, we've added native plants, a birdbath, bird feeders, and other elements to our own yard that make it more enjoyable for us and our wild friends. We've seen a Monarch butterfly laying eggs on our Asclepias incarnata, and Goldfinches eating the seeds from our Echinacea purpurea.

Earlier this spring, we realized we had all the elements required to register our yard as a Certified Wildlife Habitat. According to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), we're not alone. Since 1973, over 75,000 homes, schools, and businesses have been certified as wildlife habitats.

Wondering where to get started? Here are the essential elements:

• Food sources (seeds, fruits, and nectar)
• Water sources (birdbath, pond, stream, water garden)
• Places for cover (rockpile, birdhouse, bat house, shrubs)
• Places to raise young (shrubs, nesting box, pond)
• Sustainable gardening practices (mulching, composting, rain gardening, eliminating pesticides and synthetic fertilizers)

To learn more, check out these online resources:

• NWF: Garden for Wildlife
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
• US Fish & Wildlife Service: Bayscaping

	Photo by Albertine Press (via etsy.com) The 2008 calendar by Albertine Press features hand letterpressed months and paper-marbled pages, suitable for framing at the end of the year. Bonus: No two are alike.

Just like everyone else, my schedule is pretty jam-packed. Between work, music, and other extracurricular stuff, I have trouble keeping it all straight.

I like to use Backpack and an assortment Google utilities to keep everything organized, so that gives me the freedom to have wall calendars that are more artistic, and not necessarily utilitarian. Luckily, there are a lot of beautiful options out there. Here's a roundup of some favorites that have recently become available for 2008:

• Albertine Press
• You Grow Girl
• Happify
• Magnolia Moonlight
• Ink and Wit
• Satsuma Press
• Diana Fayt
• Port2Port Press

I stumbled upon a few of these sort of randomly, but most were featured on Design*Sponge or Poppytalk at some point. If you click through all the links, you'll see that quite a few of the artists have set up shop at Etsy, another great place to browse for affordable art and handcrafted housewares.

Still can't get enough? Check out the calendar roundup at decor8: part 1 & part 2.

I was going through the huge pile of catalogs, magazines, and mail that has been accumulating by my front door for the past week. While flipping through the December issue of Better Homes & Gardens, I was delighted to see a familiar face: Kara Norman, Frederick resident and executive director of Downtown Frederick Partnership.

Kara's home is featured on pages 41-48, and it's beautiful and fabulous. It's always fun to catch a glimpse inside someone else's home, but I also really enjoyed the DIY holiday decorating tips.

Unfortunately, if you don't already subscribe, you'll have to pick up the print issue ... BHG has one of the most frustrating web sites of all the shelter magazines out there. Articles from each issue aren't listed online until the magazine has been off the shelf for a month or two.

	Photo by Downtown Frederick Partnership
	Come say hello! I'll be working at the free gift wrapping station at the Artists Market (15 N. Market St.) from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Come in to the Cultural Arts Center and introduce yourself! I'll also be at NoMa Lounge from 7 p.m.-Midnight, another ArtNext event. If you stop by to enjoy some music, coffee, wine, and/or beer, please say hello.

Before I take a 4-day weekend from work and blogging, I wanted to post a reminder about Frosty Friday, the Downtown Frederick Partnership's annual event that features shopping, dining, and entertainment on the day after Thanksgiving.

This description, from a promotional email, pretty much sums it up:

The festivities begin at 8 a.m., with more than 40 shops and restaurants open early for breakfast-time customers in Downtown Frederick. Shoppers can enjoy carolers, holiday entertainment, free hot cocoa, gift wrapping and morning carriage rides along Market, Patrick, East and Carroll Streets, including Everedy Square and Shab Row.

Of course, most people will be shopping for Christmas gifts. But if you're in the market for art or housewares, you're also in luck. Here are some highlights:

• From 10 a.m.-5 p.m., ArtNext hosts a Holiday Artists Market at the Cultural Arts Center (15 N. Market St.), featuring various local artists displaying their paintings, photography, pottery, and more. Volunteers (including yours truly) will wrap any of your Frosty Friday purchases for free at the complimentary gift wrapping station.
• From 8-10 a.m., Ec'clectibles (13 E. Patrick St.) offers a free $10 gift card with every purchase of $30 or more.
• From 8-10 a.m., Flights of Fancy (20 N. East St.) offers a 20% discount on most merchandise.

For a full list of discounts, breakfast locations, and entertainment, as well as parking information, visit the Frosty Friday web site.

	Photo by countryliving.com This pumpkin centerpiece is very seasonal, and doesn't seem like it would be very difficult to make.

I know, I know ... You're scrambling to prepare for Thanksgiving. Between errands to the grocery store, pie-baking, and last-minute cleaning, there's no extra time.

But with the right materials and a few minutes to spare, you can create a striking centerpiece for your dinner table or sideboard. And your guests will be very impressed. (Isn't that the whole point of hosting Thanksgiving dinner, anyway? ... Just kidding.)

At a loss for creative centerpiece ideas? These photos from Domino magazine will get you started.

Need step-by-step directions? Check out this tutorial, with photos, from Country Living magazine.

And if you're at a total loss for how to set the table, Martha Stewart can help with the basics. Click here for the cheat sheet from Blueprint magazine.

I can’t say that this press release from Frederick County Government was very surprising, but in light of the Thanksgiving holiday, it’s worth getting the word out.

Turkey fryers are unsafe. They're so unsafe that the safety experts at Underwriters Laboratories won't certify any turkey fryers with the UL mark.

Personally, I don't think there's any reason to fry a bird. The best Thanksgiving turkey I've ever had was a Kosher turkey, hand-delivered from New York and cooked the traditional way in my grandma's oven. But I'm willing to appreciate the need for culinary experimentation. If you must cook your turkey in oil, follow these tips (PDF) from Fire and Rescue Services. Your local firefighters will thank you.

	IF YOU GO Candlelight House Tour 5:30-9:30 p.m., Saturday, December 1 12-4 p.m., Sunday, December 2 Tickets are $20.00, and are available at several area businesses. Click here for a list of ticket locations and other event information, or call the City of Frederick Office of Special Events at 301-600-2841.

Tickets are now on sale for Frederick’s annual Candlelight House Tour, scheduled for the first weekend in December. If you’re anything like me, you won’t be able to pass up the opportunity to sneak a peek inside some of Frederick’s most beautiful homes.

This year’s tour is in the historic Schley Park area and features the following nine homes (decorated by area interior and floral design gurus):

302 Dill Avenue (Jutta Terrell, Etiquette)

The event also features horse-drawn carriage, holiday carolers, and light refreshments.

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	Photo by armofthesea.info The waxy fruit of northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)
	Some online sources: Abundant Earth Yankee Candle Anyone know of local shops that carry bayberry tapers?

This may sort of ruin the surprise, but I can’t resist sharing: Several people on my Christmas list will be receiving bayberry candles. Northern Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) is a native, broadleaf evergreen shrub with aromatic foliage. The female plants produce waxy, blue-gray berries, which can be processed to make softly-scented bayberry candles.

It’s not just the fresh fragrance and pure earthiness that I love – There’s also some folklore involved with the burning of these candles. Colonial tradition holds that if you receive a bayberry candle from a loved one, you should light it on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve and let it burn until it snuffs itself out. You’ll have good luck all year long. Either way, you can’t go wrong with a nice-smelling house and the promise of good fortune.

“A bayberry candle burned to the socket brings health to the home and gold to the pocket.”

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Bonus: Cats love woodstoves

I spent almost the entire weekend at home on my couch, trying to get over a nasty cold. I went through an entire box of tissues and completely missed the pottery show.

There was one part of the whole ordeal that was actually enjoyable: Our woodstove was blazing the whole time. Last year, we closed off our drafty fireplace with a woodstove insert, and cold weather is much more bearable now.

There’s a huge selection of woodstoves out there, running the gamut in appearance, efficiency, price, and quality. After a significant amount of comparison shopping and contemplation, we chose a Harman model that protrudes less than a foot onto the hearth – A blessing in our small living room. (We were also charmed by several Vermont Castings models, but they really wouldn’t have worked very well in front of our fireplace.)

We purchased our stove at Bodmer’s Stoves & Pottery in Buckeystown, a really charming place owned by a spunky husband and wife team. Our installers, Frederick County Chimney Sweeps (another knowledgeable husband and wife duo), were also fantastic. I’m sure there are many other good sources for supplies and service in our area, but we had a great experience with this matchup.

The best part? Our heating gas bill was about half of what it was in a pre-woodstove winter.

There's something really lovely about the first frost in the garden. I have several annuals, including the nasturtium above, that have been flowering beautifully, even through the recent cold weather. This morning, everything was coated with frost, so I know they won't last much longer.

Wondering what to do to help ease your garden through these seasonal transitions? The University of Maryland's Home & Garden Information Center (HGIC) is a fantastic resource. Click here for some timely tips.

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Beautiful fall color of Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra). Oaks are notorious for holding onto their crispy leaves as long as possible, but will probably fall off in time to be collected by the city’s crew.
	For more info on this year’s leaf collection campaign: Visit the City of Frederick web site or call 301-600-1440

If you live in the City of Frederick, have a yard, and have trees nearby, this message is for you: The Department of Public Works is collecting leaves until Wednesday, December 14th. Some leaf raking* tips:

Set out all leaves before December 9th.

* Not to be confused with muckraking. Some blogs engage in this activity, but we have a bit more integrity around here.

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