Smart cars

Have you noticed a lot more of those tiny Smart cars on the road? I saw this one in the parking lot on Union Street in Kennett between State and Cypress Streets. A friend of mine in England has one, loves it, and wants me to get one. I agreed with him that they are very cute, economical, environmentally friendly and easy to park -- but I would also need to purchase a pickup truck as well. He lives in a small flat with no garden, and never seems to haul things around or to make large grocery or Lowe's runs.

And speaking of easy to park: I've noticed recently that quite a few motorists on State Street in Kennett are parking so far away from the curb that cars have to veer into the other lane to get past them. Your tires should be INSIDE those white markings on the pavement when you park, not outside them. I remember the days when you would risked a ticket if you parked farther than a foot away from the curb; perhaps borough council could reinstitute that practice as a new money-maker?
Anyhow, those who need a refresher course in parallel parking should head out to a parking lot on Sunday afternoon and practice the way we used to as teens. It's not tricky; it's just a matter of geometry and practice. Think of it as a yoga pose.

Sofa is gone

A few weeks ago I wrote about the forlorn old sofa that was sitting on the corner of Route 82 and Wollaston Road in the center of Unionville with a cardboard "free" sign on it. It sat there for more than a week, much remarked upon, and then finally disappeared. I was surprised it took so long for someone to adopt it: goodness knows that as a student I had far seedier sofas.

West Marlborough meeting

Just a heads up that the monthly West Marlborough Township meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. at the township garage in Doe Run Village. I'm not sure what's going to be on the agenda, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were some discussion of the loud fireworks display at the Stone Barn on Sept. 7. Also, the township-imposed deadline is approaching for Russell Jones to remove the mounds of compost from his Hood Road farm; will he meet it?

Waterlilies

Today I finally got over to Longwood Gardens to see the water gardens and to walk through "Secrets of Victoria, Waterlily Queen," the special exhibition in the Conservatory's Music Room (it runs through Sept. 29). The exhibition was fascinating, with lots of information and photos about the history of the waterlily garden, beautiful antique prints -- and I mean, really, how often do you get to see the words "beetle-mating orgy" as a caption in a staid horticulture display?
I always love seeing the beautiful waterlily blooms and the huge, lipped, spiky platters. Since I was a kid the waterlily garden has been one of my favorite displays at Longwood. (By the way, there's a very nice and oversized $70 book about the Victoria display for sale in the Garden Shop.)
The people-watching at Longwood is always fun, too. One docent was showing a cute little girl the mimosa-like sensitive plant that was growing in the corner of some of the pools and let her stroke the fronds to see them close up protectively. Another docent sprayed a lotus leaf with water to show visitors how the water pooled into the middle, and another explained about the mosquito fish swimming around the lily pads.
Not everyone was there to admire the plants, though: one woman was seated on a bench in the sun wrapped up in a book, and a middle-aged courting couple in a shady corner of the patio were wrapped up in themselves, hugging and beaming at each other.
We are so lucky to live so close to Longwood, aren't we? The yearly pass has got to be one of the best deals around. I overheard a boy, maybe 8 but clearly already a Longwood veteran, instructing the other people in his group the best way to get to the Conservatory and telling them what was up that path (the restaurant).
While I was at Longwood the Greater Philadelphia Dahlia Society was setting up for its flower show. And next weekend there will be a flower show sponsored by several of our local garden clubs: the Four Seasons Garden Club and Spade & Trowel, both of Kennett Square; the Garden Club of Springfield; Country Gardeners; and the Garden Class of the Women's Community Club of Uwchlan. Show co-chairs are Kay Leto and Peggy Hartwick. Hours for that flower show are 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, and 10 a.m. to 6 pm. Sunday, Sept. 29.

The Mushroom Hunters

A new book called "The Mushroom Hunters" might well interest the fungus-fanciers around here, although it's about wild mushrooms rather than the cultivated kind. The author, Langdon Cook, travels all over the country with the colorful, peculiar characters who stalk expensive exotics like morels and chanterelles in the wilderness -- and then have to harvest them and get them to market as quickly as possible. The reviewer in the "Wall Street Journal" called the book "a rollicking narrative." Looks like a great read.

Boarders by right or by special exception?

The saga over Newlin's proposed "Riding School and Horse Boarding Facility" ordinance took an unusual twist this week, with the County Planning Commission first opposing and then recommending the changes.
Those of you who were patient enough to slog through my lengthy account in last week's column may remember that although the township supervisors wrote the ordinance, they didn't approve it at their September meeting because they were waiting for comments from the Chester County Planning Commission. (The township Planning Commission advised against adopting it.)
Well, the county comments have arrived. In fact, two sets of county comments have arrived. The first letter (Sept. 11) didn't favor the changes, but the second one (Sept. 19), which superseded the first, did.
In the first letter the County planners supported the township Planning Commission's position that having a stable with boarders (a very common use here in horse country) should continue to be a special exception rather than a "by-right" use. People who have boarders at their stables would have to seek a special exception in front of the township's Zoning Hearing Board.
"While the minimum lot size for this land use remains at not less than ten acres and the minimum acreage per horse in increased from the current regulations, riding schools and horse boarding facilities can involved substantial structures and require extensive stormwater management facilities. This amendment also potentially introduces a new commercial land use into the Township's zoning ordinance ... Therefore, we suggest that the Township consider retaining this land use as a special exception, because this will permit the Township Zoning Hearing Board to impose reasonable conditions on plan applications," reads the letter, over the signature of Ronald T. Bailey, the commission's secretary and executive director
The second letter, however, said the proposed ordinance complies with the guidelines of the County's comprehensive plan, Landscapes2, and recommended that the township adopt the ordinance. The letter made no mention of the earlier concerns about "substantial structures," "extensive stormwater management facilities" or commercial uses, stating instead that "horse riding, horse boarding and other related activities can be common elements of agricultural and rural areas."
The next township meeting is Oct. 14, and doubtless this matter will be on the agenda.
(For more background on what sparked this controversy, you can call up last week's piece online.)

Fly Eagles Fly

A routine Wednesday morning here in West Marlborough became memorable thanks to a sharp-eyed neighbor. I was sitting at my desk copy editing a book on political protests in America when the phone rang. It was a neighbor who was mowing a field near my house and thought I might be interested to know that he had just spotted a bald eagle. I was off the phone in a seconds and rushed over.
As I approached I saw one huge eagle land in a tree near the top of the hill; the branch moved under his weight. My neighbor and I stood next to his tractor watching and in just a few minutes an eagle soared slowly along the crest of the hill, barely flapping his wings, just gliding over the field. It was a magnificent sight. What a majestic bird!
My neighbor had captured a few photos before I got there and was kind enough to share them.