Sunday, May 7, 2017
BIRDS: Where are the hummers?
Do you have hummingbirds yet? A few weeks ago my mother reported seeing a male hummingbird in her garden, so I immediately put out my feeder. Neither one of us has had a single visitor since, though. However, we're still changing our nectar regularly. The wonderful little creatures will be here soon enough.
GARDEN: Hairy Bittercress
Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) is the name of that grass-like weed that has been flourishing in garden beds and lawns this spring. It's new to me, though a gardening friend in Landenberg reports that he has been dealing with it for at least five years.
Probably its most notable feature is its multiple skinny, inch-long seed pods along each stalk. Just try uprooting it and it will forcefully shoot out hundreds of seeds -- hence its nickname, shotweed.
According to the Gardening Know How website, "The leaves are alternate and slightly scalloped with the largest at the base of the plant. Tiny white flowers develop at the ends of the stems and then turn into long seedpods. These pods split open explosively when ripe and fling seeds out into the environment. The weed prefers cool, moist soil and is most prolific after early spring rains. The weeds spread quickly but their appearance reduces as temperatures increase. The plant has a long, deep taproot, which makes pulling them out manually ineffective."
Probably its most notable feature is its multiple skinny, inch-long seed pods along each stalk. Just try uprooting it and it will forcefully shoot out hundreds of seeds -- hence its nickname, shotweed.
According to the Gardening Know How website, "The leaves are alternate and slightly scalloped with the largest at the base of the plant. Tiny white flowers develop at the ends of the stems and then turn into long seedpods. These pods split open explosively when ripe and fling seeds out into the environment. The weed prefers cool, moist soil and is most prolific after early spring rains. The weeds spread quickly but their appearance reduces as temperatures increase. The plant has a long, deep taproot, which makes pulling them out manually ineffective."
Saturday, May 6, 2017
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Traffic study to be updated
Once again, traffic was the major topic of discussion at the monthly meeting of the West Marlborough Township Board of Supervisors. The supervisors agreed to hire traffic engineer Al Federico of Kimley Horn to update the traffic study he conducted in 2011. The cost of the update will be $3,350, and gathering new traffic numbers would cost $350 per location.
The updated study will focus on Route 842 between Route 841 and the township line; Newark Road between Route 926 and Route 842; Springdell Road between Route 841 and the township line; and Route 841 between Route 926 and Route 82.
The supervisors made the decision in the face of steadily increasing traffic volumes and speeds through the township, and possible improvements at the intersection of Baltimore Pike and Newark Road in neighboring New Garden Township.
Bill Wylie, who chairs the Board of Supervisors, said the supervisors will use the data to review possible steps the township could take to control traffic, such as installing four-way stop signs, lowering speed limits, and assuming maintenance responsibilities for roads that are currently owned by the state.
The updated study will focus on Route 842 between Route 841 and the township line; Newark Road between Route 926 and Route 842; Springdell Road between Route 841 and the township line; and Route 841 between Route 926 and Route 82.
The supervisors made the decision in the face of steadily increasing traffic volumes and speeds through the township, and possible improvements at the intersection of Baltimore Pike and Newark Road in neighboring New Garden Township.
Bill Wylie, who chairs the Board of Supervisors, said the supervisors will use the data to review possible steps the township could take to control traffic, such as installing four-way stop signs, lowering speed limits, and assuming maintenance responsibilities for roads that are currently owned by the state.
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Those dusty days of summer
Even though the "No Winter Maintenance" signs haven't been taken down yet, the West Marlborough road crew is already preparing for summer dust-oil season. (Oil keeps the dust on the gravel roads from billowing up.) At their May meeting, the supervisors discussed what kind of oil they will be using this season and the schedule for preparing and treating the roads.
"If we're going to have dirt roads, we have to maintain them," said supervisor Bill Wylie.
Also, roadmaster and supervisor Hugh Lofting Sr. reported that the long-anticipated Rokeby Road project should finally get underway this autumn. The edge of the road has been gradually eroding and falling down a steep bank toward the Buck Run. The reconstruction project will stabilize it.
"If we're going to have dirt roads, we have to maintain them," said supervisor Bill Wylie.
Also, roadmaster and supervisor Hugh Lofting Sr. reported that the long-anticipated Rokeby Road project should finally get underway this autumn. The edge of the road has been gradually eroding and falling down a steep bank toward the Buck Run. The reconstruction project will stabilize it.
JEANS: Out of touch
You may have heard that the department store Nordstrom recently started selling $425 jeans that are covered with fake mud -- as they describe it, "a crackled, caked-on muddy coating."
How tone-deaf can you get! Deep scorn was the reaction from several local friends who regularly get their Tractor Supply jeans covered with not only actual mud but also manure, grease and other actual products of manual labor.
And frankly, I think Unionville mud should command a premium.
How tone-deaf can you get! Deep scorn was the reaction from several local friends who regularly get their Tractor Supply jeans covered with not only actual mud but also manure, grease and other actual products of manual labor.
And frankly, I think Unionville mud should command a premium.
EAST MARLBOROUGH: New car wash
People keep asking me what's being built on Onix Drive near the Kennett Walmart, the Applebee's, the Bank of America and the Hilton Garden Inn. No, it's not another bank or drugstore. It's going to be a car wash.
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| A car wash is being built next to the Hilton Garden Inn east of Kennett Square. |
SCHEDULE: So much to do!
I have a whole slew of upcoming events to tell you about, so I'll just list them in order:
-- 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 11: Walt Chiquoine will talk about the route that the British Army took to the get to the Battle of the Brandywine in September 1777. Presented by the Kennett Township Historical Commission, the lecture will be held at the township building, 801 Burrows Run Road. Free, with refreshments.
-- 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 13, 2017: the annual Plant Sale at London Grove Friends Meeting House at the intersection of Route 926 and Newark Road. For me, this wonderful event is as much a community get-together as a plant sale. Get there as early as possible for the best selection of plants; the socializing is up to you. There's also a bake sale and coffee.
-- 9 a.m. Saturday, May 27: West Grove Memorial Day Parade. Starts in the Avon-Grove High School parking lot, travels north on Prospect Avenue, and ends at the memorial plaza at East Evergreen Street and Exchange Place.
-- 10 a.m. Monday, May 29: Kennett Square Memorial Day Parade. Starting at 10 a.m. at the Kennett High School, the parade travels north on Union Street, turns right onto Cypress Street, left onto Broad Street, left onto State Street, on right onto North Union Street. A memorial service follows at the Union Hill Cemetery on North Union Street.
-- 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 3: Open house at Marlborough Friends Meeting, 361 Marlborough Road, Kennett Square. The schedule is: 2:30 p.m. introduction to Quakerism; 3 p.m., panel of Friends discussing their experiences; 4 p.m., lecture by author Doug Gwyn on "The Quaker View of Christian Revelation; 5 p.m., brief Meeting for Worship; 5:30 p.m., dinner provided by the Meeting; 7 p.m. Meeting for Worship.
-- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 3: Bayard Taylor Home & Garden Tour. This year's tour focuses on the Unionville area. Tickets ($40) are available at the Kennett Library, 216 East State Street, Kennett Square.
-- 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 11: Walt Chiquoine will talk about the route that the British Army took to the get to the Battle of the Brandywine in September 1777. Presented by the Kennett Township Historical Commission, the lecture will be held at the township building, 801 Burrows Run Road. Free, with refreshments.
-- 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 13, 2017: the annual Plant Sale at London Grove Friends Meeting House at the intersection of Route 926 and Newark Road. For me, this wonderful event is as much a community get-together as a plant sale. Get there as early as possible for the best selection of plants; the socializing is up to you. There's also a bake sale and coffee.
-- 9 a.m. Saturday, May 27: West Grove Memorial Day Parade. Starts in the Avon-Grove High School parking lot, travels north on Prospect Avenue, and ends at the memorial plaza at East Evergreen Street and Exchange Place.
-- 10 a.m. Monday, May 29: Kennett Square Memorial Day Parade. Starting at 10 a.m. at the Kennett High School, the parade travels north on Union Street, turns right onto Cypress Street, left onto Broad Street, left onto State Street, on right onto North Union Street. A memorial service follows at the Union Hill Cemetery on North Union Street.
-- 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 3: Open house at Marlborough Friends Meeting, 361 Marlborough Road, Kennett Square. The schedule is: 2:30 p.m. introduction to Quakerism; 3 p.m., panel of Friends discussing their experiences; 4 p.m., lecture by author Doug Gwyn on "The Quaker View of Christian Revelation; 5 p.m., brief Meeting for Worship; 5:30 p.m., dinner provided by the Meeting; 7 p.m. Meeting for Worship.
-- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 3: Bayard Taylor Home & Garden Tour. This year's tour focuses on the Unionville area. Tickets ($40) are available at the Kennett Library, 216 East State Street, Kennett Square.
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