Country Woman April - May 2016

When I was a teen, I persuaded Dad to till up a plot in the back forty so I could start a flower garden. I planted perennials and annuals. And I carefully transplanted wildflowers because I loved them. Still do. I can’t get enough of flowers. I grow them, stop to smell them and even eat them. Want to know more about edible flowers? Check out “Garden to Table” on page 24. Or what about wildflower walks? We’ve got that covered on page 9. You can even make a potting station out of an old desk or dresser. Find “Green Thumb Hub,” page 28. I also love flowers because they keep the bees busy. Paula Morton of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, reaps the rewards of those buzzing bees. She tends hives and sells her…

Q: What are your simplest spring cleaning solutions? “For burned spills on glass-top stoves, sprinkle the area with baking soda and a splash of water. Let sit for 5 minutes, then wipe. Works every time. I keep a salt shaker filled with baking soda nearby for this purpose.” DORY MUIR CHEROKEE VILLAGE, AR “No matter how hard I try to keep my hummingbird feeders clean, they get black mold inside. My solution is so simple: sand! I go down to our creek and gather some, pour it into the empty feeder (about one-quarter full), then add water until the feeder is half to two-thirds full. Holding my hand over the opening, I swish vigorously until the sand and water scour the inside sparkling clean.” MILISSA MARLAR WILLIAMSBURG, OH “I keep a pack of disinfectant wipes…

Gem of a Friend I’ve enjoyed your magazine for many years and wanted to share what I made after seeing the December/ January 2016 issue. My best friend, Carmela, received this “C” covered in a collection of my heirloom brooches, earrings and pendants. I decided that a friend enjoying their beauty was more special than keeping them in a drawer! ARLENE MCALISTER PARADISE, TX Our Snow Dragon Seeing “Snow Flowers” in your February/ March 2016 issue reminded me of the way we used snow piled up from the plow several years ago. Neighborhood boys came over to help shovel it, so I tried to make it fun for them by suggesting we make a critter. We had a good base, so we shaped the top into humps and made a tail from the lower…

Signs of Spring It’s a season of rebirth on the farm. We want to hear your memories of new calves and baby lambs, fields of sprouting wildflowers and more magical moments in the country. Email your tales with “Spring Farm Life” in the subject line—and don’t forget to share photos. Craft & Grow How do you show your creativity in the garden? Do you make your own plant markers? Paint terracotta pots? Turn a piece of junk into yard art? Send a picture and project details with “Garden Art” in the subject line. Family Keepsakes What treasures do you have stored away at home? Maybe you’ve been holding on to an old piggy bank, a vintage sign or a family wedding heirloom. Share your item’s backstory along with photos, and set the subject line to…

TAKE A WALK Each spring wildflowers burst into color across the country, from fields of bluebonnets to forests of fleeting trilliums. Grab a regional field guide and take a hike to see what’s growing nearby. If you need help in identifying flowers, take photos to share with an expert at an extension office or plant society. “Be sure to get close-ups of the flowers, leaves, seeds and a wide shot of the entire plant,” says Andrea DeLong-Amaya, horticulture director at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. FIND NEW VIEWS Instead of picking wildflowers, snap pics as keepsakes. Take photos during early morning or late evening hours when the light is rich and there is less wind. To capture fresh angles, get down on the plant’s level—or shoot from behind. PRESERVE BEAUTY “Wildflowers lift up our…

Between typical farm chores like feeding goats and tending crops, Karon Ohm and Cy Turnbladh fuse glass, fire up kilns and make art with all who visit their homestead in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. Cy fell in love with the then-abandoned farm in 1998 and fixed it up into an all-ages playground called Hands On Art Studio, which includes the Art Barn and three other studio buildings. Now Karon and Cy help guests make everything from pottery to metal sculptures. We asked Karon to tell us more. What are your backgrounds in the arts? We both learned by doing. Cy is a potter and went to the University of Minnesota for ceramics. He has been making his living as an artist since he was 18 years old. I explain my artistic background as…