Cherries On Top Orchard
132 Grinton Lane, Flint Hill – 703-327-5272
The orchard has 800 dwarf sweet cherry trees and 11 different varieties including: Bing, Rainier, Lapin, Sam, Cavalier, Royalton, Royal Anne and Viscount.
Unfortunately, due to construction, the Orchard will be closed to the public for the 2011 season.
Please check back for information about when it will re-open.

Crooked Run Orchard
37883 E Main Street, Purcellville – 540-338-6642
www.crookedrunorchard.com
Summer apples, fall apples, peaches, blackberries, plums, gooseberries, pears, raspberries, cherries (sweet & sour), pumpkins, gourds, herbs, tomatoes and peppers – you name it, they grow it. Please call before coming to make sure products are in season or available. For a complete picking calendar, please visit their website

Graves Mountain Farm
Route 60, Syria – 540-923-4231
www.gravesmountain.com
Pick your own starts in September and ends October 16 – weekends only. Many apple varieties available as well as select-your-own peaches, summer apples, nectarines, jams and jellies. The annual apple harvest festival is October 8-9, 15-16 and 23-24, rain or shine. Check website for times.

Great Country Farms
18780 Foggy Bottom Rd, Bluemont – 540-554-2074
www.greatcountryfarms.com
From strawberries and asparagus in the spring to corn and tomatoes all summer – then pumpkins and gourds in the fall, Great Country Farms offers a farm experience your whole family will enjoy! 17th Annual Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival Sept 25-Oct 31.Please see website for more information on upcoming festivals and the 2011 spring schedule.

The Green Thumb Farm
14694 Days Hill Lane, Sumerduck – 540-439-8316
Green Thumb Farm follows organic methods and offers beans, beets, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, flowers, herbs/spices, melons, onions, peas, peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, and other vegetables; prepicked produce, brown and white eggs for sale and farm animals. Please call ahead or email greenthumbfarm@aol.com.

Hartland Orchards
3064 Hartland Lane, Markham – 540-364-2316
www.hartlandorchard.com
Hartland Orchard takes pride in offering you the freshest, juiciest fruit possible. Stop by to purchase fruit that has already been picked; or spend a few hours in a beautiful country setting picking your own fruit. Cherries, apples, peaches and pumpkins. They also offer homemade cider, a corn maze and Christmas trees!

High Places Orchard
121 Winesap Lane, Flint Hill – 540-635-5537
Pick-your-own, fresh-picked apples, peaches, plums, and nectarines. Also enjoy a picnic by the pond!

Hollin Farms
1524 Snowden Rd., Delaplane – 540-592-3574
www.hollinfarms.com
Hollin Farms specializes in grass-fed natural beef but also offers heritage “Gloucestershire Old Spot” pork, fescue-free hay for horses, and pick-your-own strawberries (starting in late May) and peaches, tomatoes, sweet corn, blackberries, and raspberries in the summer. Pumpkin patch & corn maze now open starting Fri Oct 1 and also open on Columbus Day Mon Oct 11. 5 acre corn maze, free admission, 10 acres of pumpkins grown in the field, lots of beautiful gourds, apples, and vegetable garden. Be sure to check their website or call before you come.

Inglewood Farm
5253 Inglewood Farm Lane, Bealeton – 540-272-6906
Inglewood Farm offers corn (sweet), pumpkins, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, and a petting zoo. Crops are usually available in June, July, August, September, and October. Please call for more info on times and days

Jenkins Orchard
355 Yancey Rd., Woodville – 540-987-8192
Pull up to the green and white packing shed for the Jenkins’ family’s fresh-picked apples (16 types including Rambo and Blacktwig). From their 50-acre orchard comes peaches (12 types, white and yellow), pears (6 types) and nectarines. Open daily mid-July through mid-December, 9 am to 6 pm.

Lee’s Orchard
65 Orchard Lane, Washington – 540-675-3201 (apple shed), 540-675-3178 or 540-675-3558.
The farm on Rt. 211 has pick-your-own and fresh-picked apples (28 kinds) including Albemarle Pippin, Jonagold and Mutsu, plus hard-to-find quince, peaches and pears. In the fall the Lees feature cider, honey and pumpkins. Open daily, mid-July to Nov. 1.

Mackintosh Fruit Farm
1608 Russell Road, Berryville – 540-955-2162
www.mackintoshfruitfarm.com
Mackintosh Fruit Farm grows a wide variety of apples, peaches, pears, and berries and are always adding new varieties. Open daily: 8am-6pm

Moore’s Orchard
630 Fodderstack Rd. (Route 628), Washington. 540-675-3553
Stop at Louis Moore’s farm for fresh-picked apples (9 types including Ozark Gold and Arkansas Black); peaches (5 types, white and yellow); plums; sweet cherries; peppers and heirloom tomatoes. Also: Local honey from Admiral’s Apiary. Open daytime, bring containers, mid-July to Nov. 1.

Muskrat Haven Farm
20 Cedarbreak Lane, Amissville – 540-937-5892 or 540-937-5191
Muskrat Haven Farm offers pick-your-own and fresh-picked strawberries, blueberries, black and red raspberries, blackberries and pumpkins in addition to apples and yellow peaches. At season’s peak Muskrat has heirloom tomatoes, melons and sweet corn.

Stribling Orchard
11587 Poverty Hollow Lane, Markham – 540-364-3040
www.striblingorchard.com
Stribling Orchard consists of approximately 30 acres of apple trees and 15 acres of peach trees. Open to public from late July through early November. Tuesday thru Sunday, 9am-5pm. Please call ahead to ensure they are open.

Valley View Farm
1562 Leeds Manor Rd., Delaplane
www.valleyviewfarmva.com
Valley View Farm has a 400 tree peach orchard. They have a limited supply of thornless blackberries. Pick your own and pre-picked available. Please call ahead to ensure they are open

Williams Orchard
3 Williams Farm Lane, Flint Hill – 540-675-3765
Williams Orchard offers freshly picked apples, peaches and fresh vegetables when in season. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily during the growing season.

Willow Oaks Berry Farm
2521 Midland Road, Midland – 540-788-9099
Willow Oaks offers blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, pre-picked produce, and a picnic area.

A meeting will be held Wednesday, May 23rd at the Evergreen Fire Station (3510 James Madison HIghway, Haymarket) to gather  input from the local community regarding the construction of the new Gainesville Library. This “listening” meeting will be hosted by Prince William county officials and the project architect who encourage attendees to come prepared ith their questions, concerns and ideas to ensure that the library reflects the needs of the local community.

The new library will be built on the corner of Rt. 15 and Lightner Road on a site proffered by the developer of Dominion Valley.  This 20,000 sq. ft. full service library was approved by the voters in 2006 as part of a bond referendum.  Design will take 12-15 months, and then construction will take another 12-18 months.

You are invited to a multi-homeschool group Used Curriculum Sale (UCS), sponsored by FAITH, PACE, and FHE; many other groups will also be participating.

The Sale runs as follows: 
Sellers drop off books starting at 7am on Saturday May 26.
Books will be sorted and displayed by category.
(Volunteers will have a pre-sale opportunity to shop).
Sale opens to the public at 10:00 am and close at 2:00 pm.

There will be a fee of $5 to sellers and $3 to buyers. This is to cover costs.  Vendors who offer services to homeschoolers are invited to represent their services at an info table, fee $8.

If you are interested in being a seller, you will be provided a seller #, and a label template for labeling your books. If you are a buyer, start making your list!

The location will be Open Door Baptist Church, located on Rt 3 in Culpeper.

Email VANESSA_SHORT@COMCAST.NET for additional details, to get a seller #, or reserve your spot at an info table.

The 3rd Thursday Summer Concert Series opens Thursday, May 17th in downtown Culpeper directly in front of the Depot on Commerce Street from 5pm – 9pm. 

The series begins with the amazing soulful sounds of Keith Bryant & IronHorse. At age 19, Keith Bryant won Best Male Vocalist honors at the East Coast Country Music Championship. 

Advance tickets are on sale now for $5 per concert or discount season ticket for all 4 concerts may be purchased for $15 (that’s one free concert) and are available up until the day before the event at the following locations: all StellarOne offices throughout Culpeper, Madison, Orange and Locust Grove, Pepperberries located at 102 North Main Street, Museum of Culpeper History at 803 South Main Street, and the Culpeper Renaissance office located at 127 West Davis Street.  General admission the day of the event is $7 at the gate for those 21 and over.  KIDS ARE FREE!  Come and enjoy historic downtown Culpeper throughout the summer with great times and the great sounds of Keith Bryant & Ironhorse, Soul Expressions, The Fabulous Hubcaps, and The Holiday Band.    

All are welcome!  Bring friends, family & a lawn chair!  Please remember no pets and no coolers, but picnic baskets are welcome!  For more information please contact Culpeper Renaissance at (540) 825-4416 or criinfo@culpeperdowntown.com or visit us on the web at www.culpeperdowntown.com. 

National Train Day celebrates the sense of experience that only trains and train travel can give. Watch the video, be inspired, and share your own journey.  This is a national event, with ceremonies and commemorations throughout the US.

Locally, the historic Old Town Manassas depot will be hosting events to promote Amtrak and commuter rail. The Farmer’s Market is held across the street from the depot so attendees can stop by and enjoy local fruits,vegtables, crafts and toher fare. Events will run from 9am – 3pm. To learn more, click here.

To learn more about National Train Day and other events in your area, click here.

A “Money Tree” makes a unique and special gift for hard-to-buy-for teens and grads

By Donna Comer

For me, gift giving is truly an art. I enjoy the hunt for the perfect gift, wrapping the gift so the recipient almost hates to open the package, and seeing the look on the recipient’s face after opening the gift. (Especially if the perfect gift really is perfect!)

Sometimes, though, finding that perfect gift is a challenge. Teens and graduates, in particular, can be a challenge to buy for. Cash is always welcome, but how personal is that? My pondering led me to visualize a “money tree” which I managed to execute quite nicely with a very welcome reception from my teen. Read on to find out how easy it can be to turn cash into a more personalized and special gift.

One bit of advice before you get started: While the tree is easy to make, patience and time are essential, so do not try to do this the night before the special day!

Materials:

$1 bills (Trust me, use $1′s. You will be surprised how many bills will end up on the tree. And, I would suggest older bills, as they are easier to work with. )

Stick pins (I used some with green balls on the ends. I had a container of 100. The number used will vary on the size of your tree, if you need to pin corners down, how closely you arrange your bills, etc.)

Tissue Paper (Cut in squares. I cut my paper into 8″ squares. Use your own desired colors.)

Styrofoam Floral Ball (Size of your choice. I used one 5″ in diameter. Just remember, the ball will take a lot more money to fill than you think!)

Florist Block (Your local craft store will have these. Make sure you purchase one big enough to fit snugly in your pot.)

A stick (I picked one up out of my yard! Mine was 18″. You need it long enough to secure one end in the Styrofoam ball and one in the florist block.)

Terracotta Pot

Spanish Moss

Raffia or ribbon or any other garnishments. The Money Tree can be decorated with any kind of flare, to personalize it for milestone birthdays, graduations, weddings, Christmas, house warmings, or any other occasion!

Directions:

** Steps 1-5 can be done with tissue paper as well. This might help keep your gift in your budget! If you are making tissue paper flowers to fill in some space, use stacks of 4 tissue paper squares.

Fauquier High School Theatre will open the recent award-winning Broadway musical “The Drowsy Chaperone” in the Addison Lightfoot Auditorium. The cast of 32 and orchestra of 15 will perform the production, with book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, and music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison. “The Drowsy Chaperone” opened on Broadway in 2006 and was originally intended as a spoof of old musicals. The show went on to win five Tony Awards and had major productions in Toronto, Los Angeles, New York, London and Japan.

Tickets for “The Drowsy Chaperone” are available now. 
$10 for adults
$7.50 for students and seniors (60+)
Advance tickets can be purchased online at www.fhstheatre.org through Seat Yourself

Performances will be 8pm Friday, May 4, Saturday, May 5, Friday, May 11, and Saturday, May 12, and 2pm Sunday, May 6.

For more information, contact Mr. Mettinger at 347-6100, extension, 2317, or by e-mail at fhstheatre@fcps1.org or kmettinger@fcps1.org, or visit www.fhstheatre.org.

 Earth Day took on special significance for students from Mountain Laurel Montessori School. Armed with work gloves and trash bags, the 5^th and 6^th graders ripped out pounds of garlic mustard, an invasive weed that chokes out native plants in the Shenandoah National Park.

 James Akerson, Supervisory Forest Ecologist of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, led the students on a hike to identify several non-native plants and discussed various ways they became established. Invasive species make up 25% of the plants along the Appalachian Trail. Controlling their spread is vital to the health and diversity of the forest’s ecosystem.

 Students and staff at Mountain Laurel treat every day as “Earth Day” through their stewardship of the land and waters that surround their two school campuses. To learn more, visit their website at www.MountainLaurelMontessori.org.