The (Not so) Rural Pennsylvanian

  • It’s That Time of Year

    I love Fall. Not just because I hate hot weather but because I love all the other things that go with the season – colorful leaves, cozy fabrics, hot beverages, and fairs. I had to check out the Unionville Community Fair in Chester County. The fair was set on a old farm property adjacent to the high school.

    Well kept barn on the property.
    A view of the farmstead.
    I’m not sure what this platform is but I think it has to do with steeplechase or jumping horses.

    It was well worth a visit. It is rare in this area to find a festival with livestock. This aspect makes this fair unique. The lamas and goats were adorable. There was an opportunity for kids to get to milk a goat. I just wish there had been more dairy cows in the large tent.

    An inquisitive goat.
    Three lone cows in the big tent.
    Llamas are so cute.

    There were the usual fair food trucks, vendors, and activities for the kids. Polish food followed by funnel cake is a win in my book any day. While I was eating, the kids participated in a sing a long with Elsa from “Frozen.” I also bought some awesome local honey at one of the vendors. I don’t don’t normally love honey, but this stuff was great.

    Time to “Let it Go” with Elsa.
    The Vendors
    Yummy, hot funnel cake on a rainy day.
    I really liked the look of this old mill building on the way home.

  • Outdoor Tubbing Update

    My little balcony water garden seems to be doing pretty well. There has been some growth on the plants. I removed six baby plants from the water hyacinth. No wonder they are highly invasive in warmer climates, I added 11 long fin white cloud mountain minnows. So far, they seem to be doing well. I removed the pot scrubber islands for the birds about as soon as I installed them, realizing that the birds would probably just get entangled.

    Balcony tub with new growth. The spearwort looks great and the equisetum is getting some height..

  • Like the Spring, I Have Returned

    This weekend, I set off to Chester Springs to check out some garden centers in hopes of finding some aquatic plants for a container water garden I have on my balcony. I found a Louisiana iris and spearwort plant to add to the equisetum (horsetail reed) and water hyacinth I already have.

    Here’s how it looks so far:

    Maker:0x4c,Date:2017-11-17,Ver:4,Lens:Kan03,Act:Lar01,E-Y,E-ver:20190214.5310204.002.000

    It doesn’t look like much now, but it should fill in nicely. I will try to keep you updated about my little water garden. The sponges are an experiment to see if birds will use them as landing pads to take drink. I hope to add some fish when the water warms up.

    While I was out, I ran across the charming Chester Springs Creamery at Milky Way Farm. They make delicious ice cream. Here is an impromptu panorama of part of the property:

    The lovely property at Chester Springs Creamery at Milky Way Farm.

  • Fall in Valley Forge

    Although it seems that fall color was late to arrive and short lived, Valley Forge National Historical Park has non the less supplied some nice views. Here is a sampling from a recent visit.

    Knox Covered Bridge, Tredyffrin Township, Chester County.

     

    Another view of the Knox Covered Bridge.

     

    View of General Knox’s Quarters from the Philander C. Knox Estate.

     

    Recently baled hay near the Knox estate.

     

    Historic pony truss bridge on Wilson Road over Valley Creek.

     

    Lafayette’s Headquarters, later used as a farmhouse and inn. Interesting to see three sections from different time periods.

     

    View of the hillside from the model airplane field at Valley Forge.

  • Fall Has Finally Arrived

    It looks like the much delayed Autumn color has finally arrived to Chester County this year. I just hope the season isn’t brief. Here is a sample of some of this year’s color.

    A corn field seems to be on fire in Glenmoore.

     

    It looks like this is what was growing on those stumps in the previous picture. This and another tree were next in line with the stumps but had not yet been cut.

     

    A beautiful farm in Coventryville. I always love the star on the barn.

     

    Another radiant fall cornfield and treetops.

     

    Scotts Run in French Creek State Park. It’s apparently a red and orange free zone.

     

    The barn at the Mansion at Hibernia Park.

  • Farms of West Vincent Township

    Here are some shots from my trip around West Vincent Township in northern Chester County.

    This season’s hay has been baled.

    Peaceful scene of cattle on a hillside by a farm pond.

    I loved the slope in this shot.

  • Cattle Herd and Adorable Calf

    I came across this adorable calf with the rest of the herd in West Pikeland Township, Chester County.

    With mom.

    Meet some of the rest of the herd.

    \

  • Sunset Drive Through East Nantmeal Township

    I took advantage of a lovely evening to head out to East Nantmeal township hoping for some sunset views.

    A beautiful farm at sunset.

    Another view of the same farm.

    A farm pond at sunset.

    A farm on the hill in gathering darkness.

    I came back the next day for some daytime views. The hay has already been baled at this farm.

    A farm pond in the daylight.

    It seems Christmas trees are grown all over Pennsylvania, even in Chester County.

  • A Stop at Thornbury Farm Market

    Thornbury Farm Market and CSA sits in the outskirts of West Chester amid the housing developments of exburbian Philadelphia. It’s a lovely place to pick up some local produce and other items. They are also available to host events.

    A view of the vegetable gardens.

    Tow Mater, making a personal appearance.

    A cool vintage fire truck.

    A nearby cornfield in summer.

  • Time for the Night Sky

    I took advantage of a rare clear Saturday night with a late rising moon to do a little stargazing at the gun range in State Game Lands 43 in Elverson, PA. It was a very pleasant evening and I had some company of other stargazers and photographers. This was mostly a scouting trip for this location. I had binoculars with me. I also experimented with a few photos, although I had not originally planned taking pictures. Four planets were visible that night – Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. The sky there is a bit of an improvement over home. I guess I will have to drag my telescope and tripod out of storage next time.

    Venus setting in the west over the tops of the trees.

    Jupiter higher over the treeline.

    A faint picture of the Big Dipper. I am just learning night sky photography and am amazed this came out at all. Open a larger image in a new tab to see this better.

error: Content is protected !!