Country April/May 2020

AFTER ENDURING ALL OF APRIL’S SHOWERS, it’s about time for some May flowers. At my house, spring has officially sprung when the tulips and peonies blossom and the rhubarb is ready for picking. Flowers are everywhere in this issue. Tag along for a romp through tulip fields (page 12), check out flower festivals across the country (page 22), plan your next trip to a national park during wildflower season (page 32) and tour Michigan’s fruit country (page 40). And, hopefully, you’ll find inspiration to do something for pollinators on page 52. That’s where you’ll read about Doug and Ronda Bonsell, Montana ranchers who planted more than 3 acres of wildflowers on their land to help birds, bees and other critters. Their story resonated with me because a few springs ago,…

Country is written by readers for readers. It’s easy to share your stories and photos. Simply visit country-magazine.com and click Share Your Story. Give us your take on the topics below, and you might get published in a future issue: Scenic Drives Do you love to spend an afternoon cruising a backcountry road that leads to gorgeous views and small-town charm? Tell us about your favorite scenic drives, and include photos. Please label your submission “Scenic Drives.” Fall Traditions In autumn, we all look forward to leaves changing, visits to the pumpkin patch, Thanksgiving and other traditions. Share your favorite annual fall activities, and label your submission “Fall Traditions.” The Great Outdoors Being close to nature is a part of country life. Tell us about how you and your family enjoy the beauty…

Dear Country… Chicks Dig Me! On a recent visit to a farm in Pennsylvania, my grandson delighted in hearing the baby chicks peep and holding them in his hands. His T-shirt and smile say it all! ANN APPOLLONI Elverson, Pennsylvania WHAT A TOUCHING article with a profound message: This primitive, yet graceful old church standing silently in the piney woods of Floyd County, Georgia, still speaks to the price some paid to preserve their freedom and religious liberties. Thank you for “Glendale Chapel Reborn” in the Feb/March issue (page 42). This article about the restoration of a beloved country church was so beautifully written by reader Annie Shields. LINDA CARRUTH DAVIS Homerville, Georgia I’VE BEEN READING Debbie Macomber’s book Where Angels Go, and part of the story takes place in…

America’s parks belong to everyone, and we know that many of you have taken photos in these beloved places. Enter your gorgeous snapshots in any of these three categories—wildlife, scenery, recreation—and you could win! One grand prize winner will receive $1,000. We’ll also award $500 for first place, $250 for second place and five honorable mentions will receive $100 each. When selecting photos, remember to choose those taken in national, state and county parks; national and state forests; recreation areas; and wilderness areas. Look at the reader photos at left for inspiration. Here’s how to enter: 1. Go to country-magazine.com/yourparks and get ready to upload your files (high-resolution JPEG files, please).2. Fill out the submission form, upload your photo and be sure to tell us about the photo in at…

Every year our family goes to Burnside Farms to pick our own tulips at their Festival of Spring. This year the tulips were in bloom right around Easter, so my 3-year-old daughter, Ruby, put on her bunny tail. Although it was unseasonably warm for Virginia, it had rained a lot the day before. Ruby wore her rubber rain boots, hoping to do a little stomping in a mud puddle. As she wandered down the rows of flowers, the vibrant colors, the bunny tail and the pretty tulip in her basket just captured my heart. MELISSA AMMONS Manassas, Virginia…

THERE ARE TV GAZERS, smartphone gazers, sunset gazers and stock market gazers. I’m a cloud gazer. I’ve admired, dreamed about, and oohed and aahed over that ever-changing blue yonder since childhood. I remember lying on a grassy bank with my sisters, sharing aloud what we saw in the clouds. Sixty-plus years later, I’m still looking up at these breathtaking formations. When my husband retired a decade ago, we moved back to his hometown of Elk City in western Oklahoma, where the sky is endless and the cloud gazing is sublime. There is nothing more exhilarating than watching clouds roll in over farm fields. It’s difficult to convey how an adrenaline rush can accompany a feeling of inner peace. The scent alone of the good earth and rain brings such pleasure.…