On Our Cover
Spring’s ready. Are you? Chesapeake Country artist Jack Brumbaugh (www.jbdrawing.com) was fascinated by the composition of contrasting shapes and colors in this colored-pencil drawing of Forever Fields. It’s one of a dozen stately or historic homes on tour when the Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage visits Southern Anne Arundel County on May 4.

Spring’s ready. Are you?
Bay Weekly’s Guide to Spring Homekeeping
by Sonia Linebaugh
Put in the flowers, take out the trash — and six more tips on making your home as welcoming — if not as grand — as the houses you’ll visit on the 66th annual Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage.

Earth Day Is April 22; Spend It in the Garden
by Kathy Reshetiloff
Give Something Back to the Earth: Compost.

Anne Arundel County Loses Its Greenways Man Brian Woodward leaves the county 51 percent green
by M.L. Faunce
400 More Vietnam War Heroes Honored at The Wall
Agent Orange victims include Robert Burnett
by M.L. Faunce
Finally Annapolis Neck Has Its Small Area Plan
Or does it?
by Gary Starikoff w/ photo by Cristi Pasquella
The First Annual Great Harwood Yard Sale
Herding white elephants for community’s sake
by M.L. Faunce
In Season: Wildflowers
by Gary Pendleton

Way Downstream
• In Virginia, per-capita spending to protect natural resources scrapes the bottom of the barrel…
• From D.C., $30 million to fund a war closer to home, eradicating the ravenous, alien rodents called nutria from the Eastern Shore…
• In New Jersey, would-be diners at Salem Rotary Club’s annual muskrat dinner went home hungry…
• This week’s Creature Feature: From Duke University, word is that bird brains may be busier than we human-brained creatures thought.
  

The Malling of Chesapeake Country	Fear for the Turtle by Steve Carr
Pugh’s the Champ; Thanks to Wildlife Rescue Heroes	Spring’s Quick Elixir
For Earth Day, Celebrate, Activate, Educate Or just step back for another perspective by M.L. Faunce	The How-To Cowboy™ Brings You Another Secret, Magic How-To Fun Trick. This Week: How To Make Sour Sweet