Sometimes we have so much “fun” we forget where the time goes----Meanwhile, back in the cellar sowing herb seeds I ponder how many years I have been involved in the cultivation of a business , whose mission was “to educate people about herbs, perennials, native plants and the value of gardening, as well as to propagate and sell healthy plants suitable for the Mid-Atlantic region.”  Time has past:, the public has HG TV, big box stores, and less time than ever to garden.   But, gardening is valued aS the #1 pastime in the U.S.A. and we at Alloway still believe that our customers come here primarily for quality plants as well as information about their garden.  We will continue to offer this service and hope that we will not disappoint you!

On another note, you will notice that our hours are more condensed this year---we will be open on Wednesdays through Saturdays 10 am-5pm starting Wednesday April 13, and Sundays 1pm-5pm.  Our closing day for the Spring Planting Season will be Saturday, July 2, 2005.  Our shortened hours will give us more time to prepare for the shows, garden tours, and workshops  that we have scheduled. 

As always we will be at some shows and hopefully we will see you there.  Our very special Garden and Craft Faire will be held on Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4 from 10 am-3pm featuring excellent crafts, garden tours and exhibits and delicious herbal fare. 

Sunday, June 26 starting at 2 pm we will be hosting an old fashioned “Herbal Bee” picnic.  Be sure to come, bring an herbal dish (Oregano is the Herb of 2005!) and we will provide the beverage.  Make sure you call us (717-359-4548 or email) so that we can plan for this Season End get together!  No Charge—just a good time!

I must confess that I have decided that I need more time for my family, my garden and my animal friends!  That old admonition of ”taking time to smell the roses” couldn’t be more true.  Muffin, my yellow Lab certainly loves visitors but she likes to get me all to herself.  And then there is Ally, the adopted Mustang that softly nickers when I pass her shed (probably has something to do with food, but still I am flattered.!  Here is where I would like to ask all of you animal lovers to do me a favor.  Go to ASPCA and follow the link to send letters to your Congressman to pass a law to prevent the slaughter of horses for human consumption.  It seems it has become quite a business in the U.S.  to slaughter horses and send the meat  for human consumption to foreign countries , such as France,  Japan,.  etc.  We Americans have always valued horses as companions and don’t go to the supermarket to buy “filet of foal”!   And to compound the matter, a sneaky Congressman from Montana (Burns) put a rider on the Appropriations bill to allow older Wild Mustang horses over the age of 10 and mustangs that haven’t been adopted after 3 chances to be sold to “killer buyers” and not adopted out like my Ally.  You can also sign this petition to restore the Free Roaming Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971.