Neighborhood NEWS SPRING • 2015 RUXTON-RIDERWOOD-LAKE ROLAND AREA IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION Stairway to Heaven: A Rockland Garden INSIDE by Bliss McCord was on the 2006 Maryland House and Garden Pilgrim- age, has undergone a metamorphosis over the years. Foundation Do you remember the magical moment in “The Wizard Broadens of Oz” when the whirling house plops down in Oz and Mike, a middle school math teacher and the gardener in the family, has spent much of his spare time satis- Leadership With Dorothy opens her gray farmhouse door to an amaz- New Officers fying a passion for trees and gardening by imagining ing Technicolor world? Well, with perhaps a little PAGE 3 hyperbole, that was how I felt as I wound my way and transforming this outdoor space. About the only down the steep steps remaining ves- H to the hidden garden tige of the old E·N·Olivier of Mike Rudie and garden, he says, – The Fruits Jean Lewis last fall. is fiddlehead of a Culinary ferns. Adventure The Rudies have lived PAGE 5 on the northwest Access to the corner of Falls and historic Rock- H Old Court Roads in land houses is Home Sales via a rear road one of the original PAGE 7 Rockland homes for parallel to Falls 14 years. You may Road; residents H Trees – Programs not know them, but and visitors and Planting you surely know must park in an their house. Their area high above PAGE 8 front yard is chock- and behind the a-block with vivid homes. What H makes the Rudie Bare Hills flowers that wave to Business you from the corner. garden memo- rable is that dra- Community The day I visited, a Happy Hour A garden in repose Photo courtesy Jessica Paffenbarger matic change in cheerful grandstand PAGE 12 of sunflowers greeted grade. The casual me. While the color- stone stairway H ful flowers brought that winds down Holiday Party in a smile to my face, the owners hope they will also the steep slope solves the problem of the transition the Woods from high to low and also charmingly sets the stage provide food for birds. In winter as the garden sleeps, PAGE 13 the house shows off its wonderful stony architecture for what lies below. Those same steps are also the without competition. In early spring masses of bulbs only way to transport garden and other equipment H down to grade. Imagine having to hand-carry buckets Robert’s Park begin the yearly show and, in no time, the corner is Rangers awash in the rich interplay of red Flanders poppies of mulch, shrubs and all the other necessary material and deep blue bachelor buttons, native columbine down those steps! PAGE 14 and coreopsis. By late spring baptisia, gaura and At the top of the steps is a gorgeous paperbark maple H Asiatic lilies are in full bloom. Summer’s progression with a bed of gooseneck loosestrife. Lining the path Well, Kermit – It’s goes something like this: roses, yarrow, bee balm, and hillside are perennials – hosta, shrub-form cryp- Easy to be Green! false sunflower, blackberry lily and crocosmia. By late tomeria, Lenten rose, hardy geranium, sweet wood- PAGE 18 July the chest-high multicolored zinnias have kicked ruff, native forget-me-not, false indigo and dwarf in and then along come those sunflowers and cos- Korean boxwood to name just a few. As you descend, H mos. According to Mike, those plants tend to domi- the garden below is gradually revealed. This idea of Kids Corner nate for the rest of the summer and fall, sometimes creating a sense of mystery, leading the visitor in PAGE 19 crowding out more demure blooms. a meandering line, is a classic technique of garden design. Halfway down, past an American beech, the H There is more to the Rudie garden than meets the eye Dumpster Day Continued on page 10 of the passing motorist. This little-known gem, which PAGE 20 H Ruxton-Riderwood- Lake Roland President’s Letter Neighborhood NEWS Dear Neighbors, cause pleasure and pain at the same time; Spring 2015 Spring is here and with it comes a renewed we hope our article about tree trimming and appreciation for our neighborhoods. Some say planting opportunities will provide some Table of Contents that our community is the most charming and practical guidance. At this time our neighbor- convenient of all the neighborhoods in the hoods also see an increase in door-to-door 1 Stairway to Heaven: County. It is our responsibility individually to solicitation. It is sometimes difficult to A Rockland Garden discern the difference between a ‘do good’ 2 President’s Letter ensure that we maintain and improve the at- traction to our neighborhoods that drew each solicitor from someone who is staking out 3 Foundation Broadens your property. It is always a good idea to err Leadership With New Officers of us to them, whether it be 60 years ago or on the safe side. The Chief of Police recom- 4 Ding Dong, Do I Know You? just this past year. The Association’s Board mends that the best plan of action is to call 5 E·N·Olivier – The Fruits of members worked over the winter months to a Culinary Adventure develop committee goals and objectives for 410-887-2222 (the “non-emergency number 6 Spring Asparagus 2015 and have plans in place to implement for the 9-1-1 center”) to notify them of any Brunch Fare them. I enjoy working with the Board mem- strangers in our neighborhoods. Our article on 7 Home Sales bers immensely and thank page 4 provides background 8 Trees – Programs and Planting them for their vision and on what is permitted in our 11 Towson Area Events hard work to preserve our area. 12 Bare Hills Business Community Happy Hour community’s assets. Also be on the lookout for 13 Holiday Party in the Woods Many recurring events are the new Membership Direc- 14 Robert’s Park Rangers back again this year such tory which, aside from pro- 17 RRLRAIA Street as the street and stream viding contact information, Clean-up Saturday, May 16 clean-ups, Dumpster Day includes photos that high- 18 Well, Kermit – It’s light the array of activities Easy to be Green! and Friday Night Lights. Along with these antici- as well as the natural and 19 Kids Corner pated events, we will host manmade beauty of Robert 20 Dumpster Day a number of other activi- E. Lee Park. Enjoy the ties designed to enhance article about a day in the the beauty and safety of life of the Park rangers. We Board of Governors our neighborhoods. They thank them for their service President – Patrick Jarosinski include a tree and vine as they protect our most 1st Vice President – Jessica Paffenbarger valued natural resource 2nd Vice President – Laura Shmerler trimming day and clean-up Treasurer – Linda Murphy days for additional roads and help provide so many Secretary – Tracy Miller of us with educational and Gina Adams initiated and performed by Association members. Be sure to read the entertainment opportunities. You will also Cynthia Allen find an article about a neighborhood gem of Art Arthur email updates we send to our members. We John Baer will also be representing you at meetings a garden and a continuation of our recycling Shannon Brown with State and County officials on important articles to give some ideas about recycling or Thomas Brown reusing fabrics. Jeffrey Budnitz issues like Flood Plain Map revisions, road Elise Butler and storm drain repair, the Design Review Enjoy another article in our series highlight- Kelley Keener Panel, and zoning disputes as well as the new ing small businesses in our area and please Susan Law Mary Brown McKenna and/or potential legislative changes (such visit our Kids Corner to enjoy a creative piece Courtney Middelton as in-law apartments, abandoned properties, of artwork by one of our own young neighbor- Paddy Morton solar panels, prohibition of electronic signage hood artists. When you see the American flag Michael Muldowney Clark Parriott in neighborhoods and livestock legislation) waving proudly from the front porch at the Shannon Putman we believe will impact us in a positive way, Rider House it means we are working inside. Anne Rouse and the list goes on. These are all volunteers Please stop by to say “Hi.” As always, I wish Carlton Sexton working so hard on your behalf! you a happy and healthy spring! Justin Wiggs With the onset of spring weather, the neigh- Executive Director borhood starts coming to life again. Trees Patrick Jarosinski Peggy Squitieri suddenly turn from brown to green which can Newsletter Committee: Neighborhood NEWS is published three times a year by The Ruxton-Riderwood-Lake Roland Area Jessica Paffenbarger, Editor Bliss McCord Graphic Production: Improvement Association, Inc., P.O. Box 204, Riderwood, MD 21139, tel: 410-494-7757. Laura Shmerler, Advertising Courtney Middelton DesignConcept.com John Baer Paddy Morton Printing: Deadlines for copy, including announcements and calendar items, are February 15 for Spring issue, Barbara Guarnieri Shannon Putman MtRoyalPtg.com July 15 for Fall issue and October 15 for Winter issue. Advertisers contact: [email protected]. Nancy Horst Nettie Washburn Susan Law 2 Foundation Broadens Leadership With New Officers 2014 Year End Report At its October 29 meeting, the Greater Ruxton Area Foundation elected a new leadership team from its existing Board of Trustees. After 10 years of service as President, Joseph M. Coale is stepping aside and will serve as Secretary. The new President, lifetime Ruxton resident Thomas Weadock, is noted for his past community service activities including serving on the RRLRAIA Board.