Story by Danita Boonchaisri and Photograph by August Selckmann

As the weather turns ever more pleasant, the great outdoors beckon. Why not enjoy a little fresh air and sunshine while taking in Southern Maryland’s beautiful vistas from the saddle of a bicycle?

Story by George Newman and Photography by Rick Dove

Some birds are fair-weather feathered friends, taking flight for points south as the days grow shorter and cooler. But many others tough it out, including Maryland’s state bird, the Baltimore oriole, and a rich variety of doves, juncos, cardinals, chickadees, finches, nuthatches, wrens and woodpeckers. If you want these year-round residents to brighten your fall and winter, you just have to feed them. But you need to know some basics.

Story by Michelle Brosco Christian and Photography by Jacqueline and Jay Malonson

There’s no doubt an outdoor wedding on the banks of one of Southern Maryland’s many rivers or the Chesapeake Bay makes for a beautiful event.  Outdoor weddings take a little extra planning but can be incredible. There is nothing more magical than walking down the aisle with Mother Nature. 

Story by Debra Zimmerman Murphey and Photography by August Selckmann

Americans love sports, adrenaline and outdoor activities – especially newfound interests that test and prime human physiology and anatomy, while also calming the mind. For many Marylanders, Stand Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, is surfacing as one of those.

Story by Debra Zimmerman Murphey and Photo by Dick Hu

On a chilly afternoon, Sue Hu walks down to a pier that juts out from a wintry beige stretch of Patuxent River shoreline. As she nears the water’s edge, Hu points proudly to a protruding breakwater that carries great significance. Beyond its power to reduce the eroding impact of waves, it is home to about 40,000 oysters.

Story by Danita Boonchaisri and Photography by Jacqueline Malonson

Chesapeake Beach has a new attraction – filled with great blue herons, snapping turtles, monarch butterflies and raucous sea gulls feasting on cast offs from the local charter boat fleet. You’re welcomed to join the fun. And all you need is a pair of walking shoes.

Story by Edna Troiano

St. Mary’s City, the first settlement in Maryland, is now a historical tourist attraction, and Southern Maryland’s economy is no longer based on tobacco farming and fishing. Although much of our early history is just that, one flourishing remnant of colonial Southern Maryland remains – foxhunting.

Male ruby-throated hummingbirds set out a few weeks earlier than their female counterparts from their southern winter vacation. It takes them approximately two months to reach Southern Maryland. Their diet consists in part of tiny flying insects and in part of nectar. When they arrive, they will need to replenish their energy and weight, and because there aren’t many flowers in bloom at that time, it’s important to have your feeders at the ready. Their arrival is typically on or about April 15.

Ahhhh … summertime. Backyard barbecues, trips to the beach, lush gardens, long days and evenings spent enjoying the sweet sound of music in the open air. Outdoor concerts are a staple of summer in Southern Maryland. Families pack their picnic baskets and load the kids into the old red wagon. Friends meet to relax and socialize with the grass between their toes. Others prefer simply to focus on the music. However you choose to enjoy them, outdoor concerts are events not to be missed. Fortunately, our area boasts an abundance of them.

Fall is the best time to plant anything except annuals. Cooler air temperatures allow water to soak into the ground for a longer period of time. Since the soil is still warm, plants will quickly put out new roots that don’t have to contend with the stress of drought and heat. These are ideal conditions for establishing a healthy green addition to your garden. Plant as late as Halloween for optimum results.