u/Virginia_Hiker

I just returned from a one night trip to the Beaver View trail in Dolly Sods. It was 100 degrees when I left Virginia late morning. The Sods delivered the usual 20 degree temperature drop and it was a blissful 81 degrees with a breeze when I hit the trail.

Due to the heat, I was carrying 3+ liters of water so the pack was a little heavier than I would have liked at 31 pounds fully loaded. However, it was 7 pounds lighter coming back since I had just a touch left. The hike in along Bear rocks trail is about 2.5 miles. I continued south on the Beaver View trail at the junction and went another 3/4 of a mile or so for about 3.5 total. Overall pretty easy mileage so I was set up and relaxing by 4:00. Delightful weather in the evening with a fantastic consistent breeze. Couldn’t have asked for a better night.

Overnight, heavy fog/clouds rolled in so it was a completely different experience in the morning. Everything got very wet due to the fog (though it never rained). I got pretty wet hiking out as the ferns and tall grasses that line much of the trail just drenched my legs and shoes. Once I got into a more open part of the trail I changed socks and dumped the water out of my shoes which probably saved me some blisters.

Great time out and can’t wait to go back soon!

Today was just one of those picture perfect days with blue skies, nice breezes and super comfortable temperatures. I love this time of year in Virginia. Sky Meadows is a great park close to home so I try to hike here 3-4 times a year. The pictures are from the North Ridge Trail and the Ambassador Whitehorse Trail to the Piedmont Overlook. Highly recommended if you are in the Northern Virginia area.

My veggie seedlings are about the right size to go out, but I had to flip the heat on once again today…so not yet. Really hoping we get a warm stretch soon so I can plant these out. I started most of this batch in mid-March. Here is what i have going from seed this year:

Peppers

- Black Hungarian

- Jalapeño

Tomatoes

- German Johnson

- Large Pink

- San Marzano

- Brandywine

- Cherry ( I forgot which type)

Eggplant

- Japanese style

- Listada De Gandia (Grew for first time last year and loved them!)

Herbs

- Basil

- Dill (just planted out)

- Thyme (just planted out)

Onions

- Calibra (already planted out)

- Scout (already planted out)

This may be my best garlic crop ever! Really pumped to pull these up in another few months. I am in zone 7a in Northern Virginia. I planted these cloves back in mid-October 2025. The larger containers seem best, but the 10 gallon grow bags aren’t far behind. I did do a pre-soak in liquid organic fertilizer for roughly 4-6 hours before planting. The garlic was a mixture of Music and Chesnok Red varieties. At the time of planting, I mixed in a generous amount of powdered bone meal and blood meal. I also put down a 2 inch layer of straw which I think is really helping. Especially since we had such a brutally cold winter with weeks of highs below freezing. Watered a little here and there as needed, but mostly let them do their thing throughout the Winter and early Spring. I gave them liquid organic fertilizer twice this spring as well as a little more bone meal side-dressed last weekend. Should be harvesting in late June which is usually when they start having leaves die back here.