Bees, Fungi, 4-H Fair – Mid-Summer Bounty

“If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive.” – Eleonora Duse

Editor’s note: It’s mid-summer, and the earth knows it. Tomatoes are ripening, fresh corn is abundant, the riches of farms and fertile soil are all around us. Helping make things grow (ideas, humans, gardens of every variety) gives me great pleasure. And the whole world is contained in a healthy garden. Pollinators in nature not only do important work, but they also are simply beautiful – bees in a variety of species, butterflies, hummingbirds, hummingbird moths, and even the wind.

Mid-summer in New England? Spectacular.

Anyone who has lived in the country, knows that large things can turn on very small things. Fungus can blight an entire year’s crop, spoil a bag of feed . . . or make dough rise and populate forest floors as marvelous mushrooms. (Or create a theme for a farm market.) Plentiful pollinators when trees bloom can mean higher yields at harvest. Butterflies are pretty as they sip nectar and spread pollen from flower to flower – yet they can also help teach about migration routes invisible to humans.

So here’s to the many small creatures who add to our lives and to the markets, organizations and businesses that offer ways to get to know real life and country ways up close and personal.

Ways to connect with the real world abound in Connecticut. Here are some ideas:

The Middlesex and New Haven County 4-H Fair is Friday, Aug. 6, Saturday, Aug. 7, and Sunday, Aug. 8, at the fairgrounds in Durham. Admission is free; parking is $5. From antique tractor pulls to poultry showmanship, and square dancing (Friday at 7:30 p.m.), this fair is fun for the whole family. On Saturday, the pedal tractor pull is at 2 p.m., a sheep show, 3 p.m., rabbit showmanship, 4 p.m. The horse draw starts at 6 p.m. Live bands tune up at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, don’t miss the garden tractor pull , 9 a.m., or the pet parade, 11:30 a.m. Tractor driving contest, 1 p.m., and there’s much more all three days.

The second Fungus Festival is happening at Coventry Regional Farmers Market at the Nathan Hale Homestead grounds on Sunday, Aug. 8. Remember the tomato blight last year? Well, it provided the spark to create a popular theme for the market. Members of the Connecticut Valley Mycological Society will share their knowledge and lead lead walks to search for wild mushrooms. Learn about mushroom collecting methods, cooking with them, and more about the society’s events for those interested. They are truly an interesting group.

Vendors around the market, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will join in the mushroom and fungus theme and they get creative with how they do so. From the weekly e-newsletter:

“Morning Glory Homemade’s favorite fungus is yeast, which is a microscopic, unicellular fungus related distantly to mushrooms. Their sourdough starter is a wild yeast that originated on the Oregon Trail in 1847 and has been passed down through the years by sourdough enthusiasts who know that the flavor of sourdough improves with the age of its starter. Try it in Morning Glory’s popular butter rolls, garlic Parmesan bread, or wood-fired pizza shells.”

“Agriculture Tales and Activities” is an ongoing series that continues Thursday, Aug. 12 and Aug. 19, 1 to 3 p.m. at CCC Feeds and Farm Supplies in Manchester. Children 6 to 8 may enjoy free outdoor activities, a story book, and hands-on fun, located just a short walk from Whiton Memorial Library. CCC Feeds & Farm Supplies is a branch of the Central Connecticut Cooperative Farmers Association, established in 1938.

Looking for an unforgettable experience? Members of the Connecticut Butterfly Association offer a multitude of field trips that are free and open to the public. One event worth marking on the calendar is Saturday Sept. 18, 9 a.m. when CBA offers the opportunity to help with tagging Monarchs at Meigs Point Nature Center, Hammonasset State Park in Madison.

Bring a net and help capture, tag and release Monarch butterflies to aid in the gathering of data on migration habits and travel routes. Children are welcome but must have adult supervision. Wear comfortable hiking shoes and bring water and sunscreen. There may be an admission fee to the state park. Visit www.ctbutterfly.org for more information, or call Rich Chyinski at (860) 859-1326.

“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – Antonio Smith