I believe my two-and-a-half-year-old, Caroline, would spend morning, noon and night outside if I would let her. Like any other child, she loves to be set free so that she can run, jump and play in the boundless outdoors. After several hours in the backyard, she returns inside barely recognizable. Her hair bow has been tossed to the wind, and her curls look like they have been through the spin cycle of the washing machine. Her feet are completely black, as her shoes are lost somewhere in the backyard along with her bow. Her dress, if it is still on, is covered in dirt, grass and other non-identifiable stains that will never come out. But the smile on her face and the excitement in her voice tell me that today's adventure proved to be action-packed, just like any other.
This issue celebrates the outdoors with many articles focusing on activities, hobbies and events that are perfectly suited for the warm days of June. Our cover story, "Gaining Ground" by Katie McElveen, offers advice and encouragement to those seeking to get their running regimens on track. Katie writes that running is "accessible, inexpensive and requires no special skills and is, at first glance, an easy fix for too many days on the couch." But so many people seem to get easily discouraged, so she offers useful suggestions for training methods and equipment, as well as encouragement from other local runners to get you started on the right foot. Get inspired by reading this article and start training for a race this fall.
This issue also brings you a special supplement titled "Notable Northeast," which includes a large section on the 2006 Parade of Homes. This year's Parade, which is being held June 10 through 25 in the Wren Creek subdivision in Blythewood, will feature eight of the area's leading custom builders, including a few building in the Parade for the first time. The annual Parade of Homes, which is sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Greater Columbia, showcases the latest in residential architecture, construction techniques, home technology, landscaping and interior design. See our parade section in "Notable Northeast" for a sneak peek at the houses and to get more information about touring the homes during the show.
But the Parade is not the only place to visit on the Northeast side of town. Singing Oakes Garden, owned and operated by Jim and Peg Jeffcoat, boasts an international reputation for growing and selling more than 2,000 hybrid daylily cultivars, as well as numerous companion perennials in Blythewood's fertile soil. In this issue, we spend a day with Jim and Peg at their daylily farm and see how the experts grow these beautiful plants.
And if daylilies aren't your thing, how about a little shopping? The Village at Sandhill, Sparkleberry Crossing and Sparkleberry Square have brought dozens of retailers to the Northeast. These massive open-air shopping centers make shopping super convenient for customers and seem to be the trend of future retail building structures. Get your feet ready for a day of successful shopping and head out to discover what the Northeast has to offer.
In these warm summer days, I hope you can celebrate the sunny weather and get inspired by the pages of our June issue to take your own adventures outdoors.
Sincerely,
Emily Tinch
Editor
This Issue