From mid-September till Halloween, every year we enjoy another American tradition: the Pumpkin Patch, run by a local farmer. Here is where you can buy a 100-pound pumpkin, or a dozen of tiny gourds, a honeycomb, or a piece of home-made apple pie. Or just enjoy the relaxed, sunny afternoon and people-watching. Bring your children or borrow some.

We've been coming to this patch since the early Nineties. It is located at MD 424, just before you hit US 50 driving SW, and the family who runs it has been farming there for generations.