Maryland
With the nation's capital to the west and the Chesapeake Bay to the east, Maryland is well-situated for residential living, commercial enterprises, and exciting vacations. A perfect balance of urban, suburban and rural communities makes the Old Line State (also called the Free State) a mecca of the mid-Atlantic United States.
While tourists love to visit urban centers like Baltimore--and its famed Inner Harbor--they also ski, boat and camp in the western counties, not to mention fishing, crabbing and swimming in the Bay. Surprising to many is that Maryland is an ecologically friendly place that hosts mountains, lakes, forests, and coastline.
Sports and Recreation
Football fans have a home in Baltimore at M&T Stadium. The always competitive Baltimore Ravens make autumn Sundays exciting for hometown fans and visitors alike, especially as NFL playoffs approach. In 2016, in the interest of team safety, the franchise replaced the artificial turf at M&T with natural grass. The importing of bermudagrass sod fro North Carolina is just one of several factors that garners the stadium awards for environmental sustainability.
Meanwhile, Kentucky bluegrass is the sod of choice at Camden Yards, headquarters of Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles. This turf was installed on the playing field, at the bullpens and in other parts of the stadium complex at the players' request. Meanwhile, horse race aficionados can enjoy their pastime at Laurel, Maryland and Pimlico, home of the Preakness Stakes. With a 7/8-mile grass course inside the dirt track, Pimlico favors a mix of tall fescue and bluegrass.
Recreation enthusiasts can swim and build sandcastles at Ocean City; sail on the Chesapeake Bay, and seek thrills at Six Flags America in Upper Marlboro. The Wisp resort at McHenry offers year-round skiing and some excellent golf for those who crave fresh air. One particular favorite is following the trails at eight different wineries during March -- Maryland Wine Month.
Arts and Culture
The Baltimore Museum of Art, the Baltimore Museum of Industry and the National Aquarium are among Maryland's most famous cultural attractions. Furthermore, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra ranks among the 20 best orchestras in terms of musician compensation. Outside this largest city, residents and visitors can learn nautical history at the United States Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis. The state capital (once, briefly, the national capital) hosts many arts festivals and a large film festival each spring.
A Diversity of Neighborhoods
In many ways, it is the people that live in the Old Line State who make it such an attractive place. Home to many commuters into Baltimore and Washington, DC, Maryland's many suburbs, exurbs, and bedroom communities boast homes and buildings old and new, representing many schools of architecture. Native grasses like blue sedge and wool grass may populate lawns and gardens. Alternatively, sod hosts tall fescue and St. Augustine grass that thrives in Maryland's temperate climate (summer highs=87 degrees F; winter lows, 25 degrees). Accordingly, Lawn Love uses local landscapers with local expertise.
