Farmers markets are open in Oakland County

There's a market open in the county, every day of the week except Monday. The most popular day is Saturday.

Oakland County farmers markets

Birmingham Farmers Market, 660 N. Old Woodward Ave., Parking Lot No. 6 N. Old Woodward Ave., north of Harmon St., open 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Sundays, May 3 to Oct. 18, 248-530-1200, enjoybirmingham.com/event-birmingham-farmers-market-2/

Clarkston Farmers Market, 6558 Waldon Road, in the front lot of the Renaissance High School/Community Education building in Clarkston. Open 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturdays, June 6 to Oct. 10, 248-821-4769, clarkstonareafarmersmarket.weebly.com/

not open yet- Clawson Farmers Market, Clawson City Park, 1080 N. Custer open 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Sundays, July 12 to Sept. 27, 248-435-6500, www.cityofclawson.com

Farmington Farmers and Artisans Market, at Walter E. Sundquist Pavilion, 33113 Grand River Ave., at Grove St., open 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturdays, May to Nov. 7, 248-473-7276 ext. 13,
downtownfarmington.org/Downtown-Events/Whats-Happening/Farmers-Artisans-Market/

Huron Valley Farmers Market, 300 W. Livingston, Highland Township, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, May 2 to Oct. 3, 248-755-1195, www.hvfarmersmarket.weebly.com.

Downtown Lake Orion Farmers Market , 93 S. Anderson Street, two blocks south of Flint Street and one block east of Broadway, near Children’s Park. open 2 -7 p.m. Wednesdays, June 17 to Oct. 21, 248-390-1653, lakeorionfarmersmarket.com.

Lathrup Village Farmers Market, 27400 Southfield Road, Lathrup Village, open 2-7 p.m., Wednesdays, June  to Oct. 14, lathrupvillage.org/index.aspx?NID=241/

Milford Farmers Market, on East Liberty Street between S. Main Street and Union Street open 3-8 p.m., Thursdays, May  through Oct. 15, 248-496-7056, milfordfarmersmarket.org/ 

Northville Farmers Market Northville Downs Track, 7 Mile and Sheldon, open 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Thursdays, May to Oct. 29, 248-349-7640, northville.org/Events_Calendar/Content/Farmers_Market/

The Novi All Seasons Market (formerly the Novi Farmers Market) is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, May 2-Oct. 24 at the Novi Civic Center Campus, 45175 Ten Mile Road. There is also a mid-week market at the MSU Extension Tollgate Education Farm is 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays, June 17 to Oct. 21 at 28115 Meadowbrook Road, Novi, facebook.com/NoviFarmersMarket, 248-347-0588.

Oakland County Farmers Market, 2350 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Township. open 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, May to December and Saturdays year-round, 248-858-5495,http://www.destinationoakland.com/countymarket

Ortonville’s Beets, Beats and Eats, 395 Mill St. Crossman Park, downtown Ortonville, open 6-9 p.m., Fridays, June 12 to Aug. 28, 248-240-0907, downtownortonville.org/bbe/

Oxford Farmers Market, Northwest parking lot of M-24 and Burdick, behind the Funky Monkey, open 2-7 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, May to mid October, oxfordfarmersmarket.com

Rochester Farmers Market, E. Third and Water Street, open 8 a.m.- 1 p.m. Saturdays, May - Oct. 31, 248-656-0060, downtownrochestermi.com/events/farmers-market/

Beaumont Hospital Royal Oak Farmers Market: 3601 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, at the entrance to the South Tower of the hospital, open 8 a.m.- 2 p.m. Thursdays through Oct. 1, parking, in the south parking deck, across from the hospital, is free, 248-898-3031, mifma.org/farmers-markets/beaumont-hospital-royal-oak-farmers-market

Royal Oak Farmers Market, 316 E. 11 Mile, open 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays, May to December and Saturdays, year-round. 248-246-3276, ci.royal-oak.mi.us/portal/community-links/farmers-market

South Lyon Farmers Market, downtown at Pontiac Trail and Liberty Street, South Lyon. Open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, May to Oct. 24,  248-437-1735, southlyonmi.org/

 Springfield Farmers Market, 12000 Davisburg Road, Davisburg, open 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sundays, June 21 to Oct. 18, 248-846-6558, springfieldfarmersmarket.wordpress.com/

Walled Lake Farmers Market, 1499 E. West Maple, Walled Lake, open 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays, May through October, 248-624-4847, local-farmers-markets.com/market/2527/walled-lake/walled-lake-farmers-market

Wixom Farmers Market, at Sibley Square Park, 48900 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 3-8 p.m. Thursdays, June 4-Aug. 13, 248-624-2850, wixomparksandrec.com/Default.aspx?id=11

not open - Auburn Hills Farmers Market, not open 2015 season due to city building construction,  3308 Auburn Road, 248-504-8102,   auburnhills.org/community/downtown/farmers_market/index.php

Ortonville Beets Beats & Eats is Friday nights in the park

Kimberly Pendygraft of Howell with her produce and products visits with shoppers Greg and Sue Belik, soon to be Ortonville residents.

Ortonville’s Beets, Beats and Eats offers entertainment and meals 6-9 p.m. Friday nights through Aug. 28. The opening night was June 12 with live music. Taco meals, hand-made items, canned goods and produce were available for purchase. The market is held at Crossman Park, 395 Mill St. Crossman Park, downtown Ortonville. Admission is free. For more information, call 248-240-0907, or visit downtownortonville.org/bbe.

It's strawberry season in Michigan

Stacy Janiga, co-owner of Middleton Berry Farm

The strawberries are ripe for picking at Middleton Berry Farm of Ortonville. The official start date for the U-Pick farm is Tuesday, June 16. The hours vary, call (248) 831-1004 or find them on Facebook, Middleton Berry Farm.

Strawberries are $1.80 per pound. It is recommended to bring your own container and have it weighed before picking. The farm is charging $1 for large picking boxes or $.50 for quart boxes.

Stacy Janiga said when the berries are ripe, they will nearly fall off when you pick them.

They recommend washing the berries with the stem on, this prevents water from getting inside the berries, which loses the flavor.
Sisters, Stacy and Carrie Janiga purchased the farm in 2014 from longtime residents Bill and Barb Middleton. The Janigas are working to keep the farm going, while maintaining full-time jobs. They have hired help who previously worked for the Middleton couple.
"Last year we were just getting started. This year, we're a little more prepared," said Stacy Janiga.

She said they are trying to be as environmentally friendly as possible.
"Our strawberries are grown using IPM (Integrated Pest Management). This means we use minimal chemicals and use organic solutions when possible, including hand weeding of all fields."

Middleton Berry Farm
Address: 4790 Oakwood Rd, Ortonville, MI 48462
Phone: (248) 831-1004
Directions: Go five miles east of Ortonville Road between M-15 and M-24. From I-75 take Exit 84 (Baldwin Road). Go north on Baldwin Road 10 miles to Oakwood Road, turn left. Farm is one mile on the left.
Website: www.middletonberryfarm.com
Facebook: Middleton Berry Farm

Updated with first name correction in photo.

Plants that deer and rabbits don't eat, as much

First of all, deer absolutely love hostas. If you like watching deer in your backyard, plant a whole bunch of hostas.

Sometimes, it's hopeless, because deer will eat nearly anything growing in your yard. The plants that have the best chance of surviving the foraging of deer, are flowers and plants that have a pungent scent; fuzzy, coarse or spiny leaves or an unpleasant or bitter taste. Deer don't usually eat herbs because of their pungent scent.

Flowers that are usually left alone by deer, most of these are perennials
Alyssum - annual
Amaranth - annual
Black-eyed Susan
Butterfly bush
Butterfly weed
Calendula
Carnation
Catmint
Columbine
Cone flower
Cosmos - annual
Delphinium
Echinacea
Evening primrose
Forget-Me-Knot
Four O' Clock
Geraniums
Heliotrope
Hen and chicks
Hibiscus
Lavender
Lupine
Marigold - annual
Morning Glory
Nasturtium
Peony
Poppy
Salvia - annual
Snapdragon - annual
Statice
Trillium
Zinnia - annual

Deer resistant herbs
Marjoram, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Spearmint and Thyme

Deer resistant vegetables
I have found that deer will eat jalapenos when hungry enough, but that's not their first choice. They don't usually eat onion, potato, squash and tomato plants or parsley or other herbs.
Their favorites as I know from personal experience, are green beans, Swiss chard, spinach, lettuce, carrots, peas and broccoli, beets and other greens.

Renee's Garden.com has a list of deer resistant plant varieties, Also check with the Michigan State County Extension office

Rabbits are attracted to most of the same things as deer. One of their favorites is young tulip shoots. In the winter, rabbits nibble on landscape plants, roses, raspberries, apple, cherry and plum trees.
Yesterday, I noticed some damage on phlox which is most likely from rabbits. 

Deer leave torn leaves with jagged edges, while rabbits and other rodents will make a clean cut, often at an angle. Sometimes you can see deer or rabbit tracks, or rabbit excrement to pinpoint the perpetrator.
Deterring small and large (deer) rodents is not easy. We have a joke about deer bathing with Irish Spring soap at our house, but it seems to keep the bunnies away if I cut it in pieces and spread around the plants. I planted marigolds around the perimenter of our garden and that helped throw rodents off the scent of our vegetables. Our garden which is also fenced, was not disturbed by rodents that year. There are also products available to repel deer, called "Deer Away" and "Hinder."