Outdoors

Rich Bafford writes: I came across your column and thought that you might be able to help. I will be relocating soon to Baltimore from Boston and I am interested in knowing more about the fishing options in Maryland. Do you know where I can get comprehensive information on fishing in Maryland? Outdoors Girl replies: Welcome to the Land of Pleasant Living, hon. You're arriving just in time for some great fishing. The Maryland Fisherman's Annual ($9.95), in its second year of publication, provides a nice overview of what the state has to offer.

Barbara Shapiro's love affair with Druid Hill Park dates to her childhood, when she passed through it daily on the way from her Ashburton home to old School 49 on Cathedral Street. And even when construction of Druid Park Lake Drive in the 1940s and the Jones Falls Expressway in the 1960s removed many of its grand entrances, Shapiro never lost her affection for the park. "I do think construction of the Jones Falls did separate the city from the park," Shapiro, 78, said the other day. She also recalled attending the city's annual one-day Baltimore Outdoor Art Festival during the 1950s until its demise in the 1970s, held on the periphery of the Druid Hill Park Reservoir.

BEST BET Monday Public comment session on Fisheries Service proposal to regulate preseason striped bass catch and release activity, 6 p.m., Fellowship Hall at Calvary United Methodist Church, 301 Rowe Blvd., Annapolis. Details: 410-260-8289 or mlgary@dnr.state.md.us. BIRDING Today and next Sunday Look for migrating birds at Centennial Lake with the Howard County Bird Club, 8 a.m. Meet at west parking lot on Centennial Lane. Easy walking on paved path. Woodlands, fields and water host a wide variety of species.

"Estate" is not a description that should be used indiscriminately — yet the term clearly when referring to the Colonial-style mansion at 1105 Bellevista Court in Severna Park. Located on nearly one acre in the subdivision of Belleview Estates, this four-story brick home with almost 9,000 square feet of living space was listed at $1,995,900 and sold for $1,850,000. It closed April 30 without ever being formally listed on the market. "[This was] one of the highest-selling, non-waterfront homes in Anne Arundel County and an example of the positive turn our housing market is taking," said Jennifer Sowers of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, one of two co-listing agents.

McDonogh did it again. The Eagles swept the boys and girls titles at the private school championship meet indoors, and they pulled off the same feat again Saturday. McDonogh's boys took the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association crown while the top-ranked girls won the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland championship in the title meet at Archbishop Spalding. "We've never swept outdoors before," McDonogh coach Jeff Sanborn said. "The kids were committed following the victories indoors … to getting victories again outdoors.

Surfing regionals Through today, May 12: The Eastern Surfing Association's 2013 Mid-Atlantic Regional Surfing Championships will be held in Ocean City off the beach near 48th Street. For hours, registration and more information, call 800-399-6820 or 410-289-4401, or go to surfesa.org/competition/midatlantic/. Artificial reefs Tuesday, May 14: Erik Zlokovitz of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources will discuss the artificial reef program at a meeting of the Northwest chapter of the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association at the Patapsco Council No. 1960 Knights of Columbus Hall, 1010 Frederick Road, Catonsville.

I was given a potted hydrangea flower as an Easter gift. Can I plant that outdoors? Mophead (Grandiflora) hydrangeas are hardy outdoors, but yours was bred for greenhouse culture and forced into bloom for the holidays, so its chances are less certain. Sometimes they make the transition fine. Because it is essentially a houseplant at this point, adjust it to outdoor temperatures slowly over several days or wait until your indoor temperatures and the outdoor temperatures are similar before taking it outdoors.

Spring is a time for new beginnings, and that includes new hobbies. As the air gets warmer and the days last longer, it's the perfect time to try out a new outdoor sport. The Baltimore region offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun, from biking to paddleboarding. Thanks to local retailers that rent sporting equipment, budding outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen can try out new hobbies without investing too much money. Gary Weeden, of Annapolis boat and bike rental shop Paddle or Pedal, likens renting to test-driving a car. "Before you spend your money, this is a great way to try things out. Like with cars: Before you buy, rent and say, 'This is what I like and don't like.' " "If someone hasn't been on a bicycle for a while, and they're not sure of the type of bike they'll want to purchase, we offer several types they can try out at low cost," adds Jim White of Monkton Bikes.

Whether you're paddling, pedaling or camping, equipment experts offer advice about how to enjoy the outdoors as safely as possible. Stay equipped. Every renter of outdoor equipment requires that renters follow laws related to sporting gear; shops may enforce additional guidelines, as well. Personal flotation devices are required on watercraft (some shops require renters to wear PFDs at all times) and bike shops make helmets easily accessible. Follow the rules. "Stay to the right, pedestrians have the right of way, the NCR trail is trash-free," says Hunt Valley Village's Kate Wright.