Does it seem like fall is hanging on, refusing to let winter take over? I thought we’d seen the last of the autumn colors. Our Japanese maples at the nursery decided to put on one more spectacular show. With leaves turning shades of crimson, gold, and orange, making the nursery look like it’s been brushed with a painter’s palette. I find myself wandering through the trees, amazed at how they held onto their beauty just a little longer—almost as if they’re not ready to say goodbye. Honestly, neither am I.

I realize we’re a bit late in sending this out, but better late than never, right? There’s still some breathtaking fall color throughout the nursery. If you haven’t had a chance to take it all in, now’s the time. There’s something special about these lingering moments of the season — a gentle reminder to savor what’s in front of us as the holidays sweep us up.

A Fall Morning at Maple Rock

With Fall comes one of our favorite traditions:

Christmas at High-Hand

Christmas Dining in the Cafe

The café will be hosting Christmas dinners from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturday November 30th – December 21st. To make a reservation click here. Reservations are recommended but not required. Put your name in with the host. Shop, stroll, and enjoy live entertainment in the brewery while you wait for your table.

SHOP, EAT, STROLL

Shop, stroll, and enjoy our historic fruit sheds. The fruit sheds will be open extended hours Thursdays, Friday, and Saturdays.

The Mercantile Store with its holiday gifts. The High-Hand Olive Oil Company — always a year around favorite. The High-Hand Art Gallery celebrating the best of local artists.

Enjoy live entertainment at High-Hand Brewing Co. along with award winning beers, cocktails, and
handcrafted food.

So, whether you’re here to catch the last of the autumn hues or to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit, there’s plenty happening at High-Hand. We’d love to welcome you.

See you at High-Hand.

Scott

In the coming seasons at Maple Rock Gardens we will be looking over fields filled with rows of lavender, fruit trees heavy with apples and mandarins, towering sunflowers, and fresh seasonal vegetables—I’m reminded of why this all began. Maple Rock is more than a farm; it’s a living testament to the grounding connection between dirt and dreams. It’s my vision for this place to be a welcoming patch of earth, where food isn’t just grown but respected, where people come to dig in, to gather, and to reconnect with the beauty of well-loved land.

This vision is digging deeper roots with the help of our Farmer Rob. We understands that true farming is about being knee-deep in the dirt, unhurried, and tuned in to the rhythms of the land. We grow not just food but a connection—from our farm to your table at High-hand. Together, we’re preparing to fill your plates at the cafe with fresh fruits and vegetables straight from our fields. You can say it’s a living lunch.

See you at High-Hand,

Scott

I’m a perfectionist. When I see something in the garden that is not absolutely perfect it goes onto “the list” in my brain.

If you’re a plant freak like me, then i’m sure you can relate. For me, when I walk my garden the list just grows like a plant taking root. So I suppose, subconsciously, by not walking my garden I’m trying to control “the list” and limit the stress and pressure created by it.

The other day I was asked if I would take a walk in the garden. My response, was a simple “I don’t want to.” As I looked at the face of bewilderment I thought I would try to explain. I tried to articulate the best I could, that when I walk the garden, all I see are flaws and that pressure just builds in my head. “The list” keeps growing. “Can’t you just walk the garden and appreciate it for what it is?” I said “I couldn’t.” So after a brief moment of silence I finally said “I will take a walk.” I am not going to lie, we headed down the driveway which I thought, was the safest direction to go. I was trying to avoid adding to “the list” and the pressure that it creates in my head.

Have you ever walked your garden with a simple goal of just enjoying it? Only to have a list of things you have to do once you have left it? Do we always have to have things so perfect and in its place, that if its not it paralyzes us and dictates the direction we go?

As we set out on our walk, I thought why am I looking for the imperfections and all the things wrong. Weeds, storm damage, a dead plant. I decided to make a concerted effort to look beyond “the list” and set out to discover the perfect imperfections of nature.

Starting Thursday November 30th Join us for 12 nights of lights in the Nursery. Grab your favorite beverage in the cafe or brewery and stroll the nursery fully covered with holiday lights 5:00-9:00pm every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday until December 23rd.

High-Hand Cafe is offering a limited dinner menu of wood-fired pizzas, calzones (for kids), and salad. Reservations for up to 8 guests can be made online here, limited walk-ins available. Seating is from 5:00pm-8:30pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Full lunch and brunch service also available during normal operating hours.

The shops in the historic High-Hand fruit packing sheds will be open until 8:00pm. Be sure to visit the High-Hand Mercantile, High-Hand Olive Oil Shop, and The High-Hand Art Gallery to restock on your favorites or to share with others.

High-Hand Brewery is open until 9:00pm offering delicious food, and great craft beer paired with live entertainment on The Stage. No reservations.

But do you want to know what my biggest regret in this journey was?

Not taking this walk sooner.

“The list” in my head has been redefined. Its less of a stress now and more of an appreciation for things that are resilient, majestic, beautiful, and peaceful.

Take a walk in your garden and redefine what “the list” means to you. Take in all that is perfectly imperfect.

See you at High-Hand,

Scott

P.S.

For updates on our nursery, cafe, and award winning brewery, take a moment to visit our website. Learn about live music weekly and all things new at High-Hand.