When I see my garden full of beautiful lavender and yellow crocuses, it means only one thing: It’s time to bid "Old Man Winter" a fond farewell, and to dust off my picnic hamper.  My friends and I recently decided to take advantage of a warm, sunny afternoon and we headed for one of our favorite picnic spots – Roger Williams Park. Granted, we were clad in heavy sweaters and jeans and were the subject of many stares – but we just had to enjoy the gift of a beautiful day, after having spent the last few months shoveling snow, battling icy winds and constantly running to the pharmacy for cold and flu remedies.

I told my friends that I had a pound of baked Virginia ham sitting in my refrigerator and a box of common crackers, but that we’d have to stop at the market to pick up some additional picnic fare. "I’ve heard great things about Farmstead, the new gourmet shop in Wayland Square," my friend Christine said. "Let’s stop by and see what treasures we can find."

Although the shop is small – looks can be deceiving. There were so many appealing edibles neatly displayed on shelves and in cases – and everything looked absolutely delicious. Not knowing where to start, we asked Farmstead co-owner Matthew Jennings to help us select some tantalizing treats for our perfect picnic. We started with a box of Italian flat bread, baked in olive oil ($9.95). Earthy and extra crisp, these long, flat peasant bread sticks proved to be the perfect accompaniment for the wonderful selection of cheeses that Jennings selected for our informal tasting.

As we inspected the inviting cheese case, co-owner Patrick Flynn assured us that we could purchase our cheeses in any amount, however small. "You can buy as little as an ounce," he chuckled. After all, we didn’t want lug a ton of cheese through the park. Jennings chose an interesting variety of cheeses for our picnic: All were delicious and when combined with the delicious flat breads and the ham I brought along, provided an enjoyable lesson that provided a brief glimpse into the fascinating world of artisan cheeses.

My favorite selection was Rogue Valley Creamery’s Blue ($15.95 lb.), a tangy, blue-veined cheese from Oregon that was absolutely delicious. I envisioned crumbling this soft cow’s milk cheese over a warm filet mignon or tossing it with candied pecans to embellish a sparkling garden salad.

Another choice that we all enjoyed was Smiling Hill Farms Camembert ($7.95), a soft, creamy cheese handcrafted in Maine. "This cheese is so rich and pungent," replied Alan, as he spread the soft, aromatic cheese on a common cracker. "Please try this."

I took the taste-treat to new heights by adding a dab of Cory’s Kitchen Hot Pepper Jelly ($5.50 jar), a spicy condiment made on Aquidneck Island from red and jalapeno peppers. This slightly- sweet jelly was fiery without being overpowering, offering just enough "kick" to make it interesting. It proved to be a delightful bagel topping the following morning, when I added it to softened cream cheese the following morning.

We ended our picnic by dividing a small strawberry-rhubarb pie ($7.00), made in Portsmouth at Swan Farms. What a delightful harbinger of spring! The pie was absolutely scrumptious, filled with the finest of seasonal fruits encased in a buttery crust. Unfortunately, we didn’t leave a crumb for the dancing squirrels that surrounded our picnic area and seemed to beg us to let them join our celebration!

For those who want a delicious prepared lunch, Farmstead offers several interesting sandwich offerings (all $5.50). If I hadn’t been looking forward to dining on cheese and crackers, I would have opted for "The Farmstead Grilled Cheese," a selection of specialty cheeses, grilled to perfection on a crispy French sandwich roll. Another menu item that I’d like to try is "The Blackout!" – a hearty grilled sandwich filled with Black Forest ham, Black Diamond cheddar and black currant jam.

Farmstead offers a good selection of epicurean mustards, condiments, and candies. Both Jennings and Flynn are happy to suggest cheese and wine pairings (wines can be purchased from Wayland Wines and Liquors) and emphasized that the popular gourmet shop is continually updating its menu and cheese offerings. "I can’t wait for our next picnic," Christine declared. "You can be assured that I’ll be stopping at Farmstead on my way to the park."

Brian J. Lowney is a reporter for the Providence Visitor and the pet columnist for the Herald News (Fall River). He enjoys the wonderful Rhode Island restaurant scene and writing about the cornucopia of outstanding dining and retail food establishments we have been blessed with throughout the region.