It is approaching March, eight weeks before the last frost date in our area. That means that provident gardeners begin to sow seeds in basement pots and smugly note the slender shoots of daffodils breaking through the ground.
I long to be in their number. Alas, I duly sow the seeds in trays, lower the fluorescent lights to encourage germination, and forget to water the seedlings.
In a week my basement looks like a diorama of ecological disaster. The slender shoots I smile at in the lawn are onion grass.
I forgot to plant crocus last September. But some long ago owner of my house loved flowers with the competence I lack. There is forsythia blooming in the back, snowdrops in the front yard, fruit trees rife with plump buds along the side and evergreens heavy with returning birds. I didn't have to do a thing!
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Fourth-grade teachers at Laurel Woods Elementary are busy this week calming their students, who are eager to receive their books. All the fourth-grade students are published authors, thanks to Pittelli and Partners, a local printing firm that is their partner in education.
Each student gets a copy of Paw Prints, a collection of stories written and lavishly illustrated by their fellow students.
Pittelli and Partners is printing six different books (one for each grade) for more than 700 copies.
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The Savage Boys and Girls club basketball season is winding to a close.
In the instructional league, the Spartans defeated the Deacons, 43-24. Kevin Showe, Scott Peddicord and Scott Shores led the Spartans.
L Greg Brunn, Chelsey Barrett and Brian Blush led the Deacons.
The Terrapins beat the Hawkeyes, 42-28. Bran Nagle led the Terrapins with 28 points, assisted by Katie McFarland with 8 points and Tommy Gregorini with four steals. The Hawkeyes were led by Lucy Rushing, Lauren Greer and Billy Bogus.
The Wolverines beat the Tarheels, 23-19. Ken Brown, Julia Reynold and Sean McLean led the Wolverines to victory. Justin Himes, Dan Kreh and Alex Magner led the Tarheels.
The Tigers devoured the Bucks, 17-12. Kim Myrick, Jason Strauss and Elliott Loper led the Tigers. P. J. Puccio and Jeff Kessler led the Bucks.
In the junior league, the Badgers beat the Wolverines, 49-33. Mansor Ahmed, Adam Young and Curtis Gore led the Badgers. Lindsey Greer, Megan Gallivan and Dan Rusk led the Wolverines.
The Lions defeated the Hawkeyes
61-53 in overtime. This exciting game featured the Lions at their best with everyone scoring and hustling after rebounds.
Everyone noted David Ortiz's 31 points and the defensive efforts of Devin Emery and Jeff Hutcheson. Mike Frankos played an aggressive game for the Hawkeyes, with Megan Reynold playing an outstanding defensive game and Casey Gunther a providing good all-around support to his teammates.
In the intermediate league, the Lakers beat the Jazz, 51-40. Brent Machado, Jeff Miller and Karen Brownlie led the Lakers. Dana Lowry, Chris Bodenner and Andrew Parkman led the Jazz.
The Knicks won over the Bucks, 84-42. Brain Hurford scored 24 points, with Todd Gledhill and Michael Ryan each contributing 12 points toward the victory. Brain Strauss led the Bucks scoring with 17 points, Brian Trigger scored 9 and Colin Shores put forth strong effort.
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If it's spring, Montpelier Cultural Arts Center must be playing host to a Jazz Series. Regrettably, the opening concert by Charlie Byrd is sold out.
However, tickets are still available for concerts by Washington-based Cephas and Wiggins on March 10 and the March 17 concert by Baltimore-based Ethel Ennis (selected in 1958 by Benny Goodman to be female vocalist on his European tour).
Tickets are $15, and advance purchase is recommended. All concerts begin at 8 p.m.
For details about concerts, exhibitions or classes call the center at (301) 490-2329.
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Two weeks from now, join the fun at Savage Park as the Department of Recreation and Parks presents Skunks and Cabbages Walk. The one-hour walk and talk about the signs of returning life in spring begins at 1 p.m. March 11.
The cost is $3 a person or $8 for a family. Rediscover this amazing natural resource right off Interstate 95. Bring a camera -- some of the river views are spectacular.
There's an amazing collection of buildings at Savage Mill, right off of the park trail. Satisfy your curiosity about the ruins and old buildings passed on the Skunk walk the following weekend, when the Department sponsors an Historic Mill Trail walk through Savage. Again the family cost is $8, or $3 an individual.
The walk begins at 1 p.m. on March 19 at Savage Park.
For details about these and other programs sponsored by the department, call them at (410) 313-2762.
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The La Leche League of Laurel and Savage will meet Wednesday at the Savage Library at 10:15 a.m.
As usual, this breast-feeding support network welcomes nursing and expectant mothers to its presentations.
This month's topic is "The Myths and Truths of Breast-feeding."
Young children are not only welcomed but cooed over, so feel free to bring them to the meetings.