Indoor garden report: the Thanksgiving cactus has decided to bloom for Mother’s Day. That is a nice segue to wish all mothers and women who care for others a Happy Mother’s Day.

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Jim Lumley of Pelham sent an email saying Lilacland on Harkness Road in Pelham should be particularly good on Mother’ Day. For those new to the area, Lilacland has a stunning display of lilacs planted decades ago. The lilacs can be viewed from the road and you can walk around the property and sniff the sweetness. However, please be respectful of the property and lilacs.

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You can plant trees with the Shade Tree Committee Saturday at the corner of Orchard Street and Northampton Road from 9 a.m.-noon. It’s BYOS — bring your own shovel. However, there will be some available. Committee members Julian Hynes and Sara Lawler both sent me emails about the event. The committee has a great logo — a tree rooted over the initials.

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Rob Kusner of Amherst sent a postcard from Japan where he lectured on math in Kobe and Osaka. The postcard was of, “A thing I ‘saw’ in Kobe,” he wrote. The postcard featured a saw in the Takenaka Carpentry Tool Museum.

Jeanne Esposito of South Amherst sent a postcard from New York City, where she saw shows and visited old friends. She wrote that she taught in New York .

“Having grown up in Conn. woods and fields, I vowed to host city children through the Fresh Air Fund as soon as I had a backyard. Seeing the high rise apartment buildings I’m reminded — let’s take the kids outside to play,” she wrote.

Visit the Fresh Air Fund for details to host a child or see Jeanne.

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Gigi Barnhill, president of the Amherst Historical Society, sent an email about a free concert by Acousticca Saturday at 5 p.m. on the patio next to the Strong House Museum on Amity Street. Bring a chair or blanket.

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Send items for the Lehrer Report to:phyllehrer@gmail.com]]>