Garden report: The beans have sprouted and the cucumbers have been planted. I put in 10 more tomato plants. I can’t resist tomatoes. The irises have bloomed, as has the Solomon’s seal. The rhododendron have been spectacular.
A robin has built a nest in the rhododendron that is visible from my dining room window. I have seen the parents feed a worm to the two babies. What a joy to see. Their heads now stick above the nest so their is more to see. I will report when they learn to fly.
The rhododendron need to be trimmed, but that will happen after they have flown the nest.
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Jeanne Esposito, who has coordinated the South Amherst Fourth of July Parade for a very long time, is passing the baton. She said Jennifer Page, Jessica Sidman and Amanda Seaman will be in charge. Amanda and her son, Ben, will run the children’s games and races.
The new group needs volunteers to pass out flyers and set up. In addition, musicians are needed to lead the parade, which marches around the South Amherst Common, known as Fiddler’s Green. The South Amherst Thursday Club, of which I am a member, leads the parade after the musicians. The club will be 117 years old this year.
To help, email SouthAmherstJuly4th@gmail.com.
A big thank you to Jeanne for all her efforts.
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It’s June, time for the annual Puffer’s Pond Breakfast, year number 26. It will be held June 3 from 8:30 – 11 a.m. at the Mill River Recreation Area. Local milk, eggs, flour, butter blueberries and maple syrup will be used. It’s a fundraiser to clean and repair the beach and trails at the pond.
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Dave Machowski is the new manager at the Amherst Farmer’s Market, held Saturdays in the Spring Street parking lot. Longtime market patrons will recall that he was the manager for six years in the last century.
Phyllis Lehrer can be reached at phyllehrer@gmail.com.
