I think this photo accompanied my very first blog post here at simple.green.organic.happy. (April 13, 2008). Look how little Cass is! Where does the time go?!

It’s shaping up to be a bee-yoo-tee-ful weekend here in the Mid-Atlantic! My top picks:

Arbor Day Festivities:

• Arbor Day Adventure Treasure Hunt

  Saturday April 30th 1 – 3pm, Morris Arboretum. This interactive family event will begin high in the tree canopy on Out on a Limb, where they’ll experience trees up-close and learn about the many reasons we need trees. The trees of the Arboretum will provide the basis for a tree adventure treasure hunt including four Tree Activity stations. Interactive activities will focus on tree care, tree protection, where trees come from, and what trees give us. Visitors who complete the exploration will receive a seedling to take home.

  ** Please note the description for Out on a Limb: “a striking new 450-foot long walkway that soars 50 feet above the ground, and gives visitors a bird’s eye view of the forest. From Out on a Limb, visitors will cross a Suspension Bridge to a giant Bird’s Nest (where they can sit on huge robin’s eggs), scamper onto the Squirrel Scramble’s rope-netting skirting two towering trees, head to the top of the Wissahickon Vista platform for sweeping views, or just wander along the Canopy Walk rising high above the forest floor.” Why have I not gone to see this yet? **

• Celebrating “Roots” at Longwood Gardens

  Saturday April 30th 12-4pm. Guided Flower Garden Walk tours, arborist demonstrations and informational sessions. Kids aged 6-12 can put on climbing gear and join Longwood’s arborists climbing into Longwood’s trees. Climb the bird house treehouse to learn about local birds and find out what you can do to take care of birds at home. Make sure to get a voucher for a free tree sapling and pick it up at the Gardens Shop, located in the Visitor Center, on the way to your car. Free trees are limited to the first 350 guests.

Tea Parties

• Teddy Bear Tea

  Saturday April 30th 10:30am – 12:00pm. Explore the Brandywine Zoo together and participate in various fun, animal-related activities. Just like zoo animals have a veterinarian to care for them, “Dr. Moose” will be available to perform a check-up & simple medical administrations on your stuffed animal! End the program with a sumptuous treat in celebration of animals! Program begins in the Education Building and concludes in the main zoo. Registration strongly suggested, walk-ins welcome if space available. $8/person; $6/Delaware Zoological Society Members.

• Princess Afternoon Tea

  Sunday May 1st – Tuesday May 31st, 3pm – 4:30pm daily. Princesses of the Brandywine Valley are cordially invited to The Green Room & Brandywine Room at the Hotel du Pont for a exquisite and elegant Afternoon Tea Service. Attendance in appropriate princess attire, gown and tiara, is encouraged. $24 per person, not including gratuity. For reservations, call 302.594.3154.

Ag Day

Saturday, April 30, from 10am- 4pm at Townsend Hall (down by the Ice Arena & stadium). Pony rides, hayride farm tours, a petting zoo, YoUDee, face painting, and food; variety of educational workshops and live entertainment. Along with educational presentations and demonstrations about gardening, sheep shearing, stink bugs and bees, there will be two free-flight bird shows presented by experts, including UD CANR alumnus Phung T. Luu of Behavior and Training Solutions, LLC. AND, some of the cheapest annual/ perennial/ veggie starters around! DO NOT skip the plant sale.

Fred Comegys Photographs

Exhibit ends May 1st at the Delaware Art Museum. For more than 50 years, photographer Fred Comegys has captured international celebrities and local kids for the pages of The News Journal. His distinctive images present national news and local interest stories, and perhaps most memorably, the intersection of the two. I used to work at Lincoln Camera and nearly all the photos I own of myself from that time were snapped by Fred Comegys, finishing out a roll of film. He’s a wonderful photographer and a very nice man, as I remember. While at the museum, make sure to take the kids to visit the Crying Giant sculpture and the labyrinth!

Annual Wildflower Celebration

Sunday May 1st from 10am-4pm at the Mt. Cuba Center. Stroll the gardens at your leisure during this fun and festive celebration of Spring! Enjoy live music, learning stations, and activities for the whole family. Take the Wildflower Challenge and win a prize. All parking for this event will be at Red Clay Reservation at 1003 Old Wilmington Road, just east of Brackenville Road.

Newark Co-op Outdoor Farmers Market

Sundays from 10am- 2pm rain or shine, Newark Natural Foods parking lot. Whoop whoop! I’ve spoken about my great love of the Newark Co-op Farmers Market before and I’m so happy that I can start planning local meals around my market hauls again. According to their Facebook page: Opening Day will feature an asparagus recipe demonstration and tasting by Chef Lisa Brisch of Orange Pomegranate!

Wild Mushroom Hike

Sunday May 1st 1pm at White Clay Creek State Park. Intermediate-level hike to learn about the wild mushrooms in the park, accompanied by mushroom enthusiast Glenn Cote. Call the Nature Center (302)368-6560 for meeting location.

And while I’m thinkin’ about it…

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Saturday April 30th 10:00am – 2:00pm. Dispose of unused or expired medications safely (so they don’t poison the soil, water, or any people or animals). Locally, the most obvious take back drop-off locations are at Frawley Stadium and the UD Police Department Public Safety building, but you can input your zipcode here for the most convenient location near you. Can’t make it? Find out how to dispose of your meds safely (and why it’s so important).

Flip-Flop Brigade

Until May 21st. Got old flips? Gather up your foot thongs (regardless of condition) and bring them to Old Navy. Each store will have a collection box located near the entrance where you can drop off your flip-flops. TerraCycle will repurpose the flip-flops into playgrounds that Old Navy will give away to a few lucky schools or community organizations. Is that cool or what? (Then, maybe treat yourself to some nice flips that will last a few seasons, huh?)

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That’s all I got! What else is happening this weekend?

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