If Buster isn't celebrating, it's because this season means his fellow mockingbirds are pairing up and the twosomes are moving into his jealously-guarded territory around Carol Gatlin's house southwest of Henderson. Buster, evidently a confirmed bachelor, is doing his best to keep interlopers out of the holly tree he considers his personal possession but he has his work cut out for him. This rascal, who stuck around all winter and charmed Carol into sharing her bread and biscuits and the occasional doughnut with him, appears to be casting a critical eye at all the romancing fowl and other rivals for his little slice of heaven. Carol chuckles over his antics, but unlike him she's thrilled that the vernal equinox is occurring on this date and bringing the promise of longer and balmier days and opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.
Blossoms get brighter as the season comes in.
Another wildflower fancier, Mary Edith Pritchett, has observed that bloodroot is up about an inch and a half. Mary Edith, who's also a history buff, relates that the Native Americans used the plant as a dye. Audubon State Park naturalist Sondra Cabell says a number of wildflowers are already in bloom in the park's hardwood forest, including the pale pink spring beauty and the white-blossomed harbinger of spring. By the time the park's annual Wildflower Extravaganza comes along on April 7, there'll be more plants in bloom. That free event will feature guided wildflower walks at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Throughout this season, there are some 70 species of wildflowers sporting spring colors in the park.