Features

The red-tailed hawk is the hawk most folks associate with the name. They are the most visible, often seen soaring overhead and perched in treetops along highways. Red-tails are year-round residents of the Lower Cape Fear; however, they are seen more often in winter when birds from the north join our resident population.

The Eisenhower Interstate Highway System was enacted in 1956 for the benefit of red-tailed hawks. Just kidding, but they do enjoy hunting on the wide easements.

CALABASH—Back when he assisted with the rescue of a team of royal horses during World War II, Julius King Suggs was a few decades younger.

Little did the corporal in the 42nd Squadron of Gen. George S. Patton’s Third Army know that someday he would be reunited with the offspring of the horses he helped save—the fancy-footed Royal Lipizzaner stallions, right smack at his daughter’s stables on Hickman Road.

Ongoing through March 28

Carl Billingsley, “An Exhibition of Drawings, Model and Maquettes for Large Scale Sculptures,” The Art Gallery in the Cultural Arts Building at UNCW, Wilmington. For more information, contact Carlton Wilkinson, gallery director, Department of Art and Art History University of North Carolina Wilmington, at 962-7958 or via e-mail at wilkinsonc@uncw.edu.

Ongoing through Aug. 3

How do you go about landscaping your yard? Former Extension Specialist Kim Powell wrote a wonderful guide going over the steps for landscaping which I have edited for our area in the Southeast. The process takes you through the necessary steps to determine just how to succeed in transforming your yard into a beautiful, well thought-out planned garden.

We’re working on our first full week of spring and that means lots of garden chores showing up on the honey-do list. If you’re still looking for something to do, go ahead and finish the pruning chores, fertilize your shrub beds if they need it and add a bit of fresh mulch, but leave the lawn fertilizer in the bag for now and try to resist the urge to plant summer annuals unless you’re prepared to lose them to a late frost.

Mount Pisgah Baptist Church presented its second annual production of the interactive Easter drama, “Journey Through Jerusalem” March 13-21 on the church grounds.

Written by church member Tracy King, the drama takes visitors through various stops on Jesus’ journey to the cross, his death and resurrection. The visitors “just miss” Jesus at various places but hear from his followers and others who come in contact with him about his journey.

March 20

6:30-8:30 p.m., Spectrum Art and Jewelry, Wilmington. Fundraiser to help painter Anne Boysen in her battle with ovarian cancer. At the clubhouse of the Reserve Apartments at Mayfaire (1411 Parkview Circle). All proceeds will go to Boysen. For more information, contact 256-2323.

March 26-April 9

Annual juried student exhibition on display March 26 through April 9, UNCW, Wilmington. For more information, call 962-3500 or visit http://www.uncw.edu/arts online.

Ongoing through March 28

Microorganisms that cause disease can be transferred from animal manures to humans.

The pathogens Salmonella, Listeria and E.coli, as well as parasites, such as roundworms and tapeworms, have been linked to applications of manure to gardens.

Publicity about illnesses due to E.coli 0157:H7 has made people more aware of the potential risk of food borne illness from manure contamination. As a result, many are now asking whether it is safe to use manure on their gardens.

Spring, ah yes, spring, and a gardener's fancy turns to, “What else?” Planting!

I know you’re not all bozos out there, but just a few reminders. Everyone needs to be preached to now and then, and I’m just the guy to do it. When I was a teaching, a student once came up to me and said, “You are a preacher teacher,” so who is so foolish to argue with the wisdom of youth? And if you've got it, why fight it?