PLANT SALES: Time to get the garden started

I have two more upcoming plant sales to tell you about.
Prissy Roberts sent me an email about the 51st annual Kennett Square Beautification Spring Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 30, in the Genesis Walkway in Kennett Square. Plants include "Mothers Day arrangements, succulents, annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, herbs, vegetables, house plants, plant donations of community gardeners and garden club members and locally grown dahlias." You can park in the parking garage for free. Proceeds go toward those lovely container plantings along the street in Kennett as well as beautification of the Police Department and Genesis Walkway.
The annual London Grove Friends Meeting Plant Sale is Saturday, May 7, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a fixture on my calendar. Not only do they have great plants (love their geraniums), but it's also a wonderful social occasion. The meeting house is at Route 926 and Newark Road.

LOOKING UP: PECO removes a danger

One of those strong windstorms that blew through in early April broke a big tree limb along Ryan Road here in West Marlborough and left it hanging perilously above the road. Had it fallen, it also would have taken out some electric wires, so on the morning of April 15 PECO workers showed up with a huge bucket truck and removed it. Their cherry picker was extended to its full height because not only was the tree tall, but that stretch of the road is sunken between steep banks.

 

The dangling branch before PECO removed it.

No more dangling branch.

Those of us who use the road regularly feel much safer that the Branch of Damocles is no longer dangling above.

CALENDAR: A busy schedule

Late on a recent afternoon I was sitting on the sidelines of a school sporting event and noticed that the man next to me was yawning, discreetly. "Oh, please don't start," I begged him, feeling a little weary myself and knowing how contagious yawning can be.
He laughed and said that as soon as this practice was over, he and his wife were heading to another child's piano recital.
"And I haven't even made dinner yet," chimed in his wife.
I told them that compared to them, I had utterly no excuse for yawning.

WRITING: Let me tell you a story

I receive some fairly flaky catalogues in the mail, and the New Age-y ones give me particular entertainment. The glossy one that showed up in my mailbox today was for a week-long writer's retreat geared toward people who always wanted to "be a writer" but didn't think they had the time or the ability. Save yourself $300 plus hotel, meals, airfare, and opportunity costs, and take my advice: Set yourself a deadline. You'll become a real writer, real fast.
My column is due first thing Monday morning, and every Friday I start pestering family, friends, neighbors, gym colleagues and random people in the post office for "Tilda items." Maybe it's my imagination, but I swear some people pretend not to see me. Family members included.

PLANTATION: The Tough Mudder is returning

Look for the obstacles to start going up shortly at Plantation Field: the Tough Mudder race is returning on May 21 and 22. The Tough Mudder, perhaps you'll recall from last year, is a 10-plus-mile endurance course with obstacles to climb over, under and through. A new one this year is called the Block Ness Monster; it consists of a muddy pool with slippery square columns set across the pool that you have to clamber over with the help of your teammates. Oh, and the columns are rotating. Judging from the preview video I watched, that appears to be one of the saner obstacles; others involve things like electricity, ice cubes and chain link fencing.
Tilda has been asked to join a Tough Mudder team by some of her gym colleagues; she politely but firmly declined. They could not understand why, and were reminiscing fondly about how cold and windy it was at last year's event and how long it took for the feeling in their hands and feet to return.
The Tough Mudder's website mentions the scenic Unionville surroundings, not that contestants will be paying much attention to aesthetics: "Set in beautiful Brandywine Valley, the Tough Mudder Philly Presented by Merrell course features rolling hills smattered with hay fields, trees, creeks and terrain that varies just enough to keep you constantly wondering what’s around the next bend."

TRAFFIC: Weekday traffic on a Saturday

Why was there a major traffic backup at Routes 926 and 100 this past Saturday morning? We were heading back toward Unionville on 926 and encountered heavy traffic almost all the way from Route 202. Cars were at a standstill from Birmingham Road westward. The traffic dispersed as soon as we crossed the Brandywine Creek.
We couldn't figure it out until later in the day, when we saw online reports of the huge crowds who attended the "Massive Barn Market," an antiques sale being held at the Chadds Ford Historical Society on Route 100. Apparently the number of shoppers was overwhelming the intersection.

STATION 36: Firefighters at the Whip

About ten volunteer firefighters from Unionville's Po-Mar-Lin Fire Co. headed to the Whip Tavern in Springdell on April 11 to do some community outreach and raise a little money while they were at it. Firefighters Rob Mastrippolito and Bobby Abel took stints as guest bartenders, during which Rob discovered a hitherto-unknown skill: making a perfect Black Velvet (a layer of Guinness on top of cider). Several veteran firefighters and volunteers from neighboring companies showed up, as well as Chester County Fire Marshal John "Jackie" Weer. Rob told me the winner of the 50/50 raffle was generous enough to donate all the winnings back to the fire company.

DOG PARK: No treats for these owners

Sounds like these dog owners are the ones who need obedience school training! The London Grove Township supervisors have shut down the popular Dog Park at the township's Goddard Park until at least May 5. The reasons are as follows, per the township website:
"1. Dog waste not being placed in the appropriate containers, being placed in regular trash or recycling containers, being left in various areas in bags including along trails and/or not being picked up in general.
2. Dogs off leashes in areas other then the Dog Park, including when approaching the Dog Park area.
3. Toys and other items being left through out the Dog Park.
4. Trash and Dog waste being placed in the "Toy Bin."
5. General disregard for the Park Rules and the Dog Park Rules by Dog owners."
The township supervisors will revisit the issue at their May 4 township meeting.