An early spring walk in the woods

I like to rise early in the beginning of March, when you can feel in your bones (especially my old bones) that spring is just around the corner.

The early morning sky is pink and blue, and the temperature is in the 50s. This is my favorite time of year, the new beginning. Winter is past and everything is fresh again.

And this is the time to begin my search of the spring ephemeral wildflowers. Spring ephemerals are plants that emerge early in spring before the trees put out their leaves and block the sunlight, live for a few short weeks, then die back to the ground to do it all over again the next year.

Usually, the first of these is the Trout Lily, Erythronium americanum, so named because its spotted leaves are reminiscent of a spotted trout. It adapts to variable changes in temperature by closing its flowers’ beautiful, yellow petals at night, thus protecting its ability to produce seeds.

Bloodroot, Sanguinari candensis, is another early emerger. The white flower sometimes appears before the leaves. If you break the stem of the Bloodroot, the inside is red. When I was young, this was growing in the woods of the property we were living on in Sandy Springs and is the plant that sparked my interest in wildflowers.

A very delicate looking flower, the Rue Anemone, Thalictrum thalictroides, is another early one. Its flowers range from white to pale pink, dancing in the slightest breeze.

When I lived in Atlanta, the Sweet Betsy Trillium, Trillium cuneatum, was the first harbinger of Spring in my garden.

These are just a few of the early wildflowers. If you are interested in learning more about a variety of spring wildflowers, when to observe their peak blooming times, their growth requirements, and places we can visit locally to experience the beauty and enjoyment of wildflowers, please join Carole MacMullan and me for a virtual

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American Roadhouse opened a second location in Dunwoody in 1993 after seven years of a successful location in Virginia Highlands. Owners Martin Maslia and Edward Udoff used local class photos from years past, 1950s memorabilia and local historic talk on wildflowers on Sunday, March 5 at 2:00 pm EST. To assure your place in this first class in the Spring 2023 Gardening Lecture Series presented by the North Fulton Master Gardeners, “A Walk in the Woods with Spring Wildflowers - Observing the Beauty of Nature,” please register at https://bit.ly/Spring2023NFMG-GardeningLectureSeries. The class will also be available for later viewing on the NFMG YouTube channel at https://www.youtube. com/northfultonmastergardeners. photographs provided by Lynne Byrd to decorate their restaurant. Next, the building was home to Calico Corners fabric store.

When Crest Realty came to Dunwoody, the company wanted homeowners to be happy with their new building at 1555 Mount Vernon Road, according to Sally Gurley, a vice president with the company. A three-story building was constructed, similar to a home on the James River in Williamsburg. This building is now the offices of Prieto, Marigliano, Holbert, Prieto Attorneys at Law.

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net.

Dunwoody’s Pizza Hut in Dunwoody Hall Shopping Center was built with a black roof, rather than the standard red to have more of a Williamsburg look. It also had a brick exterior with shutters. Inside it looked like any other Pizza Hut. Novo Cucina with its sunroom and French doors doesn’t give any hint of the building’s former life. Before Novo Cucina, this space was home to High Cotton and

About the Author

This week’s guest Master Gardener “Garden Buzz” columnist is Judy Peacock. Judy grew up in Norcross when it was still a small, rural town and spent many days playing in the fields and woods. Her mother was a wonderful gardener and could grow almost anything from a cutting. She taught Judy to identify trees and plants. As a child Judy would gather flowers and create small arrangements of violets and daffodils. Judy attended UGA and majored in Art Education. She loved Botany classes and spent a lot of time in the Founders Garden and the university greenhouses. After graduation, she rented a cottage in Sandy Springs in the middle of 40 acres, exploring the creek and woods, identifying wildflowers and started her first herb garden. Later, Judy bought a house and again grew herbs and began taking care of the plants that were part of the old garden on the property. She began to make flower arrangements for friends’ weddings and work events. After working full time for 28 years, Judy retired and become a Master Gardener and now shares her love of plants and the natural world through her volunteer work with the North Fulton Master Gardeners.

For more information

Check out the following University of Georgia Extension publications:

•Wildflowers Bulletin 987-3

•Establishing a Wildflower Meadow

Peter’s Restaurants.

In December of 2018, the Dunwoody City Council voted to make changes to the Dunwoody Village overlay and allow for variation from the Williamsburg style.

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media. She lives in Sandy Springs. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

150 Years Of Spruill

What: Spruill Gallery presents works by four women who define the power of art. As influential artists and educators, these women are renowned in their mediums and have mentored many students to also become artists of note. To see the power and passion embodied in

LEARN AND LEAD: MEET TYPEWRITE TOM AT COMPUTER MUSEUM OF AMERICA

What: Typewriter Tom returns to the Computer Museum of America with a unique collection of typewriters used in the movies, including some just back from recent production shoots in Georgia.

When: Saturday & Sunday, March 4-5, 12-4 p.m.

Where: Computer Museum of America, 5000 Commerce Parkway, Roswell

Cost: Adults are $15, ages 4-17 $10, ages under 4 are free; seniors 65 and older/military/college students are $12, family of four is $40 More info: computermuseumofamerica.org

JUST FOR FUN:

DUNWOODY FARMERS MARKET

What: The Dunwoody Farmers Market brings together a variety of vendors selling local and organic fruits, veggies and produce, coffee, breakfast, baked goods, prepared meals, frozen treats, eggs, grass-fed meat and fresh seafood.

When: Saturday, March 4, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody

More info: dunwoodyga.gov

“DOUBLE HEADER” WITH THE ATLANTA BAROQUE ORCHESTRA AND KINNARA

What: Recently relocated from Princeton, New Jersey, a professional chamber choir named Kinnara joins the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra in a program featuring contemplative yet powerful music for strings, winds and voices.

When: Saturday, March 4, 3 p.m.

Where: Roswell Presbyterian Church, 755 Mimosa Boulevard, Roswell

Cost: $15-50

More info: atlantabaroque.org/doubleheader

‘LITTLE

WOMEN’

What: Based on Louisa May Alcott’s life, “Little Women” follows the adventures of sisters Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March. Jo is trying to sell her stories for publication, but the publishers are not interested. Her friend, Professor Bhaer, tells her that she has to do better and write more from herself. Begrudgingly taking this advice, Jo weaves the story of herself and her sisters and their experience growing up in Civil War America.

When: Up to March 5, times vary

Where: Act 3 Productions, 6285 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs

Cost: $22-31

More info: act3prod.org/little-women

‘WOMEN IN JEOPARDY’

What: Liz, Mary, and Jo are three mutually supportive, single-againafter-40 friends who have a lot of thoughts about Liz’s new boyfriend. Is he a dentist with an odd hobby, a celebrity look-alike, or a serial killer… or maybe all three? It’s “Sex and the City” meets “Murder, She Wrote” in a modern comedy.

When: Up to March 5, times vary Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell Cost: $34-37

More info: get.org

ROSWELL DANCE STARZ PRESENTS ‘CINDERELLA’

What: The enchanted tale of Cinderella is brought to stage with a fun and modern twist! Join Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother, the silly stepsisters, and all the magical characters as they tell the treasured tale through ballet, lyrical, jazz, hip hop and tap. When: Saturday, March 11, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell Cost: $15

More info: roswellcac.showare.com

A MOMENT OUT OF TIME WITH I.O.Z’

What: I.O.Z.. a musical collaboration driven by Daniel Groover and Steven Senn, will be accompanied by Jeff (Apt. Q258) Sipe on drums, Pat Postlewait on multiple instruments, Jon Marett on keys, Dan Campbell on violin, Alex their art, this show is a must-see. Works are by artists Chery Baird, Carol Brull, Ann Clancy and Vicki Paulet.

When: Up to March 11, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Where: Spruill Gallery, 4681 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Dunwoody More info: spruillarts.org/gallery

Tramble and Jon Lee sitting in on bass and Jeff Bowden supporting vocals.

When: Saturday, March 11, 9 p.m. Where: From the Earth Brewing, 1570 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell Cost: $30

More info: ftebrewing.com

‘HEROES AND VILLAINS: SPRING CONCERT’

What: Every good guy needs a bad guy. Every protagonist needs an antagonist. The Atlanta Concert Band presents music from Hollywood, Broadway, the Olympics and more. Darth Vader vs. Yoda. Captain Kirk vs. the Klingons. US Olympic athletes vs the World. Wile E. Coyote vs. the Roadrunner. Wear your favorite hero or villain costumes to celebrate the music of John Williams, Michael Giacchino, Georges Bizet, Andrew Lloyd Webber and more.

When: Sunday, March 12, 4 p.m.

Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell

Cost: $20

More info: roswellcac.showare.com

Sandy Spring Theatre Company’s “Spamalot”

What: Join King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table and the glamorous Lady of the Lake as they turn the Arthurian legend on its ear in their quest for the Holy Grail. Along the way they encounter dancing showgirls, flying cows, killer rabbits and assorted French people. The production is the winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical.

When: March 10-26, times vary

Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost: $37-100

More info: sandyspringsga.gov