NJ Walk ‘n Talk celebrates its sixth anniversary with a hike at its first venue, Rutgers Gardens. Susy entices us there with cupcakes and coffee. I have errands to run, so the hikers are off when I arrive. That gives me time to wander through the gardens on my own.
There is a splash of Siberian squill near the entrance to Holly House. Western Honey Bees, buzz around the blue-veined flowers, gathering pollen and nectar.
Across the street, the daffodils and jonquils are starting to bloom. A little further along, the Cornelian cherry is a mass of yellow blossoms.
Transient forsythia offer another burst of gold a few steps away.
As I walk through the Display Garden, a robin glares at me when I get too close. Word has spread - she seems to know I accidentally destroyed some robin eggs a few years ago.
A beech tree forgot to discard its leaves in fall. Now the stiff, copper colored leaves look as if they are fashioned out of metal.
At the edge of the Display Gardens are several patches of deep-hued irises.
Near the Rhododendron Garden, the curly dry leaves of a giant goldenrod create another swatch of color.
The Pollinator Garden is equipped with gaily painted little homes installed there by some Eagle Scouts. I wonder which pollinators frequent these.
The air is filled with birdsong. I tap the Merlin Bird ID app and try to scope out the birds it identifies. A dark-eyed junco trilling on a branch nearby is the only avian I spy. The others are two far away or too quick for me.
Some avid artist has decorated a log with tinted plexiglass shapes. They cast reflections on the notched, pockmarked wood.
Sunshine filters through a leaf’s filigree of veins and the translucent residue of its summer existence.
At noon, I meet up with the hikers. Hugs and chatter ensue. After stuffing our faces with donuts, donut holes and cupcakes baked by Susy’s daughter, we walk to the Bamboo Grove. It’s a short walk but it assuages some of the high-calorie guilt. On the way to the grove, we clamber up on the giant green chairs in the Otken Memorial Garden for pictures.
Later, driving home, I stop first at Adonis Market and pick up some spinach fatayer. Next door is a little restaurant called Casa Mexicana. As soon as I enter, I know I am in for a treat. A board displays tlayudas on the menu. Ah, Oaxaca! I open their menu, and order a couple of tamale with chicken and verde sauce. They are delicious!
At home, I wander around my yard. There’s a healthy knot of deep purple crocuses that are starting to wilt. I did not catch them in their prime. Jonquils bob about happily in the March wind. Daffodil buds are filling out.
A neighbor sails by on his bike. Another wave of guilt hits me. I pump up the tires of my bike and pedal out onto the street, energetically at first, then with more effort as the wind kicks up.
Dinner is a cup of yogurt and two of the fatayer, heated up in the toaster oven. I doubt the walk or the bike ride adequately compensated for the day’s calories consumption, but my senses are filled with the beauty of spring.
Because we need cheer in our lives, here is an NPR story that celebrates Alabama’s math stars and the playful ways they learn to love multiplication. For those who love photography, another NPR story captures the spectacular pictures and stories of the Global Ability Photography Challenge winners. The challenge is organized by an Indian nonprofit called Youth4Jobs, which helps persons with disabilities access education and employment.