Early morning sunshine on favorite Barger bovines watching the grass grow.

Hard to believe that April is two thirds gone!  Busy weeks ahead for spring sports, gardening projects, Town Day, pool openings, graduations and much more.  Don’t forget this weekend’s Art on the Green two-day festival in Davidson and next week’s Buzzkill basketball tournament and Summit Coffee fundraiser to help the UN Foundation’s Nothing but Nets campaign (April 23-28) to raise $10,000 to send mosquito bed nets to Sudan.  Stop by Summit for more information.

Yesterday’s rain was so welcome making everything in Davidson just that much greener.  Horses, cows, sheep and goats are loving the abundant grass in the pastures and finally the deer seem to have enough forage and give our shrubs and bedding plants a breather.

Around Davidson has news today of plants, beautiful blooms, books, movies and a golf benefit. Read the full story

White irises (Brenda Barger/DavidsonNews.net)

Glad to see tissues on sale everywhere:  You need one in every pocket these days to combat runny eyes and drippy noses from all the pollen floating through our spring air.  It is also a good idea to have one to swipe at the tiny worms that have invaded our porches and yards.  Looks like next year will see a lot of anti-worm bands encircling our beautiful trees.  At least they are not affecting the hydrangeas and iris which currently are showing us Mother Nature’s most splendid side.

Today Around Davidson reports on a family visit for Sonja Krummel, news of Baby Robyn Walters and a few Noteworthy Notes. Read the full story

National Grilled Cheese Day!

Hope everyone’s plants made it through last night’s cold snap.  Mother Nature is definitely in charge and the Agricultural Extension Service is right on target when they keep telling us that the last frost date for our area is April 15.  With a chilly morning and no warming until later this afternoon, it is perfect weather for a lunchtime soup and sandwich – which fits right in with today being National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day!  ‘Nuff said!

Around Davidson is sharing news today of an honor for Karen Appleyard Carmody, a trip for the White family, news of Rusty Knox’s music and an invitation from the Davidson Lands Conservancy. Read the full story

Dyeing eggs never gets old!

Just when we thought we were through with sweaters and jackets, here comes a frost warning!  Not unexpected but still a nuisance to have to cover tomato plants and drag pots of impatiens inside.  It was nice however to have a cooler weekend for Easter activities.  In addition to hunting eggs, we found families enjoying something new on our Town Green.  Today we have a noteworthy note about that.

You no doubt know that your columnist is a pushover for horses and babies.  No surprise that we have news today of some BIG horses and LITTLE children. Read the full story

Many families enjoy dyeing real eggs for Easter weekend fun!

Spring Break.  Easter week.  Lots of families are traveling – especially to the beach – but for the rest of us, it is a wonderful weekend to stay in town, relax in the hammock, take in the Farmer’s Market, attend church services and of course, dye Easter eggs.  With four children and lots of “real” eggs to color, your columnist for years added Paas Easter egg kits to the shopping list.  Finally another mother set me straight.  A plastic cup, a teaspoon of vinegar, 8 ounces of warm water and food color made the brightest eggs of all.

To this day our family mixes glorious colors ranging from orange sunset to jungle green – all by mixing drops of food color into the vinegar/water mix.  Directions can be found on the back of any McCormick food color/egg dye box.  And a hint for the most beautiful eggs?  Leave the last eggs in their color cups overnight.  You will be amazed.  Happy Egg Hunts to all our readers!

News for this first Thursday of April 2012 includes Cub Scouts earning their Arrow of Light, Girl Scouts completing requirements for their Gold Award and Betsy Hazelton’s special celebration. Read the full story

Spring is an exciting time for scouting.  Boy scouts are thinking summer programs, Webelo cub scouts are preparing to cross over to boy scouts and senior girl scouts are anticipating Gold Award ceremonies.

This past weekend was a milestone for Davidson’s Boy Scout Troop 58.  Six young men in this troop were awarded scouting’s highest honor:  the Eagle award.  Today Around Davidson brings news of these six scouts and their accomplishments.  Thursday’s column will have news of Webelos soon to cross over into Troop 58 as well as a report on three young ladies in our area earning Girl Scouting’s highest honor:  the Gold Award. Read the full story

Happiness is a warm puppy with a best buddy and a soccer ball!

Something about having out of town children, grandchildren, grand-dogs and even a grand-puppy underfoot for the past ten days which found your correspondent focusing more on missing socks and dog treats than Davidson news.  Thanks to David for letting me have a day off on Tuesday but now it is “back in the saddle” and a return to the computer keyboard.

Today Around Davidson has news of the fleet feet of Maryline Roux, a new book from Elisabeth Davis and a few gardening notes. Read the full story

It’s here!  Tonight at midnight, three sold out screens at Our Town Cinemas will show the most anticipated movie of recent memory, “The Hunger Games.”  Based on the first book in a trilogy by author Suzanne Collins, the movie is receiving positive reviews from early screenings by film critics.  The book is promoted as a young adult novel but it seems that just as many adults are enjoying this fictional work set in a post-apocalyptic world in the country of Panem.  First published in 2008 the novel has been translated into 26 languages and rights of productions have been sold in 38 countries.  Every news program this week seems to feature one of the stars.

Film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth may be household words throughout the U.S. but not to worry, we have our own film stars right here in Davidson.  Well, OK, they were only extras but we consider them stars – and they will be at Our Town Cinemas tomorrow evening from 6-7 p.m. signing autographs.  Davidson talent in The Hunger Games included Beth and Audrey Gibbs, Emma Landau, Rachel Figard, Beach Galloway, Luke Williams and Isabella Taylor.

Around Davidson caught up with Beth and Audrey Gibbs, Beach Galloway and Luke Williams earlier this week and have news today of their experience in the filming of this blockbuster movie as well as other tidbits you need to know about The Hunger Games. Read the full story