People are wandering around all agog in the blossoming splendor of spring after spending several months inside staring at each other’s flannel shirts. If you really want to immerse yourself in spring, go take a look at all the daffodils at Bruce and Catherine Berg’s place on Wendover Road, just around the corner from The Bee. The daffodils are giving everything and everyone a sunny aspect around here, transforming even the stodgiest cynics into Pollyannas.

Evidently, all the blooms temporarily sabotaged even the discerning eye and precise articulation of Dottie Evans, who photographed witch hazel blossoms on Main Street for last week’s Bee. The photo caption below the picture stated that in Colonial times branches of witch hazel were used as “diving rods.” She initially correctly wrote “divining rods,” but somewhere along the line it was changed to “diving rods.” Diving boards, maybe. But diving rods? —I’ve never heard of that.

Worse than that was the discovery that those trees weren’t witch hazels at all. Thanks to Barbara O’Connor of Planter’s Choice for alerting us to our error. We are pleased to pass on the word that they are Cornelian cherries of the dogwood family, better known to arborists as Cornus mas.

The combination of extremely warm weather and school vacation this week seemed to encourage a lot of people to try to jump straight into summer. It seems a lot of folks have heard about the town’s proposal to purchase Eichler’s Cove marina and beach for public use, and are heading over there in droves with kids, blankets, and coolers to enjoy the spot during the recent spate of warm weather. The property, however, is still private, and in fact, people showing up expecting to enjoy the lakeside amenities are actually putting the whole real estate deal in jeopardy. So if you hope to enjoy this recreational spot at all in the future, tell all your friends to steer clear until, and if, it becomes a public recreation area and not before!

There was a record-setting attendance Tuesday at Ashlar’s Lunch and Learn program held at Lockwood Lodge on “The Treatment of Osteoarthritis.” Not only did the servers run out of salad and lemonade, Ashlar Community Relations Manager Laura Vhay was forced to turn people away at the door since the sit-down luncheon event was overbooked. “We’re going to have to initiate a return postcard system for people who have called for reservations. In order to get in, you’ll have to have your card with you,” said Laura. “That means it would be best if you made your phone reservations for our regular, seated Lunch and Learn programs two weeks in advance in order for there to be time for us to mail you back a card.” Just so you know, next month’s program at Ashlar is the Health and Wellness Fair scheduled Tuesday, May 17, from 10 am to 2 pm. No reservations necessary this time because it’s a walk-in affair, but for more information call 203-364-3127.

Kym Stendahl called from Turks & Caicos, where she was vacationing, to remind everyone that the Labor Day parade will be here before anyone realizes it so the fundraising appeal is beginning. It costs more than $20,000 to stage the parade each year, all funded through donations. This year will be very special because it will be Newtown’s Tercentennial Parade so the theme is aptly “Happy Birthday, Newtown.”  The committee promises lots of special features. Kym says Tony at Andea’s Bakery plans to make a 10-foot birthday cake!  To make a parade donation, send a check to Labor Day Parade, c/o Newtown Savings Bank, 39 Main Street, Newtown 06740.

Assistant Town Clerk Blithe Dotson has been keeping track of the town’s issuance of state hunting, fishing, and combination hunting/fishing licenses to Connecticut residents at the town clerk’s office in Edmond Town Hall. From January 1 through April 18, the town clerk’s office issued 154 combination hunting/fishing licenses, 127 fishing licenses, and 13 hunting licenses.  The sale of individual hunting licenses tends to increase in the fall, when hunting season opens. Trout season just opened on April 16. Blithe explains that the sale of licenses has increased at the town clerk’s office since the closure of two local bait-and-tackle shops, which had served as license agents for the state.

 As we all know, along with all the joys of spring come all the spring cleaning chores, which are harder for some than others. That’s why Newtown Youth Services is looking for people to help out with its Independent Living Day, scheduled this year for Saturday, May 7. Kids and adults are needed to help a growing list of Newtown residents who are elderly or infirm get some of those spring projects done. Call NYS at 270-4335 add your name to the list of volunteers, and get a friend to sign up, too.

Well, all this talk about chores has tired me out. It’s time for my nap, but I’ll be back again next week, so…

Read me again.