Kathy Blacklock

Once again, another harbinger of late spring is here. It's picking time for blueberries, and in a rare year, it's also picking time for my own crop of sweet pea flowers!

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center and the Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch will release a rehabilitated turtle at Main Beach, Fernandina Beach, on Wednesday, May 15, at 10 a.m., in celebration of this week's Wild Amelia Nature Festival

I had never heard of Amelia Flats until Jeff Kennard started sending me emails many moons ago when he was the first person who reported a lone female wild turkey around the area of Amelia Baptist Church. Since then he has sent me various writings of his, describing in beautiful detail the wildlife he sees on Amelia Flats. But where is Amelia Flats anyway, I wondered?

Bucko had a milestone birthday last week, and he wasn't happy about it. And, moreover, he hates celebrations of all kinds and prefers not to participate in gatherings of people. We have been together for half a century and share all our finances and wish lists so there is no gift I can buy him that we haven't already purchased. How on earth could I celebrate this event with him in a way that he would enjoy?

By Pat Foster-Turley I can't believe that it was 17 years ago that I wrote a column in the News-Leader about Tony Lopez and the Florida

The Happy Tomato has been around since 2007, nestled in its own private alcove, filled with flora and barbecue, while being only a few steps away from Centre Street. To say this establishment has a dedicated following on the island would be the understatement of the year. It's been a few years since I've stopped in – I'm judging myself – and I wanted to see how the food held up to what I remembered.

By Pat Foster-Turley If you are looking for an interesting nearby Saturday or Sunday day trip, you might want to check out Congaree and

Mayor Bradley Bean employed that tactic at last Tuesday's city commission workshop discussion regarding public comment and whether speakers would be allowed to ask commissioners questions.

I had a big desire for my birthday this year. I wanted Bucko to go with me to the Tampa Zoo at Lowry Park to visit Romeo. I had hoped to also see Juliet on this trip, but alas, Juliet is now gone. But Romeo is still alive and I had to get there before he too succumbed to old age.

Bucko and I were in a challenge this year: Who could come up with the best birthday outing for one another? A few weeks ago, we celebrated his milestone birthday in our favorite part of Old Florida, and now it was his turn to celebrate my birthday. Admittedly, it took my own planning to pull it off, but we were both happy with the outcome.