April 4, 2005

Spring has surely sprung here in our beautiful Sunol Valley, the hills are velvet, emerald green, Sinbad Creek is roaring down Kilkare Canyon and the wildflowers are bursting with color everywhere you look.

Sunol Regional Wilderness is hosting its 3rd annual Spring Wildflower Festival on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The day's activities will include a wildflower hike, slideshow presentation, crafts and nature games. Adults and kids of all ages are welcome to learn about the wildflowers that are native to his area. Besides a small parking fee, this event is free. Please call the park at 925-862-2601 for more information.

I enjoy hiking the park and always try to make it fun and interesting for the little kiddies as well. A fun way to learn all about what inhabits the park is to grab a few brochures at the Green Barn Visitor Center when you arrive. During the hike we all take turns trying to identify the trees, flowers and butterflies we see as described in the brochures.

But before going to Sunol Regional, try heading out to Pleasanton first for the annual Livermore Amador Valley Garden Clubs plant sale. Sunol gardeners and club members Diane and Irvin Tiessen, Diane Dovholuk, Jim O'Laughlin and Solveig Shearer suggest that you arrive early. Solveig writes, "In past years, people queued up by 8:45. They can't pick up a plant until 9, but they're there to spot the plants they want most and position themselves."

The plant sale is this Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Amador Valley High School parking lot on Santa Rita Road.

Thank you to Solveig Shearer for providing me with the terrific information. Solveig adds, "There will be plants designed for the Sunolions who persist in gardening, despite the wild turkeys, raucous raccoons, ravenous deer, and the ever-busy squirrel. You'll find things the deer don't eat, like rosemary and acanthus mollis (Bear's breech). Plants that reseed vigorously, like forget-me-nots, so that when the wild turkey pulls them out they'll be automatically replaced." She also suggests, "And if you don't have a garden but still want to get your hands dirty with some fun folk, join the volunteer gardeners who keep the Sunol Community Park trim. Stop by and meet them any Thursday evening down by the Bocce court and find out what's doing."

Sunol Repertory Theater closed another wonderful theatrical season with their last performance on March 26.

Veteran performer and first time Director, Diane Tiessen said, "It was very rewarding, very satisfying for me and all the cast. It was fantastic. I envisioned these characters and they ended up being these characters."

Besides the talented actors who diligently give up a great part of their lives by volunteering their time for rehearsals and performances over a three month period of time, the show truly could not go on without those who work the magic behind the scenes as well. They are also dedicated volunteers who work just as hard to make each performance shine. Let's give a big hand to Technical Director Derek Johnson and his technical crew, Paul Miller, Steve Shorten, Irv Tiessen and Bill Webster; videographer, Mary Beth McLeod; Stage Manager, Laurie Walker; House Manager, Louise Throop; makeup artists, Diane Fries and Cathy Lipman and Ticket sales, Guin Van Dyke. And of course what's a melodrama without the pianist and musical director, G. Allen Schell. Diane adds, "Allen is such a treasure". We all look forward to next years 25th season. I'm sure it will be something very special.