9 minute read
Strange Wildlife in SENC
SE North Carolina Play Dates
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Airlie Gardens Spring in Bloom
Mid-March through mid-April Airlie Gardens, Wilmington 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daily All guests must enter by 4:30 p.m. and exit by 5 p.m.
Each spring, Airlie Gardens’ blossoms are a sight to behold, with more than 75,000 azaleas and 60,000 other spring bulbs. Because peak bloom is dependent on the weather, the bloom times may vary, but typically peak season is mid-March through mid-April. Tickets are $9 for adults, $3 for children ages 4-12, $5 for military with valid ID and $5 for New Hanover County residents. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit airliegardens.org/events/springbloom.
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Yoga in the Gardens at Airlie Gardens
April 29 - May 27 The Oak Lawn at Airlie Gardens, Wilmington 6-7 p.m.
Longwave Yoga will host another Yoga in the Gardens season at Airlie Gardens, each Tursday starting at 6 p.m. Te series is geared toward both beginners and experienced yogis. Participants are asked to bring their own mat or towel, and to stay afterward for a walking meditation of the grounds. Pre-registration is recommended. Cost is $16 per class or $11 per class for Airlie members. You can also purchase admission to the entire series for $67. For more, or to register, visit longwaveyoga.liveeditaurora.com.
Many festivals, concerts and other events have been canceled for the forseeable future due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines from North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. All of the events listed here were still on schedule as of press time, but it’s best to check with each venue to ensure that the event is still going on as planned. As we learned through Hurricane Florence and now this pandemic, nothing’s ever for certain and unforeseen events can upend our entire lives, as well as our plans for leisure and play. Stay safe and don’t forget to set aside some time for spring fun!
Dance for Christ performance Paramount Theatre, Goldsboro March 19-28 Times & Ticket Information TBD
Dance for Christ is a ministry that spreads the gospel through dance. Te production features various genres of dance, including ballet, lyrical, tap, jazz and hip-hop. Each dance is designed to tell a story of Jesus Christ. To learn more, visit www.danceforchristnc.org.
Azalea Sweep
Legion Stadium, Wilmington April 3 10 a.m. Te Azalea Festival may be canceled for the second straight year, but there will still be festivities that folks can participate in and maintain social distancing protocols. One of these is a trash pick-up event on Saturday, April 3. Te Azalea Sweep is an opportunity for volunteers to participate in bettering their community and beautify it at the same time. Participants will receive a free T-shirt. Social distancing, masks and all other COVID-19 protocols will be observed at this outdoor event. For more information or to sign up to participate, visit ncazaleafestival.org.
New River Splash Triathlon, Duathlon & 5K Kerr Street Park, Jacksonville May 22 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Moore Buick GMC will sponsor the New River Splash Triathlon & Festival, which includes a triathlon (400-yard swim, 13-mile bike ride and 5K run), duathlon (bike ride and 5K run) and 5K run. Participants can start the day off with either the triathlon, duathlon or 5K, and then spend the rest of the day at the festival. Planned activities include a cornhole tournament, boat tour, kayaking or paddle boarding on the New River. Various vendors will also be on hand. Registration ranges from $20-100. To find out more, visit newriversplashtriathlon.itsyourrace.com.
“Outlander at Tryon Palace: The Spark of Rebellion 250th Anniversary Tour” March 20, April 17 Tryon Palace, New Bern 9:15-10 a.m.
Governor William Tryon isn’t exactly depicted in the best light in the popular “Outlander” novels and TV series. But Tryon Palace is delving into the Crown’s side of the events that occurred during 1770-1771, starting the American Revolution. Te visit will include stops to discuss cooking meals, medical treatments and common illnesses, and history of colonial life in New Bern. Tis is an outdoor tour and guests should dress accordingly. Tickets are $20, and can be purchased online at www. tryonpalace.org/events/discover-tryonpalace-outlander-spark-rebellion-1. For more information, email info@ tryonpalace.org or call 252-639-3524.
The Wall That Heals Tour
Lawson Creek Park, New Bern April 8-11 The Wall will be available to the public 24 hours a day.
Te Wall Tat Heals exhibit will visit New Bern April 8-11. It is a threequarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, along with a mobile education center. Te traveling exhibit honors the more than 3 million Americans who served in the Vietnam War, and bears the names of 58,279 service members who died in Vietnam. Oliver North will be speaking at the closing ceremony on April 11 at 1 p.m. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, visit newbernpost539.com.
APR 24 SAT Downtown Roseboro’s Annual BloomFest April 24 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tis family-friendly annual event will include fun activities for kids, bounce houses, Art Alley, Kid Korner, and Touch-a-Truck exhibit, along with more than 65 vendors, local entertainment, food trucks and more. For a complete line-up of this year’s events, go to visitsampsonnc.com. You can also contact the Sampson County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 910-592-2557.
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Seals, alligators and bears, oh my!
Harbor seal on North Topsail Beach in early March. Photo shared by Melinda Gillen.
outheastern N.C. gets some unusual wildlife S
visitors from time to time, as evidenced by the recent appearance of a harbor seal on North Topsail Beach in Onslow County.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Species Directory, harbor seals are usually found on the northern East Coast of North America, from the Canadian Artic to New York, though they do sometimes travel farther south and end up on Carolina shores, like Topsail Beach.
“Tey have long been considered non-migratory and typically stay within 15 to 31 miles of home, but telemetry data have shown they sometimes travel 62 to 249 miles from their tagging location,” NOAA’s website reads.
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A black bear in Craven County. Photo from N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
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Why did the alligator cross the road? Photo taken from video near Wallace's River Landing in 2017.
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Seals are almost always seen on North Carolina beaches during the winter. Tey’re unlikely to make the trip south in the summertime, due to the warm temperatures and the crowds those bring to the shore.
Of the slightly more threatening variety, alligators have been known to frequent some coastal areas, with a few even showing up once or twice in more inland counties.
In 2017, an alligator stopped traffic—literally—along NC Hwy. 41 outside Wallace in Duplin County, near the River Landing community. Te gator was about 13 feet long and stalled traffic in both directions as motorists let the massive reptile pass.
According to the Encyclopedia of North Carolina, the American alligator is known to inhabit fresh and estuarine bodies of water along the coast, and as far west as Robeson and Cumberland counties. Most alligators, however, are concentrated in the lower Cape Fear and Neuse River valleys, but are known to
traverse across much of the Coastal Plain, south of Albemarle Sound.
Although the sight of a large alligator might be startling, the creatures are integral to the survival of the ecosystem, serving as useful predators who help naturally maintain healthy living environments for fish and other wildlife in the lakes, rivers and ponds they inhabit.
Another startling wildlife sighting is the black bear, which are actually native to the coastal region of North Carolina. In fact, the black bear is a symbol seen far and wide in New Bern, which is fitting since the largest black bear on record was found in Craven County, weighing in at more than 800 pounds.
Te North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) states the following: “Te black bear is a very shy, non-aggressive animal that avoids humans in most cases. Occasionally, bears wander into developed areas in search of food. In agricultural areas where corn, peanuts, soybeans and wheat are common, bears often feed on these crops. Due to rising bear and human populations, bears and people are increasingly coming into contact with each other in many parts of the state. To avoid negative interactions, bears should never have access to human foods, garbage, pet food or bird food.”
Since they avoid human contact when possible, if you should see a black bear, try not to panic. “If you see a bear, stay calm and keep a safe distance,” the WRC advises. “If you encounter a bear at close range, back away slowly and make lots of noise.”
To learn more about the wildlife that can be found throughout Southeastern North Carolina, visit www.ncwildlife.org.
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SE North Carolina Folk
Story by Abby Cavenaugh pringtime is a time of year we recognize some pretty important, amazing people who should be celebrated year-round: women. With Women’s History Month in March and Mother’s Day in May, the ladies in our lives get a lot of attention this time of year.
Since I graduated from a women’s college (it’s now co-ed, which I have very mixed feelings about), I grew up a feminist. I took classes specifically on women’s history and highlighting female writers, especially those who had graduated from Peace. Not to mention, the vast majority of my professors were women.
So, I thought I’d take a few moments to talk about some of the women who have left an indelible mark on my life, and helped to mold me into who I am today.
First and foremost, of course, is my mama. For most of my
Slife, Mama Judy was a “homemaker,” now more commonly Giving Credit Where Credit’s Due known as a stay-at-home mom. Now that I’m an adult, I honestly don’t know how she did it all. People who think homemakers have it easy have obviously never spent a day doing laundry, cooking three meals, doing dishes, making sure the house looked spotless, helping kids with homework, taking care of the pets and somehow finding time to tend to the flowers and shrubbery outside, too. Tere are probably a zillion more jobs my mom did every day that I don’t even know about. And she made it all look effortless. Moms are superheroes. And that’s just it. Another hero of mine was my English and women’s lit professor in college, and my boss for my part-time job all four years, Dr. Janet Wester. Tis woman is probably the reason I got every single job I ever held after college, up until her death
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