Smoke Signals and other news
February is almost gone, and hopefully, the winter weather will be leaving the area. We can never be so sure, I have seen it snow here as late as April. The biggest snow in my lifetime was in March when the weatherman warned of flurries and we woke up to 17 inches of snow.
The sweet hummingbirds should arrive mid to late March, so get those feeders ready. Clean feeders using hot, soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Clean before each refill. There is no need to add the red coloring to the mixture of one part sugar to four parts water. While these little creatures are a delight to watch, they are also pollinators who will feed on a variety of plants commonly found in landscapes. Plants like begonia, petunia, nasturtium, and zinnia are great annuals to incorporate into your yard. Hummingbirds are also fond of butterfly weed, lantana, azaleas and salvia. They also need a water source. Birds are attracted to the sound of moving water. Attaching a dripper or mister to your bird bath provides a source of moving water which backyard birds find irresistible.
Bees should soon be appearing soon. In Spring, their first food is often patches of clover. Always leave a section or two uncut for them to feed on. Bees are so very important to our lives. They are great pollinators and, of course, the only source of honey. Several local beekeepers will gladly share their knowledge with those interested. Most recently the Ruth B. French Library held an educational program about bees, with speaker Buddy Martin, owner of Zoo Bee Honey.
Both Byhalia and Potts Camp are getting ready to wind up registration for baseball, softball, and t-ball. Kids will soon be on the field practicing their skills and getting ready for games starting in mid to late April. All kids ages 3-12 are welcome. Coaches and sponsors are always needed. (I do not have information for Holly Springs.) For more information anyone can contact me at 901-2468843, jchwagg@gmail.com or you can message me on Facebook.
On Thursday of this week, I will be receiving a total knee replacement. I am certainly not looking forward to the surgery or recovery, but I will welcome being able to move with less pain. I would appreciate your prayers for the surgical team and a quick recovery for me.
Mike Hamblin continues to be hospitalized and is very ill. I am sure he and his family would covet your prayers for his complete recovery.
When you can, shop at your locally owned businesses. Typically, anyone shopping locally will be helping your neighbor, who will then invest that money back in the local community. Most of these small businesses struggled, especially during the recent snow and ice, which greatly reduced or eliminated their sales for several days.
The Byhalia Mayoral election is on March 19. If you are a registered voter in the city limits of Byhalia, take your responsibility seriously and vote for the candidate of your choice. There is so much false information going around on Facebook about how the governing bodies of the town and county work. Educate yourself before you fall for some of these rumors. I usually attend every meeting and they are published in The South Reporter for the public to keep up-to-date.
Please share your news with me at 901-246-8843, or email jchwagg@gmail.com, or message me at Clair Wagg on Facebook.