Hibernation is over, bring on the fun

We’ve had a nice little run of days of blue skies and warmer temperatures, so I’ll take that as a sign the hibernation is over.

Some of these rainy days have made it harder to roll out of the cave — and I don’t think anyone is a fan of the thunderstorms we’ve had — but, thankfully, the hibernation can officially be declared finished until next winter.

I know many of you have already been rummaging about outside. Truth be told, I’ve slipped out a time or two myself, gathering enjoyable glimpses of the flowers and trees that are Benton County’s early bloomers.

But spring has sprung, and it’s time to set about the happy task of enjoying what the area has to offer. And boy, is that list long and promising.

This week’s offering isn’t by any stretch of the imagination an attempt to list everything in the area that’s worth experiencing here in our neck of the woods now that the weather is warmer. No, it would take many columns to complete that list.

These are just a few of the sights and sounds on my radar for this spring.

• Besides all the blooming things, spring always makes me think of birds. Yes, I try to keep them fed in the winter, too, when food is harder for them to find, but I especially like watching birds in the spring. I love keeping my feeders filled for them, like so many Bella Vistans do here, which means I’ve been spending more and more time at The Bluebird Shed with more trips in the near future.

I learn something new every time I go to The Bluebird Shed. Butch Tetzlaff, the owner, is very helpful and informative when it comes to all bird things. For instance, the last three times I visited the Shed I learned:

1. The black birds that swarmed my yard a few weeks ago, grazing on the grass and weed seeds, don’t like hard shells, like sunflower seeds in the shell, because their beaks aren’t strong enough to break the seeds open. Tetzlaff said he’d seen these birds take the shells to a bird bath and soak them until they got soft enough for them to crack open.

2. The oriole migration through Bella Vista should be underway, if not now than any day now.

3. The male pileated woodpecker has a small patch of red under its beak, like the bottom half of a goatee, or what the cool people call a “soul patch.” Tetzlaff had a photo of two of these big birds on a local feeder, and I’ve seen many photos in posts in Bella Vista groups on Facebook. These birds look truly remarkable.

• Trails. Hiking. My goal is to put these two items together (flatter versions at first, of course) to form some wonderful outdoor exercise time. Which brings me to …

• The Tanyard Creek Nature Trail. Surely the trail is as gorgeous in person as it is in the photos I’ve seen. Can’t wait to find that out for myself.

• Attending concerts of the Community Band at Blowing Springs Park. Lynn Atkins has a nice story in this edition of The Weekly Vista that includes the band’s schedule through Labor Day. I can’t wait to hear what a big band sounds like on the stage at the park, with the bluff as the backdrop.

• Speaking of Blowing Springs Park, this place has become a favorite of mine no matter the weather. It was beautiful in the fall and winter, and also last week when the rainstorm pumped up the creek. Spring and summer at the park should be fantastic.

• With so many fishing holes in Bella Vista, I’m thinking I’m not worth my salt if I can’t hook a fish or two out of at least one of them. I figure my first stop should be to pay a visit to

Lakepoint Marina to see Trey Anson and Glenn Tynes for a license and to gather their “expert intel” on what bait is on the minds of those residing in the various lakes.

• Golf? Maybe. I’m gradually starting to get my courage up to take that one out for a test drive after so much time away from the game. We’ll see.

• Disc golf? Yes. I’ve heard good things about the course at Branchwood. Even though I’ve never played before, I like throwing things, and I like being outdoors in beautiful surroundings, so this makes disc golf the perfect storm.

• I don’t have a dog, but I like the idea of having a dog park in town. Maybe I’ll find a neighbor who would let me borrow their dog for an afternoon visit to the dog park.

• Farmers Market? Yes, definitely. I love strolling through Farmers Markets and can’t wait to see what Bella Vista’s has to offer.

• The Bella Vista Historical Museum? Wishing Spring Gallery? Bella Vista Public Library? Yes. Yes. And yes. Of course, these are all locations that can be enjoyed all year long, but when I’m holed up in my annual hibernation it’s harder to get out to visit them as often as I’d like, but now that the weather’s nicer the opportunities for more visits are greater.

So, now that the annual hibernation is in the rear-view mirror it is time (thankfully) to look ahead to nicer weather and being able to participate in the long list of things to enjoy in Bella Vista.