[/caption]Natchitoches kicked off spring with the Eleventh Annual Bloomin’ on the Bricks this past Saturday, March 26th. I headed to the festival around ten o’clock with my pet lamb on a leash. It took me a long time to walk just two blocks, because everyone wanted me to stop so they could pet my lamb. I was ready to move on to the festival, because I wanted to see the
zoo animals. This was the first year that the Alexandria Zoo brought animals to the festival. The zoo was part of the children’s craft area.
There was so much to see and hear. On the way to children’s tent, I passed many booths with plants and herbs for sale. I got a free sample of an Italian Ice. It was a small spoon sample, but it was tasty enough that I went back and bought a homerun size later. It still took about ten minutes to move five feet, because so many people wanted to pet my lamb. I think the lamb may have been the most popular attraction at the festival. I finally made it to the children’s tent. I got to touch snakes, decorate an egg, make a flower pen and see a Southern Crested Screamer, a large bird native to Venezuela.
Music and gardens go together in spring. The Lukejazz Trio played from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The music made the whole atmosphere seem lively. As I made my way over to the new garden area, I bought some bee’s wax and delicious honey next to the jazz stage. The Beau Jardin is a new waterfall and garden. The city offered a sneak preview of it as part of the festivities. The waterfall starts behind the visitor center and drops down the hill to the level of the river.
This free event is a great way to celebrate the beginning of spring. If you missed this event, you can still have a chance to enjoy music and gardens along the riverbank at the Green Market each Saturday beginning in April.
Veronica Sturman
