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Waverly Community House to premiere Greenhouse and Kitchen Show Saturday, April 30

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Pieces of the Abingtons for week of April 27, 2016

<p>TUNKHANNOCK &#8212; The first ever Bluebells Festival on the Susquehanna River will expand on the previous annual event. On Sunday, May 1, the Endless Mountains Nature Center will feature a live eagle program, guided bird and wildflower walks, crafts, rock-throwing contest, talks and hands-on demonstrations, and vendors to celebrate spring.</p><p>People of all ages can enjoy this free event.</p><p>Local author and hiker Jeff Mitchell will lead a hike on the Nature Center&#8217;s trails, while Joe DeMarco, a knowledgeable birder, will lead a bird-watching walk for beginners and discuss the Bald Eagle nest, currently with of two eaglets.</p><p>Naturalist Rebecca Lesko and Ken Klemow from Wilkes University will share their expertise on spring wildflowers and other plants. Visitors to the festival can try yoga with Kevin Hilsey and meditation with Melissa Parraga. Another topic is essential oils, with Montana Cole sharing how to create homemade tick repellents.</p><p>Family activities include a rock-skipping contest on the shore of the Susquehanna River, searches for river critters, salamanders, and reptiles, and nature scavenger hunts. Some crafts are origami bluebells and Popsicle eagles, in keeping with the theme of the Virginia Bluebells and bald eagles down at the Susquehanna River.</p><p>Another activity, the Bluebells Tea Party, requires reservations of $15 per person. The tea includes delectable finger foods, hot tea, and fruit-infused waters, served on beautiful tea cups and plates, surrounded by fanciful decorations.</p><p>Proceeds from the Bluebells Festival photo booths, bake sale, and other options benefit Nature Day Camp and the conservation efforts of the Nature Center throughout the year.</p><p>A native plant sale and hanging basket sale are currently underway on the Nature Center&#8217;s website, EndlessNature.org. Plants will be available at the Bluebells Festival and later. Additional benefits for Nature Day Camp are a basket raffle with donated baskets and gift certificates.</p><p>The live eagle presentation is sponsored by Southwestern Energy, sponsors of the Nature Center&#8217;s Eagle Day, which has been merged into the Bluebells Festival this year due to winter weather on the previous date.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">People gather at a previous bluebells event at the nature center. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ABJ-Bluebells.jpg</photo0><caption0>People gather at a previous bluebells event at the nature center. </caption0><photoCredit0>Submitted photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>For Abington Journal</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Information provided by the Endless Mountains Nature Center.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Endless Mountains Nature Center to host first ever Bluebells Festival on the Susquehanna River Sunday, May 1