Piper Piper Fellowsh ip Fellowsh ip [ pie-per-fel-oh-ship ] noun 1. An opportunity for nonprofit leaders to reach, retool, and revitalize. 2. A Piper Fellowship can be transformational for both the leader and the nonprofit organization. Sentence: Sentence: “It gave me perspective; my Piper Fellowship was life-changing.” Learn more at pipertrust.org/Fellows21 © 2021 Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Send Your Comments To: publisher@frontdoorsmedia.com “ Your newest reader!” — CAROLINE CONNER WHAT YOU’RE SAYING {reader feedback} “ Thank you for doing what you do each day. You make us a better community.” — STEVE ZABILSKI “ Thank you for being the conduit for truly spreading good news!” — DINAH BROOKS

• Straighten up. The glorious weather offered a chance to meander. I dusted off pots, hosed off the patio and staged new plant vignettes. It felt great to make my world look and function better while letting my mind run loose. • Try something new. Remember what I said about beautiful plants dying? It happens. And it doesn’t mean I won’t try new things. So I’m planting passion flowers in front of my new trellises and hoping for the best. The theme of this issue is Spring Philanthropy, so yeah, maybe these thoughts are off-topic. But are they? Is there a skill, project or relationship you can nourish with a little care? Something you can cut back on to lighten your load? A new thing you can try? Me, too. So let’s dig into the season — and the issue — looking to grow good things. P.S. Please be sure to check out the special Furry Friends Directory on page 35. It’s a helpful guide, whether you want to adopt from, volunteer at, or support local animal organizations or businesses, or if you’re simply an animal lover! Karen Werner | EDITOR I’m not sure if it was the pandemic, but something told me to get outside. After all, time is fleeting and summer is hot, so I heeded the call to enjoy the weather while I could. While finishing this issue, I did the unheard of (for me): I paused every afternoon to spend an hour or so in the garden. Now, I am no master gardener, but I feel like I cracked some code on arid gardening (and life!) while I watered and weeded and dug. • Repeat what works. Over the years, I’ve planted a lot of beautiful plants. Most of them have died. But my hearty firestick, brittlebush, elephant’s food and aloe keep not only surviving scorching summers but thriving. So guess what I seeded, divided and repotted? • Ditch what doesn’t. I usually hem and haw over what to plant and what to pull. Not this year! I cut back overgrowth and pruned and deadheaded with abandon, and it felt awesome. • Nourish. Last year, I grew a bumper crop of limes and one, lonely clementine. Vowing to do better (go, lemons!), I fertilized on time and crossed my fingers. EDITOR’S NOTE {on the job} DIGGING INTO THE SEASON FRONTDOORS MEDIA | 9 | MAR/APR 2021