Royalty arrived in northwest Arkansas several days ago. No, I'm not talking about the Naturals' opening baseball game last Thursday night, and not the FLW bass tournament that brought some of the nation's top fishermen/ladies to Benton County. I'm not even talking about the costumed Renaissance players in Old Town Park where costumes this Saturday will bring a sense of the dress of several centuries ago.
The royalty I refer to always greets us about the first of April every year. They were a smidgen late this year. But they made up for that oversight by strutting their colors in unbelievable numbers.
A drive around town showed the royalty visited almost every home site. And a drive south from Gravette to Decatur brought home, in no uncertain terms, the majesty that we were all exposed to for such a short visit.
Of course, by the time you read this, the royal troupe will have traveled northward. I'm assuming that is so; however, the Mason-Dixon line may or may not be the stopping point for such a magnificent display of purple -- the royal color so revered by monarchs, kings and princes of yesteryear.
Sad (?) to say, such royalty is not revered with bows or handshakes by local folks. Clenched fists might be the actual sign, along with muttered expletives under breath. Perhaps that is why, by now, only royal remains are visible as the troupe has fled. But not before their calling cards were scattered throughout the region in quantities that will guarantee a royal reappearance next spring.
I experienced my own re-introduction to royal purple at my house. Earlier this spring, I had threatened to lock the gate and post not-welcome signs surrounding our plot. But, being the procrastinator I am, I never got around to it.
Next year will be different. Even though we are guaranteed royal purple will be back with us, I plan, not to procrastinate, but to act, just as soon as the first signs of appearance, to spray, spray, spray weed killer to rid the lawn and garden plot of that pesky henbit and purple deadnettle that really are quite pretty after a long winter, but so unwelcome. I'll take the gold of dandelions any day.
Tune in next April. Better yet, drive by my plot and confront me with the declaration, "I see you procrastinated again," as you grin and wave as you drive away.
But for now ... now is the time to treat your fields and lawns and roadsides with weed killer to foil another royal purple visitor: Thistles. A bane to farmers and, in lawns, a challenge for bare feet.
As a parting, positive thought, there is another royal purple that will be arriving very soon, one that will receive a royal welcome -- the fragrant lavender purple of lilac blossoms.
Dodie Evans is editor emeritus of the Westside Eagle Observer. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 04/16/2014