To The Best of Our Knowledge from Wisconsin Public Radio

From the first purple crocus to the opening of baseball season - spring is bustin' out all over. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge we celebrate spring with a collection of springtime rituals from across the country. Poet Molly Peacock gives us a bouquet of her favorite spring poems, while garden historian Anna Pavord turns her fancy to springtime blooms. And the author of a new history of walking says one of the most radical things you can do is get our of your car and try life on foot.

Our celebration of Spring begins with a vox-pop about the first signs of Spring. Then it's journalist Meg Cox, telling Jim Fleming about some of the family rituals she's discovered (or created) to mark Spring. Her book is "The Heart of a Family: Searching America for Traditions that Fulfill Us." Also, Anna Pavord, author of "The Tulip," tells Jim Fleming about some of her favorite Spring flowers. And farmer Rick Bishop of Mountain Sweet Berry Farm in upstate New York, tells Steve Paulson about ramps - the pungent wild leeks that announce Spring in his area.

Poet and poetry teacher Molly Peacock visits with Jim Fleming and shares some of her favorite Spring poems. Peacock is the author of "How to Read a Poem, and Start a Poetry Circle." Also, Storyteller Mara Freeman performs one of her favorite Spring stories. It's the Celtic story of Bride, also known as Saint Bridget. You'll find out more about her on her web site: www.chalicecenter.com

Environmental writer Rebecca Solnit tells Steve Paulson that she thinks walking is endangered as we become ever more of an indoor species. She recounts some of the social history of walking, as reflected in literature, and wishes that Americans would walk more.

Distribution dates:

• week of 04/23/2000 - hour 2