I asked you folks for shots of spring blooming and you delivered. 

Keep an eye on our social media for a montage of all the prettiest shots, but in the meantime, thanks for all the lovely photos. You folks have to be the nicest people that exist. 

These azaleas are brought to you by Sue Correll near China Grove.  

The dogwoods in bloom in Raleigh, via Cardinal & Pine reader Jill Davis.

For our garden-lovers, the good news is, depending on where you are in North Carolina, you might have seen our last frost of the season.

The “last frost” date is important for those folks who are planting. Frost can do a number on tender, young plants. 

For central NC, the last frost tends to fall in the first two weeks of April, although folks at higher elevations should expect more too-cold mornings into May. Search here by zip code to find out your expected last frost. 

Here’s a sneak peek at the news in today’s newsletter:

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This might be the only video on Trump’s tariffs that isn’t about the stock market.

Why? Because, while more Americans than ever might own stock, especially in retirement accounts, the richest 10% of Americans hold more than 90% of the stocks. 

In other words, while it’s important to cover the stock market’s ups and downs, for most Americans, the biggest impact of Trump’s “put-a-tariff-on-everything” policy, if it ever goes into effect, will be the rising cost of goods, especially your groceries.

Forest bathing at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. (Angie Stegall)

The term Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” originated in the early 1980s in Japan as a way to combat sensory overload, depression and other negative effects from a busy lifestyle.

“It’s about getting out of your head and getting into your five senses out in nature,” Angie Stegall, a certified forest therapy guide through the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy, told us.

“It is meant to be meditative, gentle and easy, and pleasurable. Good for your immune system, cardiovascular system. [It is] very good for your creativity because it relaxes your brain.”

You’ve convinced us. If that sounds like fun to you, click here or on the button below for six places in North Carolina where you can try it out.

1. N.C. lawmakers move to stop votes from being discarded based on post-election rule changes. ProPublica

Democrats have introduced a measure designed to block a right-wing strategy to disallow ballots after they were cast. It’s being used to try to upend the results of a key state Supreme Court race.

2. RFK Jr.’s federal health department cuts sow confusion, uncertainty and fear in North Carolina. NC Health News

Federal workers and grant recipients wade into uncertain waters as they await details of a restructuring plan promoted by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

3. Dr. Karrie Dixon officially installed as 13th chancellor of NC Central University. ABC-11

Several people Friday highlighted Dixon’s leadership and compassion, saying they look forward to having her lead the HBCU.

Shutterstock

In last week’s newsletter, we took you east, and y’all were ready for it. 

Credit goes though to Janelle Booth Clevinger of Wilson, who correctly identified our photo as coming from East Carolina University’s campus in Greenville. 

Let’s test you again, North Carolina. Today’s twilight view also comes from out east. Where are we? Be the first to write me with the correct answer and you’ll get a shout-out in this newsletter next week. 

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Billy Ball. I’m a NC native and journalist. I tend to lean left on opinion, but I lean no way on facts. Cardinal & Pine is happily free to read for everyone. Your financial support means a lot to us. Donate here.

Send us your feedback and news tips to info@cardinalpine.com