Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

We were supposed to cut the grass two weekends ago. It was a beautiful day for it—sunny, 70-some degrees, light breeze. But when we ventured to the backyard, a beautiful sight greeted us: A little meadow, brimming with wild violets, a patch of daffodils, barely budding peonies, purple dead-nettle, and of course, Virginia bluebells. 

It was so pretty, we decided to wait a week to cut the grass. We played with some (foam) swords. I hauled a table and chair out under my favorite cedar tree to write for a bit. I even made friends with a bee pollinating everything. It was a nice reminder to slow down in a world that constantly feels like it’s speeding up. I hope you’re able to take a moment to smell the flowers this weekend—because I’m so glad you’re here. 

Here’s what you need to know: Spring in Virginia ushers in a vibrant display of color as flowers begin to bloom across the commonwealth. Whether you’re a flower enthusiast, a lover of festivals, or just looking for a fun outdoor experience, Virginia offers a range of celebrations that highlight the beauty of its gardens and natural landscapes.

Our top picks:

• The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester has been a cherished tradition for about a century, celebrating the arrival of spring with a variety of events steeped in history. The 2025 festival, scheduled for April 25 through May 4, will once again bring together visitors and locals for a lively mix of parades, performances, and special attractions.

• The award-winning Leesburg Flower & Garden Festival, taking place April 26 and 27, has been a spring tradition since 1990, attracting around 30,000 visitors annually to the charming streets of historic downtown Leesburg. Known for its stunning flower and plant displays, the festival showcases a range of outdoor living products, landscaping services, and gardening tools.
• Each spring, Historic Garden Week offers tours of private gardens, public landscapes, and historic sites across Virginia, enhanced by over 1,000 floral arrangements by club members. From April 27 to May 3, a total of 29 unique tours will showcase more than 120 homes and gardens, with proceeds funding historic garden restoration and research fellowships.

Ready to blossom? Experience these and other floral wondersthroughouet Virginia at our link below. 

Question of the Week: Where is your favorite quiet place in Virginia—where you go to reconnect with yourself, with nature, or with friends? Let me know at amie@couriernewsroom.com.

Democrat Abigail Spanberger’s run for Virginia governor could reshape the political landscape in the commonwealth, with issues like education, the economy, and abortion rights at the forefront of voters’ priorities.

As a former CIA officer and three-term congresswoman with a reputation for bipartisanship, Spanberger has built her campaign around solutions for working families, strengthening public services, and positioning her as a contrast to extreme Republican leadership. If elected, she would be Virginia’s first woman governor, marking a historic shift in the state’s leadership.

Learn more about Spanberger—and what she hopes to do as governor—by clicking the link below.

• There are drastic changes ahead for public education in the United States, and these changes can impact our K-12 students via radical, severe cuts to public education funding. In this recent opinion piece written by Marianne Burke, the writer encourages Virginians to “just say no” to private school vouchers (READ MORE HERE).

• Did you know that  more than 40% of adults in the United States have fatty liver disease? A new comprehensive liver care unit in Richmond seeks to help those battling the illness (READ MORE HERE).

• After the election in Wisconsin, Virginia Democrats aren’t too worried about Elon Musk getting involved with our elections this fall. We caught up with VA House Speaker Don Scott before heading into the General Assembly veto session (WATCH HERE).

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