Between the bright yellow bursts of jonquils and the warm rays of afternoon sunshine, spring's presence is making itself known here in northeast Alabama.

Another sure sign of spring's arrival is the Persephone Garden Club annual "Welcome Spring" plant sale. This year's event is scheduled from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 16, at Anniston's First Presbyterian Church on Henry Road.

As usual, the sale will feature a variety of plants and flowering baskets, as well as a few vegetables and herbs. Butterfly bushes, Lenten roses, tea olives, blue hostas, knockout roses and several varieties of ferns will be available for purchase, as will geraniums, ornamental grasses and tomato plants.

Swan Cottage's Marilyn Blair will put together some beautiful garden containers for sale, and is also planting a pair of gorgeous large, ornamental urns, which will be raffled the day of the sale.

Plant sale shoppers will be treated to a light lunch of finger sandwiches, fruits and cookies, along with coffee and tea— all at no charge.

Persephone Garden Club committee chairs heading up the event include Wilma Brown, banner; Judy Jennings, decorations; Sandi Lawson, invitations; Lauren Ward and Marjorie De Mille, publicity; Elaine McDaniel, Linda McCloud, Rita Harris and Carolyn Hootz, cashiers; Loretta Carnes, Bettye Kreh, June Gray and Glenda Phillips, food; Wilma Brown and Sandra Reid, staging; and Anne Reid, purchasing of plants and flowers.

This year, the club voted to donate proceeds from the plant sale to Mercy House (a shelter for women subject to domestic violence) and to Meals of Mercy (meals served at First United Methodist Church of Anniston to hungry members of our community).

To share your news with Small Talk, contact Annette Maddox at starsmalltalk@yahoo.com.

Save the date

Golf tournaments are popping up almost as quickly as those jonquils, and here’s another good one: the Lea Fite Memorial Golf Tournament, benefiting Steel Magnolias Breast Cancer Support Group. Scheduled for Saturday, May 8 (1 p.m. shotgun start) at Pine Hill, the four-person scramble is $50 per player or $200 per team. Lunch will be provided. Deadline for registration is April 22. Contact Jimmy Taylor, 256-463-7620.