Last week we had a grand time at Oak Harbor’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The weather might have been a touch gray for some but for us, it was perfect. Green and gray certainly go together.

There was at least one scandal reported at the parade. Grand marshall Dennis Sullivan sported not a stitch of visible green. He made a valiant effort to camouflage this indiscretion by carrying his granddaughter Mara, knowing everyone looks at babies, not adults. We can forgive Dennis’ lack of green after seeing his handmade walking sticks. While not as stout as sheillalaghs, his sticks bore decorations dear to the Irish heart. One stick ended in a coiled snake’s head. The other bore deeply carved, brightly painted fish, the salmon of wisdom from Eire.

Oak Harbor’s women of mystery and decolletege, the Crab Queens, were conspiculously absent from the gaiety. But as their regal majesties’ court reporter relates, the delicate madams had their reasons.

“The queens found last year’s parade a bit cold for their perilously cut ball gowns. And March 17 marked the return of several members from abroad. Their queenly selves decided to mark the occasion with a potluck instead of parade. When asked if they were bereft over the monumental hole they would place in the proceedings, one queen remarked: ‘We will feel warm.’

The Crab Queens plan to make their appearance at Holland Happening, riding elegantly aboard their conveyance, Blue Thunder, in all their bewigged, be-rhinestoned and tiaraed magnificence.”

We trust the April weather will be warmer for these ladies.

Luckily, one group of women dressed appropriately for the March weather. Red Hot Ya-Ya’s sported red hats, sweatshirts and neck-warming boas to the afternoon affair. These Red Hat Society chapter members made magnificent visions in vintage cars.

Once the Irish have their day, it’s time to prepare to honor the Dutch with Holland Happening in April

The first day of spring, Saturday, March 20, saw crowds fill Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens. The Greenbank gardens are beginning to bloom with bulbs, rhodies and many other spectacular plants. The gardens’ spring opening coincided with a spring rhody sale. People from all over the Sound converged in trucks and vans to snap up bargains.

We heard that Kristi O’Donnell, the garden manager, favored an Easter bonnet over her traditional bright beret. The departure from her usual style made her almost unrecognizable, we are told. That is until she laughed her very recognizable chortle.

Last week’s People & Places contained an error that we must correct. Lisa Barrington’s father was Bill Barrington, not her first husband. She has only been married once, to Brian. We regret the error.