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Saturday, April 13 Bluebells at the Bend Festival Spring awakens at Riverbend Park when the Virginia Bluebells are in bloom. Bluebells are native wildflowers that carpet the forests, putting on a spectacular display. Bring the whole family for this fun event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and enjoy wildflower walks, wagon rides, hands-on activities, live animals, and music. The cost is $5 per person; three years and under admitted free of charge. For information, call 703-759-9018. Garden Sprouts: Dirt Dwellers Dirt is everywhere and it’s filled with special creatures. Children ages three to five with an accompanying adult will explore how dirt dwellers help gardens grow and make their own dirt farm to take home. This one-hour program at Green Spring Gardens starts at 11 a.m. The cost is $5 per person. Register online. For information, call 703-642-5173. Family Fun: Worm Workshop Explore the dark and wonderful world of worms in the indoor compost bin at Green Spring Gardens from 2 to 3 p.m. Then learn how to build your own 10-gallon bin with newspaper bedding, food scraps, and real live wiggly worms that will recycle your garbage into rich compost. Enjoy a wormy snack too! Participants must be at least age five. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. The cost is $25 per person with a kit or $6 per person without a kit. Register online. For information, call 703-642-5173. Homes for Native Bees Denise Shreeve is on a mission to help our native bees and she wants to recruit you to help. Learn more about our busy native pollinators and how you can help them by creating native bee homes for your yard at Green Spring Gardens from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Denise will show the elements needed for a native bee house that you can create on your own or purchase after the talk. Participants must be at least age 15. The cost is $12 per person. Register online. For information, call 703-642-5173. Sounds of the Night Campfire Sounds of the night fill our ears with delight. Learn to identify nocturnal animal calls and enjoy stories of local denizens of the night around a campfire at Hidden Oaks Nature Center from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. Make s’mores! The cost is $6 per person. Register online. For information, call 703-941-1065. Best Bird Gardening Tips Create your own bird sanctuary! Learn all the secrets to planting for birds through slides, a garden tour, and planting demo at Huntley Meadows Park from 3 to 5 p.m. Whether you have an apartment balcony, suburban yard or rural estate, you learn the best native plants for your property and all the tricks to attracting a variety of birdlife every month of the year. The program cost includes a native wildflower and seed packet for every participant, and additional bird-attracting plants will be available for sale. The cost is $8 per person. Register online. For information, call 703-768-2525. Saturday, April 13 & Sunday, April 14 Frying Pan Farm Park Horse Show Series Join us for a day of thrills and excitement as local equestrians compete for ribbons, awards, trophies and cash prizes at the equestrian center. Watch the hunter competitors on Saturday as they skillfully navigate obstacles that were commonly found in old country settings on many local farms. Cheer on your favorite local jumper rider on Sunday as they race against the clock to be the fastest rider to clear technically challenging courses of brightly painted jumps with laser controlled timers. Spectators are admitted free of charge. For information, call 703-437-9101. Saturdays, April 6 & 13 Tasting Party: Umami Means "Delicious" Sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. Celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival with the fifth taste that’s fundamental to Japanese cuisine. Explore the savory taste of umami, its history, health benefits, and the taste research science behind it at Historic Green Spring from 10 a.m. to noon. Sample umami-rich foods and learn how to use its attributes to enhance your cooking. The cost is $27 per person. Register online. For information, call 703-941-7987.