It was one of those March days...

 

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”

― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Indeed, Dickens sums up the exact weather in San Diego right now. However, the rains in Southern California have resulted in an early spring superbloom.

The Flower Fields in Carlsbad are a shimmering living rainbow every spring. Guests can wander among brilliant, giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers, stroll the scenic walking paths, and enjoy fun activities for the whole family. March 1 - March 10. Get your tickets and go outside to play!

March 1215, 2026, The Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park will celebrate the tradition of hanami, or "flower viewing" during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Nothing can upstage the beauty of the blooms, but additional activities will be offered during the event, such as an art exhibit, a wall of lanterns, food, beer, sake, vendors, and performers. Grab your tickets now!

San Diego WAVE Home Opener March 14!

Kris is a big fan of our San Diego WAVE Fútbol Club - the most successful expansion team in National Women's Soccer League history! Their 5th season kicks of March 14, 2026 at Snapdragon Stadium. Purchase tickets now to reserve the best seats!

We Love Poems in the Springtime

Mardi Gras and the start of the Lunar New Year - 2026 is the Year of the Double Fire Horse - have passed and March 20 marks the vernal equinox - the first day of spring. Perfect for short reads between showers and rainbows, here are some favorite springtime poetry reads from the staff at Bluestocking Books:

Kris - “I have discovered Mary Oliver and I like that her poems are skillful and also accessible for non-scholars (like me) to appreciate. She reminds me to observe and enjoy the littlest things. Maybe her line from ‘The Summer Day’ will challenge you, too: ‘Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?’” 

“The Summer Day” was published in Mary Oliver’s 1990 collection, “House of Light”.

Dawn -  “Who better than Walt Whitman can express man’s connection to nature? His poem, ‘These I, Singing In Spring’ was first published as part of ‘Calamus’ in the 1860 edition of ‘Leaves of Grass’. Mentally traverse Walt’s steps through a spring garden, past the gates, wading along a pond-side, by post-and-rail fences, and far into the forest, collecting tokens for lovers alive and in spirit all that blooms with the season - lilac, pine, moss, laurel leaves, sage, maple twigs, wild orange, chestnut, stems of currants, aromatic cedar. Read, then step out yourself into the water or into the woods to breathe in the earthy smell and enjoy the silence.”

Mary -”I love it when poetry is accessible and a poet has the courage to share their whole heart. Andrea Gibson’s poetry is deceptively easy to read, but be prepared for their words to hit hard. You might want to have a tissue ready for the tears. But don’t worry, they’re the good kind of tears.”

Andrea Gibson’s most recent release is YOU BETTER BE LIGHTNING.

New Life for Old Books

Springtime is the season for new beginnings. Kris, bookbinder and owner of Bluestocking Books, has been giving old books new beginnings for decades, offering them a second chance to be read, collected, and enjoyed. Bluestocking Books now has a display of books that Kris has renewed that are available for purchase. Just ask us to point them out when you visit the bookstore.

National Book Ban Bill

A nationwide book ban bill has been introduced (HR 7661) that would throw schools and school libraries into chaos. In the name of persecuting LGBTQ+ voices — especially transgender people — it would force massive book removals in schools nationwide. 

Your House Representative needs to hear from you so they know supporting this bill will have political consequences. 

Under this broad, badly written law, it would be impossible for schools to know if they’re safe from liability. The law: 

• Prohibits funding from a law that has stood since 1965 from being used to “provide or promote literature or other materials to, children under the age of 18 that includes sexually oriented material”
• Defines “sexually oriented material” to include “nude adults, individuals who are stripping, or lewd or lascivious dancing” as well as “involves gender dysphoria or transgenderism”
• Limits carveouts to classic literature as defined by Compass Classroom, an organization whose mission is to “teach…kids to think Biblically about the world”

You should be concerned by the impact this will have on literacy, schools’ acquisitions of books, and the reputational harm to books and authors that would result.