April Edition
Spring has almost sprung!
Inspirational Quote of the Month
“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. It’s what the sunflowers do.”
At SWELL, we are so ready for Spring! The weather is warming, azaleas are blooming, and bees are buzzing again. There’s a lot of great things going in the area and in this newsletter. Don’t miss out, keep scrolling ; )
This month’s newsletter has:
Home Care Tip of the Month
The Quarterly Market Report
Interest Rate Rundown
Exciting Wilmington Events!
Spring Gardening tips
Home-grown delicious cocktails recipes
A Fun Fact: It’s a doozy
N.C Annual Azalea Festival
The Azalea bush has long been a symbol of the South. Their vibrant colors usher in the Springtime each year! Up and down the Southeast, you can find festivals in the shrubs’ honor.
Each year Wilmington, NC sets aside 4 days in April to show off blooms in Airlie Gardens, while street vendors line the downtown sidewalk, and various artists and bands entertain.
This year will be a little different, however. The Azalea festival will span months, instead of weeks, to accommodate for this year’s global pandemic and to follow CDC guidelines.
While the blooms only last a little while, Wilmington is going to appreciate them and local vendors and artists throughout the summer.
Get to Airlie Garden to see the hundreds of varieties of Azalea while they’re in bloom!
Then, check out the full Azalea festival schedule and get your datebook out to plan ahead!
2. Celebrate Earth Day at the Cameron Art Museum
Cameron Art Museum has raised cultural awareness in Wilmington with high-quality exhibitions, dynamic and interactive art displays, and an enhanced lifelong love of learning in the arts.
April 22nd is Earth Day! In honor of our planetary home, CAM will be hosting Flow ILM.
Flow ILM is performance series by the Algae Society which is comprised of scientists, researchers, and artists. They work to display the invisible world of algae in a performance art-style presentation.
Observe the algae of the Cape Fear River come to life with movement, sound, dancing, and water shows!
3. Poplar Grove Plantation
Under the light of the full moon, take a guided tour through the Manor house and try not to get spooked!
April 27th, 2021 ushers in the ‘pink moon’ and this one is a special supermoon!
What better place is there to observe the magic of the moon than out in the middle of nowhere, in nature, at a haunted plantation…?
The Foy family owned and operated Poplar Grove Plantation for 5 generations.
Discover the three famous phantoms that still roam the grounds and make their presence known!
Feeling brave?
April 15 ~ Cirque Éloize Hotel
April 17 ~ Philly Comedy Show
April 21 ~ Paint your pet! At Wine & Design
April 25 ~ Outdoor music at the Alcove Beer Garden!
April 26 ~ Thalian Hall showing Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds
The easiest way to make all of your gardening ambitions come true is by working with nature.
Discover a handful of the plants that thrive in our area, and will leave your garden glowing with color with minimum effort!
P.S. These are all perennials….which means they will come back next year, too!
The Azalea…obviously
There are nearly 10,000 different varieties of Azalea bushes, which means, they definitely come in your favorite color :)
This flowering shrub fills up an empty corner of your garden in no time! They especially love being planted under the shade of trees.
Butterfly Bush
Because who doesn’t want to look outside and see masses of butterflies?!
This brightly colored bush grows fast and is easy to care for!
Purple Coneflower
AKA Echinacea
Our purple Southern daisy!
This tough native plant actually symbolizes health and strength.
Drought-tolerant and prickly, so be careful!
Elephants Ear
If flowers aren’t your thing and are just looking for some greenery and depth to your garden, then Elephant’s Ear is for you!
This tropical plant is easy to care for and needs lots of space to get…well, as big as an actual elephant’s ear!
Rosemary
Despite being native to the Mediterranean, this plant loves it in Wilmington!
Rosemary takes full sun and grows slowly, so be patient! The flavor you can bring to the table is well worth the wait.
While it’s difficult to go wrong any time you play in the dirt, these 5 varieties are sure to thrive in your garden!
Check out Wilmington’s local Farmers Supply for all your gardening needs and wants!
Rosemary is a deliciously fragrant herb, whether you grow your own or not. Here are some tasty ways to incorporate this spice into your adult beverages!
One of the best tricks of a bartender's trade is simple syrup, a 1:1 ratio of water and sugar adds sweetness to any cocktail. This syrup is so versatile, you can flavor it just about any way that you want to!
Rosemary Simple Syrup Recipe
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
8 sprigs rosemary
Bring 1 cup of water to boil on the stovetop. Add rosemary sprigs, cover, and let steep for up to an hour.
Strain, and add sugar. Stir until well-blended.
Store up to 2 weeks in the fridge!
Now for the really fun part!
You can use this syrup in teas, lemonades, and cocktails. Here are a few of SWELL’s favorite ways to enjoy Rosemary Simple Syrup!
Greyhound Upgrade
This classic and refreshing cocktail has been around for decades! Use your rosemary simple syrup to substitute plain simple syrup and you won’t be sorry!
1.5 oz. your favorite vodka
1 oz. Rosemary simple syrup
4 oz. Fresh Grapefruit juice
Combine these ingredients in a glass over ice, and garnish with a sprig of rosemary!
2. Rosemary Poloma
1.5 oz your favorite tequila
3/4 oz Rosemary simple syrup
1/2 oz lime juice
3 oz Grapefruit soda (Izze, Jarritos, San Pellegrino)
Combine the first 3 ingredients well.
Pour over ice, add your soda!
This cocktail goes well with a sugared OR salted rim…your choice! Garnish with more delicious rosemary and a fresh grapefruit slice :)
3. Old-Fashioned Twist
2 oz your favorite whiskey, bourbon, or rye whiskey!
1/2 oz Rosemary simple
Dash of bitters…classicly, it is Angostura…however, check these out to try!
Splash of water (very optional)
Combine ingredients, stir, and pour over ice!
Garnish with rosemary sprig and twist of orange peel. Sip and enjoy!
For added flavor, try lightly toasting the orange peel and rosemary, carefully with a flame!
Azaleas are beautiful but did you know…
The Azalea flower is highly toxic to humans and dogs!
A long time ago, this flower did not symbolize rebirth and Spring. It was a symbol of caution and death…if one received a bouquet of Azaleas, it meant the sender was issuing a death threat!
Celebration of the Azalea is not limited to the U.S...
This flowering shrub is native to parts of Asia; Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong all have their own festivals in appreciation of the visual feast that brings the spring!
In Chinese culture, it is pleasantly known as the ‘thinking of home bush’. Not at all hazardous or foreboding…
Summer in Wilmington can get really hot. Like really, really hot!
It’s important to make sure your HVAC is running well BEFORE something goes wrong and you’re suddenly sweating more than you ever knew you could…
Helpful HVAC Tips:
Make sure there is no debris around the outside unit.
When was the last time you replaced the filter?
It also might be time to consider upgrading your filter to a high-efficiency pleated one.
Check to make sure the cooling function works before you actually need it.
Consider an annual maintenance service:
A certified technician will check refrigerant levels and test airflow. They can make sure all the main electrical connections and hoses are tight and really connected.
Plus, the tech will look for signs of wear on key components, including the compressor, tubing, fan, and motor blades.
Investing a little money into regular maintenance can actually save you money in the long run!
On average, the cost of an annual maintenance check-up for your HVAC system is $160.
The average cost of a new HVAC: $7,000.
You don’t have to be a mathematician to know that it’s worth the check-up!
It’s been a crazy year so far and there’s more to come!
Check out the latest SWELL Market Report for Q1 2021 to find out more.
Interest Rates are still at historic lows!
Thanks to Daniel Pedroni from North State Bank for sharing his interest rate data.
Conventional 30 Year Fixed, 20% Down Payment:
Rate: 3.125%, APR: 3.201%
Conventional 15 Year Fixed, 20% Down Payment:
Rate: 2.625%, APR: 2.760%
FHA 30 Year Fixed, 3.5% Down Payment:
Rate: 2.75%, APR: 3.767%
VA 30 Year Fixed, $0 Down Payment:
Rate: 2.75%, APR: 2.959%
Every lender has their own rates for the loan types above. This is meant to show where interest rates are generally. Talk to Daniel Pedroni or your lender to see what rates you can qualify for. All Rate Quotes assume top tier credit, 30 Rate Lock, Single Family Dwelling, Rates effective 3/31/2021:
