The Lavender Blue mascot cat. Courtesy of Lake County Wine Studio.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio hosting a “Spring Fling” wine tasting event featuring the new Lavender Blue wines on Saturday, April 16.

The event will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the wine studio, located at the corner of First and Main streets in historic Upper Lake, across from the famous Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Saloon & Café.

Featured will be winemaker, Stephen C. Dilley and especially prepared appetizers created from his repertoire of recipes.

Recipe cards will be available for attendees to take for their own entertaining enjoyment.

The wine and appetizer sampler is $15 per person and will feature the Lavender Blue 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 Sweet Suave Blanc, 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Bronze Medal Winner at the S.F. Chronicle Wine Competition), 2008 Liquido D’Oro dessert wine and a Tawny Syrah.

For more information, call Susan Feiler at 707-275-8030 or 707-293-8752.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Calpine Visitors Center, 15500 Central Park Road, Middletown.

There will be free bus tours to a geothermal power plant; reservations are required.

There will be booths, guest speakers,musical performers, activities and much more.

Please call 707-987-4270 for reservations.

The meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Foster's Freeze, located at 6252 E. Highway 20 in Lucerne.

Pregathering starts at 11 a.m.

The public is welcome.

There will be separate areas for children from 0 to10 years of age to gather eggs.

Please bring your own baskets or bags to collect your eggs.

The cost is $2 per child.

While you are there, enjoy a lunch of homemade tamales and rice for only $2, or purchase a delicious home-baked item from the bake sale.

The funds raised will support the Kelseyville High School Senior Class senior trip to Disneyland.

Hikers take part in the first Sierra Club Wildflower Walk of the year on Saturday, April 10, 2011. Photo courtesy of Kim Riley.

The walk was led by Karen Sullivan and Kim Riley, along with Sierra Club hike leader Steve Devoto.

Plants were identified by both Latin and common names by botanist Ed Dearing.

As an added, unplanned surprise, bird photographer and naturalist Brad Barnwell was coincidentally at Highland Springs as well and loaned binoculars to the wildflower group to view a soaring bald eagle above the dam parking area.

The weather was perfect for hiking around the different trails in search of bitterroot, butter and eggs, popcorn flower, blue larkspur, scarlet larkspur, baby blue eyes, purple mouse ears, shooting stars, sickle leaved onion, birds eye gillia, cream cups, Western Hounds Tongue, checker lily, California Fawn Lily, lupine, California Buttercups, goldfields, white baby blue eyes, Indian warrior, blue eyed Mary, and Purdy's Lily.

Whew! And there’s more blooming left to come!

More wildflower pictures can be seen on the new kiosk at the Highland Springs dam parking area or, better yet, come to our next Sierra Club Wildflower Walk on Sunday, May 1, 9 a.m.

You can make your reservations by emailing Steve Devoto at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information about the trails at Highland Springs, contact Highland Springs Trails Volunteers Karen Sullivan This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Kim Riley This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Some of the wildflowers seen along the Sierra Club Wildflower Walk of the year on Saturday, April 10, 2011. Photo courtesy of Kim Riley.

The new kiosk at the Highland Springs dam parking area features wildflower pictures. Photo courtesy of Kim Riley.

This event is at the Middletown Methodist Church Social Hall, 15833 Armstrong at Washington, Middletown starting at noon.

Lunch reservations are requested.

Lunch will be served by Catholic Charities Rural Food Program volunteers at a cost of $5 per person.

For lunch reservations and information, contact Helen Whitney, 707-928-9812 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Middletown Luncheon Club (MLC) meets every third Wednesday of the month from January through November, providing informative speakers and presentations to the community.

Different local nonprofit organizations provide lunch each month and receive a donation.