It’s hard to imagine the weather being more perfect in February than what we enjoyed Saturday.

The sun and 60s felt great on a day with many community happenings going on.

My day started at the Grow Selma community garden workday. I’ve seen plans for the garden, but Saturday was for the first time I’ve ever gotten out there to see the vision for myself.

It’s an impressive plan, one that will take a few years and a lot of community support to pull off, but what a difference it will make in Selma.

I don’t know when the planned pond, greenhouse and amphitheater might be finished, but I know that soon people will start enjoying the fruit of volunteers labor.

Apple and pear trees were planted this weekend that could start producing small fruit as early as the summer.

Now granted, the squirrels and birds will probably get most of those, but it won’t be long until those trees are producing healthy fruit for people to enjoy.

Compost bins were also built Saturday. These bins will provide fertilizer for the garden, but will also be used to teach visitors and students about the importance of sustainable living.

But the workday was just the start. That was followed by the city of Selma’s inaugural Mardi Gras parade.

I didn’t make it back until the parade was almost over, but the few people I did speak to all said they really enjoyed it. The city should be saluted for giving people a family-friendly event. Given the city was first visited by French explorers, it makes sense to connect Selma back to those roots.

There’s no reason the event can’t grow and give people a reason to visit Selma and downtown in early February.

The day ended with the opening of the Spider Martin exhibit at ArtsRevive’s Carneal Building. I had two sneak peeks at the exhibit on Friday and Saturday afternoon, but the images have yet to lose their power.

These images have the power to take your breath away or make you want to smile or cry. We are fortunate to have this exhibit in Selma, and I hope everyone can get by to view it.

I sometimes have to remind myself that those pictures took place just steps away from where I work every day.

It’s sometimes easy to get disconnected from something with time and 50 years is a long time.

These pictures immediately transported you back to 1965 — even those not yet born — and the sacrifices people made for the right to vote.