Love, whose month is ever May, spied a blossom passing fair, playing in the wanton air. — William Shakespeare

Let spring inspire your inner bard. It's not so hard, when nature is free.

Five local artists will glean materials discarded at the Metro Central Transfer station and turn the waste into art. The art will be put on display later this year.

Metro and volunteers will honor veterans over Memorial Day weekend at some of its pioneer cemeteries. Staff and volunteers, including students from Central Catholic High School, as well as members of the Sons of the Union Veterans, will be on hand at the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery, SW Boones Ferry Road & SW Palatine Hill Road; Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery at SE 26th and SE Stark St.; Multnomah Park Cemetery located at SE 82nd and SE Holgate, Portland.

The weather's warming up, so take some time to smell the roses, watch the birds and hike the hills amid the metro area's great outdoors.

Make like a snake and slither out into that warm spring s-s-s-sun. There are several cheap or free things-s-s to do amid the metro area's great outdoors. Most of these events are low-cost or free, and registration can be completed online. Follow the links below for more information.

No luck getting a strike at the bowling alley? How about aiming for a spare instead? Spare change for a good cause, that is. The 23rd annual Bowling for Rhinos fundraiser takes place Saturday, June 9, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at Sunset Lanes in Beaverton.

Take a creaky barge in Camas, a $10 bill, a maelstrom of red tape and a Metro-owned boat dock near Portland Airport, and what do you get?

It's starting to look like a hefty cleanup tab for the Portland region's taxpayers.

Ever squat down and squint for a bug's-eye view of the forest floor? It's crawling with lots of skittering critters. Come discover them amid the metro area's great outdoors.

And sleepy Toad said to Frog, "Come back again and wake me up at about half past May." Don't be like Toad; embrace April's last showers and May's new flowers. Follow the links below for more information about free and low-cost events around the metro area.

The festival is designed to connect, embrace and engage the Latino community and provide an opportunity for families of all ethnicities to celebrate Washington County's diverse cultures, rich with tradition and heritage.