🏥 New Philly health clinic won’t open soon enough

Philly's Music Scene Is Changing

World Cafe Live is no more. The music venue announced a new era under the name World Stage. But as we’ve seen with the Art Museum’s rebrand, a new name and logo can't hide legal troubles. The Roots Picnic is also changing things up after last year’s controversial festival. [🎧 City Cast Philly]

Even More Closures at PHL

Travelers flying out of PHL should arrive earlier than usual, since the airport announced temporary closures at TSA checkpoints in Terminal A-West and F. Terminal C‘s checkpoint has been closed since last Thursday. [NBC10]

• Related: Click here to find live wait times at PHL’s TSA lines. [Philadelphia International Airport]

Clinic Timeline Leaves Residents Without Care

With patients waiting months for care at Health Center 10, Northeast Philly residents were relieved to hear a new clinic would be built at Friends Hospital. But construction is not expected to be completed until 2030, and community members are concerned their primary-care needs won’t be met quickly enough. [🔒The Inquirer]

How Do You Feel About SEPTA’s New Bus Network?

Share your thoughts at SEPTA’s town halls and open houses across the city. The transition will begin in August after five years of planning, with the addition of two new bus routes and increased service along 10 others. [Metro Philadelphia]

Lessons From Philly’s Shark Tank Contestants

Shark Tank is back in the city for another casting call, giving local entrepreneurs a chance to pitch their ideas. Before you dive in with the sharks, here’s how it went for past contestants. [Technical.ly]

Tomorrow marks the first day of spring, so now is the time to break out the gardening gloves. But whether you're a rookie trying out gardening with some potted plants or you're a pro curating your dream city greenspace, picking the right plant can be the hardest part of your journey.

West Mt. Airy’s Good Host Plants founder John Janick described why he thinks planting native plants is the best and easiest way to bolster your outdoor space.

Native plants are species of fauna and flora that have grown in the area for thousands of years. Janick, who has sold thousands of native plants out of his home since 2016, says these plants are the building blocks of the ecosystem. They have evolved to thrive in the local climate and provide sustenance for bugs and other wildlife.

"There are over 500 different caterpillars that can feed on an oak tree's leaf,” Janick said. “They turn into butterflies and moths, but they're also food for birds like songbirds."

While some insects can be pests, Janick said they’re also necessary for growing food and keeping out unwanted visitors – bugs like dragonflies, for example, can eat hundreds of mosquitoes in a day.

Janick also emphasized that native plants can save you time and energy in the garden.

"They're really drought resistant, and don't need fertilizers to grow," Janick said. "They're used to our soils, used to our weather, and so ultimately, once they're established, they can be basically maintenance-free."

If you're sold on native plants, here's what Janick recommends for different garden goals:

Easy To Grow

If ease is what you're going for, then look no further than black-eyed Susans. They're easily recognizable by their yellow flowers, each petal stemming out from a black center. Another option is cone flowers, or echinacea, which are known for their pink petals draped around a brown cone-shaped center. Janick said these are beginner-friendly, drought-resistant, and have long blooming periods.

With spring (finally) arriving, Philly is waking up from hibernation and is ready to get out there. Be the first to know about the best events in the city by becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor!

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