For many people, Spring and Easter are times to seek out something new, while keeping traditions. It’s the time of year for brighter clothes, lighter foods and lots of plastic: eggs, baskets, grass.

Since Spring is a time to embrace new things, try examining the local area for food and decorating ideas. Whidbey Island is crammed with options for creating light, breezy decorations and exceptional meals that embrace the season.

Baskets

Grabbing already filled, plastic-swathed baskets is an easy way to discourage a visit from the Easter Bunny. All the earnestly-dyed eggs kids create deserve an elaborate place to rest for the weekend.

There’s no reason an Easter basket must be straw formed in a fluted shape. Wire baskets can do double, even quadruple duty year-round as bread, plant and fruit holders. To make a wire basket special for Easter, fill it with mounded cloth in springtime shades and wind ribbon through the slats. Add soft-stuffed animals, candies and, of course, eggs.

The basic straw basket can be transformed with strands of ivy winding around the handle and bright cloth cradling Easter goodies.

When no basket shape is wanted, egg plates stand in handily. These hen-based crystal or ceramic platters offer endless variety. Each depression can hold candies, tiny fruits or toys. Small stuffed animals sit so engagingly on these plates that other frippery isn’t needed.

For an outstanding Easter basket that will see use around the year, look to local shops for handwoven baskets.

Centerpieces

Tulips and daffodils are standard spring centerpieces. Every magazine, every TV station, every grocery store showcases these flowers. Look around for containers in colors that will surprise viewers and accentuate the blooms.

Crystal might seem de riguer for Easter with its light-gathering and light-throwing facets. But more saturated colors and less densely-cut shapes show the flowers, not the container.

Whidbey Island has spring-bearing fields of gold daffodils that stand out from the Skagit Valley with less traffic congestion. Buy a bunch at flower stands across Whidbey Island. Darst daffs are at Libbey and West Beach roads. Bell’s Farm on West Beach Road carries mixed spring bouquets as well as spinach that’s perfect for spring salads. M&M Flowers on Fakkema Road often has bouquets for blustery spring days.

When making arrangements, remember that daffodils release an acid that causes other flowers to wilt more quickly. But a massed arrangements of daffodils in all shades and trumpet shapes makes up for the fact that daffs don’t mix well with other flowers.

Flower stands only pick what’s perfect that morning. And that means their inventory varies according to the weather. Early arrivers always get the best bouquets.

People needing longer-lasting decorations can use dried lavender to provide color and fragrances.

Food

It’s the time of year to seek lighter fare, yet the season calls for the most unctuous items available. Thankfully, today this menu doesn’t mean simply ham or lamb and early greens along with some beans or rice that outlasted winter.

Lemon curd, light but still complex wines and piquant accents enliven a family’s beloved but still traditional Easter meal no matter the main course.

Grocery stores contain aisles of specialty foods but it’s specialty shops where you find real treasures for Easter brunch.

Glossy magazines fill their pages with fresh spring flavors. Their back pages contain lists of import houses where you can order these delicacies. And Seattle, only a few hours and traffic away, is replete with exotic stores. However, no highway or Web travel is needed to find all you need for a gorgeous spring meal. Specialty stores on Whidbey Island can cater to almost any whim with stocks from around the world.

Bayleaf on Grace Street in Coupeville is tiny but crammed with unusual items including pickled asparagus and flageolet beans which accompany lamb on French tables. The store also carries an array of food and candies that can perk up the flavor of any meal or dessert. Lemon curd, communion-wafer pasta and artisanal honey can become Easter favorites.

No Easter is finished until candy has disappeared. This year, help an always run-ragged Easter bunny by selecting decadent treats like truffle-filled chocolate eggs and high-quality solid chocolate bunnies, chicks and rabbits.

Examine local shops up and down the island for unique Easter items. Egg artists will appreciate your effort. Especially when these items become family traditions.

Resources

Vase, West Beach volcanic ash-glazed covered jar from Penn Cove Pottery, San de Fuca. Call 678-6464.

Animals, Truly Magic Toys, SE Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor. Call 240-8697.

Flowers, Daffodils from Darst stand, intersection of West Beach and Libbey Roads.

Basket and deviled-egg platter, Shady Ladies Antique Mall, SE Pioneer Way. Call 679-1902.

Fabric, light blue lame fat quarter, Quilter’s Workshop, SE Pioneer Way. Call 675-7216.

Butterfly trim, Island Fabrics, Freeland. Call (360) 331-4435.

Large basket, Beth Merrick Coupeville Basketmaker who shows at Penn Cove Gallery in Coupeville.

Specialty foods, Bayleaf, Grace Street, Coupeville. Call 678-6603.

Lavender, Lavender Wind Farm, at Coupeville Farmers Market.

Doily and tablecloth, private collections.