“If it could only be like this always – always summer, always alone, the fruit always ripe…”
~ Evelyn Waugh
Once again our little town put on a big Coon Dog Day celebration and parade with firetrucks, bagpipes, floats of all kinds, old cars and everything under the sun. Hot sunny weather, flags flapping in mountain breezes, dogs, happy families listening to music, old brick buildings baking in sun, maple tree leaves offering shaded respite along Main Street. Kids swinging in the park, cotton candy, fresh lemonade, bubbles rising in the air and hotdogs sizzling on the grill. A slice of small-town Americana  was right in my hand.
Coon Dog Day is now over: things return more to ‘normal’ along the streets of town. Summer visitors stay a little longer, while piles of kayaks, tubes and canoes head for the cool Green River. While strolling through the morning crowds of Coon Dog Day Saturday, I enjoyed peeking at our new art galleries…counting three, and there might be more by the time you read this as well as some other new spots to enjoy — I spied an outdoor juice bar too!

The screen door at Honkers Tonkers Gallery looked mighty friendly with red and white seating offered out front. Local artist Beverly Pickard said she is excited about all the new galleries making Saluda is a real art colony! Beverly owned a gallery downtown until health reasons put an end to it; and she’s thrilled to see more coming.
Kathleen Carson tells me she’s delighted to be here in Saluda again (she had a gallery here in the past), as does local fine artist Richard Baker. Richard’s renting the historic Pebbledash Building’s first floor (up the side street past City Hall), and Kathleen has taken over Curtis Wright Outfitter’s former space. They even agreed to photos being taken, which shows how trusting folks are of me!
Thank you, dear readers for reading this column! I want you to feel like we’re visiting on the leafy, flower-filled front porch watching birds, enjoying ice tea. If you have something of note, feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com; or 749-1153. You may also visit my website at bonniebardos.com or find me on facebook.