“In the spring garden

Where the peach blossoms

Light the path beneath,

A girl is walking.”

~ Yakamochi, translated from the Japanese by Kenneth Rexroth

In the spring garden, verdant shades unfurl, new leaves of tenderest green press against blue sky, irises spike tall, azaleas overflow in color songs. Petals drift upon the path beneath. I haul basket-loads of painting supplies out to the front porch to set up an outside studio.

Butterflies dance over blossoms, bees hum. It’s time to mow the awakening jungle—I just know every tick and flea on earth hatched and is waiting to pounce. Paranoia sets in. Luckily I don’t spot any. The old mower roars to life after a drink of fresh gas and a few pulls on the starter cord – we’re off for another round.

For lunch I fix a tuna sandwich, wrapping it in a neat waxed-papered square in memory of sandwiches my mother made for Girl Scout camp, school, picnics. There’s just something about a simple tuna sandwich wrapped in waxed paper that makes it even better while listening to a bright red cardinal call his mate from a branch overhead. She’s not far off, probably sitting on the nest. Soon I’ll watch the new family take wing bit by bit. Little pleasures on a spring afternoon.

Later, River and I walk past The Turtle who needs a wash but remains ready for a trip to the garden center, heavy bags of potting soil tossed in back. On cooler days, River hops on The Turtle’s ancient bench seat, and we go.

An old friend tells me “Come when you can, come anytime.” There was a time folks said that and meant it. These days, everyone’s in too big a hurry or otherwise occupied to say “Come anytime.” There are very, very few people who say such a thing, because nobody wants you to come “anytime.” No way!

Back in the day, you’d hear it from Grandma, relatives, good neighbors, or folks that took time to walk under the peach blossoms or sit a spell snapping beans on the porch, or took a moment to wrap a sandwich in waxed paper. So they could unwrap memories on a spring day.

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Saluda Welcome Table is at Saluda Methodist Church every Tuesday from 5:30-6:45 p.m. Everyone is invited. 

Saluda’s Easter Egg Hunt for children 1-12 years old is April 15, in the vacant lot across from Memorial Park from 2-4 p.m. The Easter Bunny will be available for photos! This event is sponsored by Saluda’s Welcome Table. For information call 828-749-3789.

Saluda Garden Club will visit the gardens of Walter Hoover and Mary Reeves on April 17. Meet at Saluda Library parking lot, 10 a.m.

Saluda Train Tales will feature Terry Ruscin, April 21, 7 p.m. at Saluda Historic Depot.

At Saluda Center, there’s a community potluck/bingo on April 24, 6 p.m.

Learn more about Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) by visiting saludaclt.org or calling 828-749-1560. SCLT’s annual meeting will on April 26, 6 p.m. at Saluda Center.

Saluda School is collecting plastic bottle caps of all sizes and colors for an art mural. The first grade classes distributed bottle cap collection containers in various businesses downtown. Please donate bottle caps in the containers or bring to the school office.

Historic Saluda committee will have a tour of homes on Shand Hill, plus other historical buildings on June 3. Visit historicsaluda.org for more information.

Happy April Birthday to: Martha Ashley, Melody Gibson, Dave Prudhomme, Kaye Vazquez, Cindy Keeter, Betty Anna Brown, Hope Pace, Diane Pace, Ruth Anderson, Greaton Sellers, Clay Arrington, Bonnie Bardos, Luther Connor, Gary Pace, Dee Owen, Doug Honeycutt, Niece Lundgren, Julie Roy, Tommy Williamson, and Rhonda Corley.

Thank you dear readers, for reading this column. I love hearing from you! Whether you live here, or just wish you were here, the goal is to make you feel like you’re enjoying a front porch visit and small town life in a friendly little mountain town called Saluda. You can contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, 749-1153, visit bonniebardosart.com for more writing and art, or find me on Facebook.