“As a poet I hold the most archaic values on earth. They go back to the Neolithic: the fertility of the soil, the magic of animals, the power-vision in solitude, the terrifying initiation and rebirth, the love and ecstasy of the dance, the common work of the tribe.”

~ Gary Synder

Downtown Saluda is spruced up for the art festival this Saturday. The work crews are working hard on getting construction and the sidewalk fixed in time in front of Thompson’s Store. It’ll be a sweet day in this small town; everyone wears a smile while strolling from booth to booth. If it’s too hot, I’ll leave River dog home to hang out with Pikachu.

Speaking of small towns, you know you live in one when you pull up to the bank drive-thru window and the teller asks “Where’s River?” A certain dog has a thing for those Milk Bone treats that come magically out in the window drawer, every time. Sometimes there are extras. The tail starts wagging the moment we pull up. Now that’s life in a good place with a Good Dog. Hope to see you downtown this Saturday!

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

Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) has “Walks in the Woods” are on the first and third Sundays each month (meet at Saluda Library parking lot at 2 p.m.). Free swimming lessons at Twin Lakes (thanks to a grant from Polk County Community Foundation) start with Brian Lilburn from Aqua Child from June 19-July 7. Contact SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit www.saludasclt.org to learn more, donate, or volunteer.

Saluda Tail Gate Market is open 4:30-6:30 p.m. every Friday May through October.

The 14th annual Saluda Arts Festival is May 20 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Dancer’s Extension will have their seventh annual spring concert at Saluda School’s auditorium at 11 a.m.

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.

Donations to help support Saluda Historic Depot can be sent to P.O. Box 990, Saluda, NC 28773 or HistoricSaluda.org website. Saluda Train Tales are held the third Friday each month April through October; Matt Bumgarner will present the next train tales tonight at 7 p.m.

Top of the Grade Concerts at Top of the Grade Park at McCreery Park begin on Friday, June 9 with four concerts planned this year. All performances will be held on the Ella Grace Mintz Stage from 7-9 p.m. Sound Investment will play on June 9.

There’s a citywide yard sale event June 10 at Saluda School’s tennis courts, McCreery Park, Pavilion and around town. To reserve a free space, request a sign, or information, call 828-749-3789.

Coon Dog Day is July 8.

Happy May Birthday to Amy Copeland, Corinne Gerwe, Chris Anderson, Mark Jackson, Cary Pace, Lisa Hipp, Trevor Young, Jemme Latell, Paul Marion, Jesse Thomas, Margaret Sease, Elizabeth Baldwin, Chad Baldwin, Lynn Cass, Thelma Jones, Betsy Burdett, and Melia Bradley.

Thank you, dear readers, for reading this column. You can contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, 828-749-1153, or bonniebardosart.com.

GARDEN TIP:

To keep mosquitoes at bay in your yard and areas where you sit outside, try this spray. I’ve made some and am spraying it around the front porch and back deck areas to see if it really works. This is my first week using it, so we’ll know more by June. So far, I’ve only seen one mosquito hanging around, and it never landed. No promises or guarantees! How’s that for truth in advertising?

1 bottle of blue mouthwash

3 cups Epsom salts (make sure salts are dissolved)

3 stale beers

Put in spray bottle