“The air is so soft and warm, the fireflies are coming, and time has that slowed down feeling. If a summer were a girl, she’d always be lying stretched out in the grass in a long white dress, her arms over here head, her eyes half closed.”

~ Elizabeth Berg, excerpt from “True to Form”

A delicate pair of white butterflies flitted over a drift of pink roses as morning sun lifted up toward blue.

A welcome sight, I thought (River in agreement), toting a cup of steaming coffee out to the front porch swing, managing to spill half over sandals and floor.

Wiping up the spill, I settled down to enjoy the rest: nothing and nobody stopping good spirits over sunshine, butterflies, and a regal puffed-up Knee Deep hanging out on his favorite rock at the fish pond.

Maybe we’ll see fireflies tonight, the air soft and warm. Maybe even blue fireflies….

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

• Saluda Tail Gate Market is open Friday, 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the city parking lot off Main Street.

• On Saturday, Pearlie Mae Suber Harris speaks at Saluda Center at 10 a.m. She was reared in Saluda during the 1940s and ‘50s while her father pastored St. Matthews Church, and was the first African-American and the first woman to serve as the chair of the board of directors at St. Francis Health System in Greenville. The Pearlie Harris Cancer for Breast Health is named in her honor. This event is in coordination with the Historic Saluda Committee and Saluda Community Land Trust.

• Saluda Singles will have a potluck on Thursday at Saluda Center at 5 p.m. Singles over 40 welcome; for information, contact Anita Moore at 828-749-3335.

• The Saluda Train Tales at Saluda Historic Depot takes place on Friday, June 15, at 7 p.m. feature a Historic Saluda Committee update along with a screening of a 1939 film “Saluda Summer” produced by Mary Dell Johnson with photography by Gene Brandon.

• The Saluda Garden Club meets at 10 a.m. in the pavilion at McCreery Park on Monday, June 18.

• Top of the Grade Concerts begin at McCreery Park on Friday, June 22, with the Aaron Burdett Band. Performances are 7-9 p.m. at Ella Grace Mintz Stage; rain will move concerts to the pavilion.

• Art Notes: The Purple Onion will have a Wednesday reception (5-6:30 p.m.) for their artists and new artwork recently hung by curator Dale McEntire. “Art for Preservation” will be a fundraiser to raise money for preservation of Saluda’s 1891 historic Church of the Transfiguration, on the National Register of Historic Places. The event is from 6-8 p.m., Saturday, June 23, at Saluda Center, 64 Greenville St. Tickets are available by contacting 828-749-9740 or jenniferbshand@gmail.com.

• Learn about Saluda Community Land Trust by visiting saludaclt.org or calling 828-749-1560. Brian Lilburn will teach swimming lessons for children at Twin Lakes starting on Monday, June 25: you can contact him at twinlakesswimminglessons@gmail.com. For information on walks, contact Chuck Hearon at 828-817-0364 or chearon@skyrunner.net.

• Happy 48th Anniversary to Wayne and Cissy Thompson! As Ann Landers used to say, 10 lashes with a wet noodle for me: last week, I put 41 instead of 48. As I say — if someone else doesn’t goof up, I will!

• Happy June Birthday to Nancy Barnett, Verne Dawson, Peggy Ellwood, Anna Jackson, Charlie Jackson, Amy Violet Ford, Terry Arrington, Julie Arrington, Susie Welsh Hearn, Jeremy Edwards, John Savage, Eleanor Morgan, Mary Lu Price, Sigi Hendrickson, Edna McKee, Lucinda Pittman, D.J. Gaskin and Susan Matthews.

Thank you for reading this column; as ever, the goal is to make you feel like you’re enjoying small town life in a friendly mountain town called Saluda.  Feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, 828-749-1153, or visit bonniebardosart.com.