“So as the summer sun began to rise, the fire began to die, and the bees began to circle overhead, the two men spoke of days from their childhoods when the wagon wheels rattled in the road, and the dragonflies skimmed the grass, and the apple trees blossomed for as far as the eye could see.” ~ Amor Towles, excerpt from “A Gentleman in Moscow” 

Last evening just before fireflies started dancing their nightly waltz, I ambled with scissors through the front garden where the old iron gate scrolls against blue hydrangeas. A neighbor down-the-street loves Queen Anne’s lace but can’t easily pick  her own: so I went forth to my own garden where Queen Anne stands tall, slender and graceful, wearing her signature eau-de-wild-carrot parfum. Gathering handfuls, I added stems of white yarrow and pale hydrangea, along with a sprinkle of sassy daisies for good measure.   

There’s something ethereal carrying a pale bouquet of moon-lit flowers on a warm evening: strolling over the way to deliver them–brushing past orange-peach daylilies twining with wild pink sweet-pea vines, a cicada chorus all around.  

I left the summery white bouquet on my neighbor’s porch–slowly returning home, waving at passerby, scissors still in hand, gathering wild sweet-pea blossoms, sniffing evening’s gardenia-scented breezes. Summer has arrived to our small town. 

Saluda Tailgate Market is Friday from 4:30-6:30 in the city’s parking lot on West Main Street.  

SLIP (Saluda Living in Place) will have Bobett Button present a program on mindfulness “What’s All The Buzz About?” June 17, 10 a.m. at Saluda Center. For more information or to arrange transportation to SLIP events, contact (828) 490-1040.  

Community potluck and bingo night is at Saluda Center, June 24th at 6 p.m.   

The next Top of the Grade concert is July 12, 7-9 p.m. with Asheville Circus band at McCreery Park (Ella Grace Mintz stage); concerts are sponsored by Saluda Business Association.    

The 56th annual Coon Dog Day is July 6; parade at 11. To kick the big day off, the second annual Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner & Concert is July 5 at the Pavilion/McCreery Park. In 1963, the first Coon Dog Day began as a benefit chicken supper fundraiser for the local Coon Club. Dinner starts at 5 p.m., the free concert starts at 7 p.m. 

Learn more about Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) by visiting saludaclt.org or calling 828-749-1560.  For information on helping clear trails or joining “Walks in the Woods”, contact Chuck Hearon at (828) 817-0364 or chearon@skyrunner.net. The next walk is July 7 to Holbert Cove. Meet at Saluda Library’s parking lot at 2 p.m. for carpool.   

Saluda Historic Depot is open Tuesday-Saturday 10:30-5:00, Sunday 12-4. Saluda Train Tales is June 21 at 7 p.m., featuring Thunder on Saluda (the last days of steam on Saluda Grade/how the diesel changed everything) with Bill Schafer.   

 There’ll be a summer art show on June 29, 6-8 p.m. at Saluda Center, sponsored by Saluda Sister City, a committee of the Saluda Downtown Foundation. The show’s featured artist is Renato Moncini, area artists and elementary school children of Saluda and Carunchio, Italy. This is a fundraiser evening.  

Saluda Community Table is every Thursday 5:30-7 p.m. at Saluda Center. All welcome to enjoy a free meal with neighbors, friends, family. 

Congratulations to Carolyn Ashburn who received the Second Wind Hall of Fame award; she was nominated by the Historic Saluda Depot board of directors. 

 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, Susan Matthews, Lisa Duck, and Kasey Watkins.  

 Feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, (828) 749-1153, or visit bonniebardosart.com