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“Finally the world is beginning

to change, its fevers mounting,

its leaves unfolding.

And the mockingbirds find

ample reason and breath to fashion

new songs. They do. You can

count on it.”

~ Mary Oliver, excerpt from “Late Spring”

 

On a rain-kissed April early morning, soft air and billows of spring green lead to handfuls of pale-white mounds of locust blossoms. Overnight, the locusts have bloomed. I stand on the porch, a bag of birdseed in hand for the feeders, transfixed by the fresh sweetness of lush, tender green and white flowers dripping all around, a magical dream. Pine branches wave new fingers of growth. There goes the chickadee into the bluebird house; she snagged it first this year, although the bluebirds keep busy at other spots. 

Ah, it’s spring, and although I vow to control the plant buying this year, I agree gladly to head up to plant nurseries outside Asheville with friends, both to cruise native plants and to celebrate Taurus birthdays. Both are master gardeners; I’m just a person who gets her hands dirty and can’t remember Latin names for much of anything. 

The first stop we make is up winding, narrow roads at a place that sells wholesale and has beautiful photos online of unusual specimens. We pull up, and not a soul around other than two guys working on a nearby street doing survey work. We can see eerie black light grow lights in the darkened garage windows, “you’re on camera” warning signs, business hours on a door, but also piles of junk, dirt, and weird vibes. 

After knocking, calling, and then knocking some more to the sound of dead silence, we left, wondering if it was a covert pot-growing operation. At least no one took a potshot at us! Sharing a good laugh, we bailed out of that twilight zone. Luckily, the next stop was a hit: rows of blooming flowers, greenhouses, trees and shrubs, fountains everywhere. 

You will be proud of me, Dear Reader; while the others loaded carts during our wanderings, I stuck to ONE bag of nyjer thistle seed for the goldfinches. One bag of happiness for birds as well as me.

• The 19th annual Spring Green Bash river and block party is downtown on May 3 from 5-9 p.m. to honor and fundraise for our Saluda firefighters for their heroic work fighting recent wildfires. Live music by The Sun Sippers at Green River Adventures, tie-dye fun at Looking Glass Realty, a raffle, plus much more. 
• It’s getting closer! The Saluda Arts Festival will take place on May 17.
• Saluda Community Land Trust’s next Walks in the Woods is on May 4 at Adawehi Stewardship Forest in Columbus. Meet at the Saluda Library parking lot at 2 p.m.; SCLT’s 18th annual meeting is at Saluda Center on May 7, 5:30 p.m. For information, contact the SCLT office at (828) 749-1560 or email info@saludaclt.org
• On May 16 at 7 p.m., railroad enthusiast and memorabilia collector Bo Brown will be the guest speaker for Saluda Historic Depot’s monthly Train Tales. Bo, who has served as the National Vice President of the Railroadiana Collectors Association Inc., will speak on “Reflections of a Southern Railroad Train Hostess.” Doors open at 6:30, free to the public; donations are welcome. 

Happy April Birthday to Melody Gibson, Dave Prudhomme, Kaye Vazquez, Cindy Keeter, Hope Pace, Diane Pace, Greaton Sellers, Clay Arrington, Bonnie Bardos, Luther Connor, Gary Pace, Doug Honeycutt, Taylor Thompson, Loretta Cook, Elizabeth Taylor, Laura Morgan, Roberta Cart, Joan Beddingfield, Anne Lee, Mabel Pace, Mary Jo Wannamaker, and Joan Mondrick. Add your birthday to the list! 

Feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, (828) 817-6765, P.O. Box 331, Saluda, NC 28773, Facebook, or visit bonniebardos.com