Happy Valentine’s Day, dear readers.

As I write this column, snow drifts to earth outside, although the heart of spring beats underneath the winter landscape. We’ve been promised a big snowfall this time around, although I find myself wishing it would go somewhere else. Penguins and polar bears would appreciate it more.

On an earlier day, one sunny afternoon, as River dog and I took our meandering stroll, I spied small purple-violet flowers peeking up alongside a ditch. The flowers may be humble weeds perhaps, but nevertheless, proof that spring is coming, that things bloom and grow despite the cold.

Picking a couple sprigs, I toted the purple smiles home to tuck in a vintage glass bottle. Today, spring blooms in my kitchen window, despite the snow outside. The week before, I’d discovered one creasy green along our path.

Once, as a kid, wild creasy greens were found at the edge of every field; we walked many fields far and wide, knife and bag in hand, gathering the leaves for a pot of greens at dinner. Now, I rarely spot them, but there one was.

Speaking of nature walks, the trails created by Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) are a treat: River and I have enjoyed the Saluda Nature Park hike; although I’m almost certain they named the “Lazy Girl Loop” after me, but wouldn’t admit that publicly.

The Lazy Girl winds through the Bradley Nature Preserve; enter from Esseola or Laurel Drive. How lucky we are to have these special places to walk, think, and be with nature: thank you, SCLT.   You can contact SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit their website at www.saludaclt.org.

Saluda Welcome Table is every Tuesday, with dinner served from 5:30-7 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Saluda United Methodist Church. All welcome; donations accepted.

NC Small Town Main Street monthly meetings are scheduled the third Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m. at Saluda Library. A Valentine’s Party will be hosted by the promotions team on Feb. 14 at  Saluda Fire Department. Tickets are available at Thompson›s Store or Cathy Jackson Realty.

The Saluda Garden Club will have gardener Dan Wells at the Feb. 17, 10 a.m. meeting at Saluda Library; for more information or to join, call Patty Martin at 828-817-9518.

The Robinson Community Garden (sponsored by Saluda Community Land Trust) on Henderson Street is ready for gardeners: two more sign-ups meetings will be March 13 and April 10. For information, contact Dave and Marilyn Prudhomme at 828-749-9172 or e-mail dclp@tds.net. Saluda gardener Walter Hoover will help those who need practical guidance at Robinson Garden; he can be contacted at 828-749-5846.

Artists: if you’d like to participate in the 11th Saluda Art Festival on May 17, the deadline to enter is March 15; for information,  contact Susie Welsh at 828-749-3900, sswelsh@tds.net or Catherine Ross at 828-749-3534, carnc@charter.net.

There’ll be a community potluck and bingo evening at Saluda Center, February 24 at 6 p.m. Bring your favorite dish to share!

Don’t forget to get your reservations by Feb. 24 for Thompson’s Store Mardi Gras Masquerade party on March 1 with music, dinner and dancing upstairs in the Boarding House venue. Contact Judy Ward for details at 828-749-2321.

Happy February Birthday to: Wylie Rauschenbach, Wesley Pace, Biddie Dawson, Amy Beeson, Ginny Jones, Jenna Igoe, Suzanne Igoe, Pam Thompson, Catherine Raymond, Eva McCray, Ellen Rogers, and Margaret Miller.

Thank you, dear readers, for reading this column. As ever, the goal is to make you feel like you’re enjoying a cup of hot tea and small town life in a friendly little mountain town called Saluda. You can contact me at bbardos@gmail.com; or 828-749-1153, visit my website at bonniebardos.com for more writing and art, or find me on Facebook.