“I work a lot and live far less than I could,
but the moon is beautiful and there are
 blue stars . . . . I live the chaste song of my heart.”
~ Garcia Lorca to Emilia Llanos Medinor,
 November 25, 1920

A cool early morning breeze scatters a spring carpet of delicate pink petals along a mossy stone walkway outside my back screen door. I stand there for a moment holding River dog’s leash, enjoying the colors, birds singing, the breeze, the heady scent of fresh-brewed coffee wafting through the drift of pink. We head back in to find that magical coffee and fix breakfast for a certain hungry dog. If you can have a cup of good coffee and a warm dog at your side, there’s a chance it might just be a bright day.

Here in our small town with a big heart, the Saluda Arts Festival will be all day this Saturday. Folks stroll through booths enjoying paintings, photography, jewelry, pottery and craftwork, bright colors flutter in breeze, and all is well. It’s always a treat to see people out—little kids playing in the park, older folks bench-sitting and watching the little guys, everybody enjoying all that Saluda is, with friendly Main Street, historic buildings, interesting shops and delightful scents from restaurants, shady lanes and happy flowers. It’s a bright day in this small town.

​Saluda Welcome Table is every Tuesday, with dinner served from 5:30-7 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Saluda United Methodist Church. If you furnish your email address, you’ll get an advance note of what the menu will be each week—doesn’t that sound good? All welcome; donations accepted.

Saluda Tailgate Market is open for the season on Fridays from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the city parking lot off Main Street. Offerings include local honey, produce, delicious baked goodies, plants, and much more! Many vendors offer samples. Many Saluda businesses will stay open later on Friday, so you can stop by after tailgate marketing.

Saluda Community Land Trust’s “Walks in the Woods” continue through November on the first and third Sundays of the month. Meet at Saluda Library at 2 p.m. to carpool. Contact Chuck Hearon at 828-749-9886 or 828-817-0364 for information. Contact SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit www.saludasclt.org.

Art Notes: The 12^th annual Saluda Arts Festival is May 16 with lots of live music, art, and fun! Plan to spend the day in town; the festival runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. An expanded children’s tent will have activities for kids, tasty food will be available from several restaurants and in town. Also, The Dancer’s Extension will host a spring concert with 50 dancers at Saluda School auditorium at 11 a.m., and our future Saluda Depot museum will be open. During the art festival, shuttle carts will be marked with bright streamers and feather banners in case you need a ride. Thank you to the many hard-working volunteers who make this top-notch event happen!

Saluda Garden Club meets for cleanup day on May 18 at 10 a.m. at Spring Park (behind City Hall).
Ward’s Grill will offer a free breakfast to honor veterans on May 21 from 8-10 a.m.; bring another veteran along.

The Memorial Day Service will be held on May 25, at 2 p.m. at Veterans Park, located on Greenville Street by the railroad tracks.

Saluda Center Potluck and Bingo is at Saluda Center, May 25, at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome; bring your favorite dish to share!

Saluda branch of Tree City USA meets at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday each month at  Saluda Library.

A tour of Saluda homes and silent auction to help raise funds for the Saluda Depot will be on June 6. If you’d like to help preserve the historic Saluda Depot, you can send donations or pledges (tax deductible!) to Saluda Historic Depot, PO Box 990, Saluda, NC 28773 or email savesaludadepot@gmail.com.

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 and Thelma Jones.

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