Tryon Garden Club receives grant for maintenance of Pearson’s Falls

Published 10:00 pm Wednesday, August 26, 2015

The Tryon Garden Club has received a grant from the Kirby Pearson’s Falls Trail Maintenance Fund administered through the Polk County Community Foundation for trail maintenance at Pearson’s Falls. The grant provides financial assistance for the “maintenance, support and continued development of the Pearson’s Falls trail system” and “to help the organization provide easy, informative and enjoyable access to the common, as well as uncommon, wonders of nature, which exist in the area.”

Daily trail maintenance is performed by Pearson’s Falls staff, Andy Ruff and Gene Justice, who keep the trails clear of debris and other hazards as well as mulched carefully to provide accessible and safe pathways for visitors to enjoy the waterfall and unique flora and fauna of the glen. In addition, in 2015 the staff constructed a small trail near the bridge over Colt Creek so that visitors can more safely view the lower falls. A bench was also installed at the end of this new trail.

The Tryon Garden Club also received a grant from the Kirby Tryon Garden Club Special Projects Fund. This grant can be “used at the discretion of the garden club with no less than half the funds dedicated to beautification projects in Tryon’s downtown area.” Much of the grant from this fund was used to create the native plant gardens in the new “bump outs” at the Tryon Depot Garden and to install an irrigation system for this section of the garden.

Several projects were completed at Pearson’s Falls with this grant as well, including the annual treatment for Woolly Adelgid on the Hemlock trees in the Glen; maintenance and new plants on the Living Roof over the composting restroom facility; and a new fence at the entrance to the facility.

The Tryon Garden Club is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose mission is to “foster awareness and appreciation of the natural world through preserving, protecting and treasuring Pearson’s Falls, contributing to the beautification of Tryon and educating members and the community.

For those interested in the Tryon Garden Club, please contact Donna Southworth, President TGC, P.O. Box 245, Tryon, N.C. 28782. Visit Pearson’s Falls at 2748 Pearsons Falls Road, Saluda, N.C. 28773. For more information contact the gatekeeper at Pearson’s Falls at 828-749-3031 or info@pearsonsfalls.org or visit pearsonsfalls.org.

– Submitted by Kathy Wright