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Saluda News & Notations

By Bonnie J. Bardos

“Sunset comes late but comes, inexorable.
What lingers is the slender hook of hope.”

~ Maxine Kumin, excerpt from “Spring Training”

 

July, July: here you are: summer memories of Coon Dog Day, reunions, sweating lemonade pitchers on front porch wicker tables.

Early one morning, I slipped over to the dollar store to pick up sundries like cornstarch, bleach, and a couple other ‘gotta-have-it-today’ items. Bleach prices are no longer a dollar, I might add.

Mask on, I waited a safe distance away from the woman checking out with a yellow cart full of garden stuff: seeds, bulbs, you name it. Covid-gardening has made everything look better, she said to Molly the cashier. I couldn’t help chiming in agreement.

During the time of COVID-19, I’ve dug two small garden ponds, one now has a small fish, the other just for frogs. Hung window boxes stuffed with flowers, put down pea gravel, stepping stones, pruned, worked on compost heap, put up an insect house, bird houses, feeders, re-potted house plants, experimented with hydroponic growing of orchids and other things, watered/weeded, created blue bottle trees, painted Adirondack chairs periwinkle, container gardened, weed-whacked, pulled/planted vines, dripped sweat amid a few stings and bites…

Miraculously no sign of a tick (I hesitate to say that, because you KNOW, Dear Reader, once it’s said, every tick and his relatives in five counties will head my way).

Anyway, all this covid gardening is great exercise, soothing to the spirit, and sure has made everything look better. Maybe there’s a lesson to be found in that.

 

Keep up with Saluda Community Land Trust’s latest projects: visit saludaclt.org or call 828-749-1560 to learn more. Walks in the Woods on July 5 will be a gentle walk that examines Saluda’s history, meandering through downtown, learning about people and places, Little Park, and up Shand Hill to Sullivan’s Temple. Meet at Saluda Library parking lot, 2:00 p.m., social-distancing measures will be practiced. SCLT’s trails can benefit from regular clearing and pick-up; if you’d like to help, contact Trail Boss Chuck Hearon at 828-817-0364 or chearon@skyrunner.net

The Community Pop-up Pantry is open for drive-through each Tuesday, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Saluda Presbyterian Church parking lot. Send donations to Church of the Transfiguration, designated for Pop-Up Pantry, 72 Charles Street, Saluda NC 28773. Remember if you have a large garden, consider donating fresh produce to the pantry!

Saluda Historic Depot & Museum is open Thursday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Face coverings, safe distancing and limits of people to 10 at a time will take place.

Visit Saluda.com to see updates on local businesses, re-openings, plus take-out/on-line ordering information.

The amphitheater project at McCreery Park is underway. With three tiers, it will have seating for 100 people: for concerts, art festival, our young actors, and other community events. The cost is about $33,000. This is a “citizen project” with no funding from the City of Saluda, and is under the auspices of Saluda Downtown Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit entity. Thanks to Clark and Pam Thompson who donated $10,000 toward the project.

Happy July Birthday to Debi Thomas, Rheta Foster, Nancy Weinhagen, Lisa Obermiller, Kathy Thompson, Bill Jameson, Emily Rose Ford, Jeremy Ford, Mike Cass, Nathen Honeycutt, Melissa Justus, Hunter Justus, Alyssa Justus, Lin Savage, Doug Taylor, Amanda Anderson, Gail Slaughter, Diane Ballard, Amber Grant and Marianne Blazar. Add your birthday to the list—no ages mentioned unless you’re under 2 or over 100!

 

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