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By Bonnie J. Bardos

 

 

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”

~ Mary Oliver, excerpt from “When I Am Among The Trees”

 

My tree name is Sycamore. Years ago, a friend and I started calling each other by our tree names; our letters. How are you, Elm? I’m OK, Love, Sycamore. Willow moved away, bending as willows do with the times. Maple’s growing toward toddler stage.

Trees have been a presence throughout my life: the tree that grew in a low L-shape that made a good ‘horse’ to ride; fragrant cedars, tall pine, New England maples aflame in fog. Locust, redwood, hickory. Ash. Poplar, cypress. Sweet gum. Chestnut. Magnolia. Oak. Sourwood. Who could name them all? Each has a personality, a story. Many are memories in the tapestry of our lives. Think about it.

Sometimes we humans don’t miss the trees until the day comes when a bulldozer takes down a grove, there’s a hurricane and they fall. Or our favorite one dies: one day here, next day gone.

Back when I asked the trees which of them I was, it just came to me: you’re Sycamore! After years of passing through a cathedral of them, pale, some stalwart and straight, some bowed in grace but still hanging in there, I knew that was the truth.

Truth seems tough to find these days. But trees know it: in their concentric rings, their stead presence, their dignity and grace.

 

Keep up with Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT)’s latest projects: visit saludaclt.org or call 828-749-1560 to learn more. 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, 4:00-6 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. Consider volunteering, donating funds or garden produce!

 

Saluda Historic Depot & Museum is open Thurs.-Sat. 11-5, Sun. 1-4. Saluda Train Tales are canceled until September. The Depot is a drop-off for “Books for Good”–a non-profit  organization that supports over 90 charities in WNC. Donated books will be sold with proceeds benefiting the Depot & Museum.

 

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. 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 (donations are 100% tax deductible). If you’d like to help, make checks payable to  Downtown Foundation- Amphitheater, P.O. Box 248, Saluda, NC 28773.

 

Saluda Sympathy goes to the family of Bill Hartman.

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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—it’s a longtime promise no ages mentioned unless you’re under two or over 100!

 

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