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“When the sun slanted in from the west, the spindle leaves of a locust tree danced and glowed. In a ragged garden, yellow squash blossoms blazed under spotted leaf umbrellas. Heavy-bottomed bumble bees and arrowing dragonflies lifted in and out of the deep scarlet flowers of Monarda. A curious baby hummingbird paused in midair before my face.” ~ Louise Erdrich, excerpt from “The Sentence”

 

Spring raindrops splash and dance in watering cans and buckets, rinsing off furry-yellow coats of oak and pine pollen on cars. There’s a song in the rain; grateful gardens enjoy a drink. I finished weed-eating just in time to stand, sniffing the sweet freshness of cooling breezes before the storm. 

 

A young hummingbird visits the front porch feeder—he had not known how to use it, and kept buzzing and eagle-eyeing the bright-red painted flowers on the glass instead of the nectar base with holes. Finally, after seeing the dilemma, I went out and gently shook the base, so a drop of nectar at the holes would give him an idea where to feed. It worked! Sometimes we all need a little help figuring things out. 

 

Locust leaves ripple. Dark tadpoles shimmer under silver water stars. Pink-blossomed strawberries bloom. Life’s busy on a late-April day.  

 

 

Saluda Tailgate Market resumes at the west city parking lot location off Main Street on May 6, 4:30-6 p.m. 

 

Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) keeps active with land conservation, trails, projects and more: visit saludaclt.org or call 828-749-1560 for information. You can support SCLT with donations, volunteering, and through Amazon Smile. Contact “Trail Boss” Chuck Hearon at chearon1942@gmail.com about ideas or willingness to lead a hike, or helping clear trails. The next Walk in the Woods is May 1 for the Pacolet River Wildflower Walk. Meet at Saluda Library’s parking lot of Saluda Library at 2 p.m. to carpool. A SCLT member will keep hikers aware of the terrain of the trail and share insights about  history, flora, and fauna. Mark your calendar for SCLT’s annual meeting on May 18 from 6-8 p.m. at Lola’s Celebration Venue at Thompson’s Store on Main Street. Event will be outside behind the store if the weather is good, or inside upstairs if not. A light meal will be provided while projects/progress on SCLT’s many endeavors are discussed. 

 

Saluda Pop-Up Pantry is Tuesday from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Saluda Presbyterian Church, 54 Carolina Avenue (behind Saluda Library). To volunteer at the Pantry, call Saluda Church of the Transfiguration, 828-749-9740. Paper donations such as paper towels and toilet paper are always needed. You can mail tax-deductible donations to Saluda Pop-Up Pantry, P.O. Box 428, Saluda, NC 28773 or donate online at www.saludapantrycom  

 

Saluda Living in Place (SLIP), a non-profit organization to help seniors age in place, and can help those 60+ in the greater Saluda community with home safety  and more. SLIP (website www.slipnc.org) can be contacted at (828) 749-0049. 

 

The 17th Saluda Arts Festival is May 21 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; volunteers are needed to work shifts. If interested, contact Linda Bailey at boblindabailey@hotmail.com. 

 

Happy April Birthday to: Melody Gibson, Dave Prudhomme, Kaye Vazquez, Cindy Keeter, Hope Pace, Diane Pace, Greaton Sellers, Clay Arrington, Bonnie Bardos, Luther Connor, Gary Pace, Doug Honeycutt, Niece Lundgren, Julie Roy, Rhonda Corley, Taylor Thompson, Loretta Cook, Hilda Pace, Elizabeth Taylor, Laura Morgan, Roberta Cart, Joan Beddingfield, Anne Lee, and Mabel Pace. Add your birthday to the list: no ages mentioned unless you’re under 2 or over 100—that’s a longtime promise! 

 

Feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, (828) 817-6765, P.O. Box 331, Saluda, NC 28773, Facebook, or visit bonniebardos.com