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“This dragonfly came up to me. He was hovering right in front of my face, and I was really examining him, thinking, how does he see me? I became enlightened.” ~ Ziggy Marley 

Sticker shock slapped my pollen-addled noggin with a resounding BAM at garden centers the day I went hunting weedeater string then wandered around looking at plants, garden tools and potting soil. 

Tractor-trailer loads of spring plants are arriving daily, tools are on display, and you can even get pine needles baled in plastic (which I’m still shaking my head about)—like we need more plastic to throw away. 

Eyeing displays of profusely blooming flowers, row after row, I got a big shock-er-oo at the prices. Of course, as we all know, everything has gone up, up, up—but THAT MUCH for a hanging basket? That much for a little shrub and a garden pot? Huh? And what’s this…THAT MUCH for a patio table? Whoa.

Disheartened, I returned home empty-handed—no weedeater string, no colorful flower baskets, no nuttin’– remembering days past when the car was stuffed to the gills, one of the joys of spring, a yearly rite.  

Good thing I saved porch ferns from last year, overwintering them indoors; and I’ll just make do with what’s around already. Or, I’ll just wait until all those expensive plants start wilting and go to the mark-down rack!  

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The Saluda Historic Depot and Museum will have Saluda Train Tales on April 21, 7 p.m., with Saluda native James Metcalf presenting the story of early Saluda, going back in time before Saluda became chartered in 1881. 

 

Potluck/bingo night will be held at Saluda Center is April 24, at 6 p.m. The main entree is supplied; just bring a side dish or dessert to share. Saluda Community Table’s next dinner is April 26, 5:30-7 p.m. at Saluda Fire Department.  The meal is free, and donations are appreciated. Bring your own tableware and go green! 

 

Mountain Song Community Chorus with 40 singers and rhythm section will present a concert at Saluda School on April 27, at 7 p.m. Special guest will be the Upstate Brass Quintet. 

 

Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) will have a clean-up workday at the Saluda Dog Park on Chestnut Street on April 29 at 9:30 a.m. Soon there’ll be updated landscaping with native plants/pollinators, new turf, kudzu removal, renewal of the brick path and more—thanks to Polk County Community Foundation,  Polk County Beautification Committee,  and the City of Saluda. For information, call SCLT at (828)749-1560.

 

The 18th Saluda Arts Festival is May 20 from 10-4; volunteers are needed to sign up for shifts. If interested, contact Linda Bailey at boblindabailey@hotmail.com. If you’d like to be a festival sponsor, visit saluda.com (events) for information or contact Beth Carson at bethcarson151@gmail.com 

 

Get that calendar out and mark it for a new venture by Saluda Living in Place (SLIP) for a community celebration on June 22 at McCreery Park from 6-8 p.m. This is inspired by the Blue Zones Project with a focus on healthy food, movement and community connection. Join in for music, try square dancing, movement workshops, and healthy food. 

 

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, Julie Roy, Taylor Thompson, Loretta Cook, Hilda Pace, Elizabeth Taylor, Laura Morgan, Roberta Cart, Joan Beddingfield, Anne Lee, and Mabel Pace. 

 

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