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The Tryon Garden Club Board recently announced the promotion of Andy Ruff to Pearson’s Falls and Glen Operations Director. Pearson’s Falls and Glen is a botanical preserve in Polk County featuring a tranquil hiking trail up to a 90-foot waterfall and a carefully managed botanical preserve of trees, shrubs and hundreds of wildflowers, mosses and ferns.

Ruff grew up in Landrum, graduated and served six years in the army, then worked for 19 years in facilities management. Deciding on a career change, Ruff began his employment as Pearson’s Falls Caretaker and Gatekeeper. For ten years he has proved to be an exceptional Operations Manager and “guardian of the glen.”  

His honesty and integrity are much appreciated, as well as his welcoming spirit and his skills at problem-solving and working with people.

In the past five years, in addition to his normal duties, he has supervised the renovation of the Garden House and a new exit road, both projects coming in on or under budget. He has participated in a tree identification project to identify and label 20 species of trees and woody shrubs with signs detailing their leaf and individual characteristics, and he has tackled ongoing maintenance projects including several huge fallen trees. 

The Tryon Garden Club is proud to promote Ruff to this new position of Operations Director. 

Pearson’s Falls and Glen is located between Tryon and  Saluda on Highway 176. There are signs with directions to the park entrance at 2748 Pearson’s Falls Road. This unique 300-acre habitat features a moderate quarter-mile trail along Colt’s Creek to the 90-foot waterfall. 

The Tryon Garden Club has owned and maintained Pearson’s Falls since 1931. For more information, visit pearsonsfalls.org. or call 828-894-0301. 

 

Submitted by Lucy Brannon