One of Tryon’s special parks, the Greene Corner, is located at the corner of Melrose Avenue and Chestnut Street. Though small in size it welcomes many residents from Oak Hall Condominiums, Lyncourt Drive, Melrose Avenue and visitors at Melrose Lodge. The grassed area with benches, a tiny gazebo, and small shrubs offers places for children, adults and pets to play, relax, or sit quietly.

Katherine Kirby purchased the park in 1985 in memory of her mother, Elsa Greene, also mother to Davis Kirby. Katherine Kirby lived on nearby Lyncourt Drive. The park is now owned by the Town of Tryon and maintained by the Tryon Fine Arts Center. Mr. and Mrs. Davis G. Kirby and Katherine Kirby established the Kirby Endowment Funds at the Polk County Community Foundation. The annual awards and grants from the Kirby charitable funds support the organizations and activities that meant so much to the Kirbys during their years in Tryon and enhance the quality of life for everyone in the community.

Recently the Tryon Garden Club commissioned two new wrought iron benches made locally at Saluda Forge to replace the old rickety ones. The new benches have now been installed and are ready for use in the neighborhood. The Tryon Garden Club wants to thank the Polk County Community Foundation Kirby Endowment Grant for their financial support of this project. Katherine Kirby was a member and officer of the Tryon Garden Club for many years so we are particularly proud to help carry on her vision.

Kirby Grants from the Polk County Community Foundation have helped Tryon Garden Club throughout the year to make improvements to the water system, signage and native plants at the Depot Garden; clean up storm damage, maintain and improve trails and safety at Pearson’s Falls; and plant a maple tree on Trade Street; as well as provide these new benches for the Greene Corner.  We want to thank Polk County Community Foundation for its support of these projects.

  On January 17, Kelly Gay, our Polk County Soil and Water District Administrator, will speak to the Tryon Garden Club about ways to foster management of soil, water and related natural resources in Polk County. All are welcome. The program is at 2 p.m. at FENCE and is free. For information go to pearsonsfalls.com.

The Tryon Garden Club is a 501c(3) organizations, one of the oldest garden clubs in North Carolina, having been organized in 1928. Its mission is to foster awareness and an appreciation for the natural world be preserving, protecting and treasuring Pearson’s Falls, contributing to the beautification of Tryon, educating members and the community, and collaborating with others.

– submitted by Lucy Brannon