…Her child leaps among the flowers/the blue of the sky falls over me/like silk/the flowers burn/ and I want to live my life all over again/to begin again/to be utterly/wild. ~excerpt from The Meeting ~Mary Oliver

Welcome to summertime July Saluda notes and notations. The streets of Saluda are busy, families get together for reunions and visiting, and streams, waterfalls, and lakes are cool respites in the heat.

Dog Notes: Dont miss Saludas famous 47th Annual Coon Dog Day on Saturday, July 10: its a day for dogs and their humans: although if its hot as usual, I highly recommend leaving pooches at home to loll in&bsp; air-conditioned comfort (my Pooh Bear expects this on a regular basis along with a steady supply of treats!).

However, the coon dogs being judged get shade, water, and lots of admiration.&bsp; There will be plenty of food, live music, a parade at 11 a.m., crafts, street dances, and more.

Note: If you want to be in the Coon Dog Day parade, just show up; there are no entry applications or fees, but call Saluda City Hall in advance at 749-2581 to get instructions on where to line up!&bsp; Live music begins in the morning around 9 and will continue all day until the end of the street dance at 10:00 PM. Come enjoy.

If you have kids or grand kids needing something to do, remember the Saluda Community Librarys Make A Splash summer reading program that runs from June 16-July 28.

For more information about&bsp; this, or other programs at the Saluda library, call 828-749-2117. &bsp;

To my delight, I ran into Happy Rogers Ehlers as she and Ambrose were back in the childrens section reading together. What a nice surprise. You know, its so important for young ones to be read toit makes a difference in the years ahead.

Reminder Note: Looking for ripe red juicy tomatoes?&bsp; Check out the Saluda tailgate market on Fridays at the city parking lot off Main Street&bsp; (follow the signs) from 4:30 to 6:30 with local produce, flowers, homemade soup, breads, and all manner of goodies.

Mark Your Calendars: The fun and fabulous second annual Art Trek Tryon open studio event happens the weekend of July 24-25th.

On Friday July 23 from 5-8 p.m. a preview party kicks off the weekend at Upstairs Artspace, 49 South Trade Street, Tryon, NC beside the Tryon Theater. All 39 artists on the studio tour will have work displayed in the gallery for six weeks.

All weekend, studios are open to the public. Saluda has twelve participating artistsMark Gardner, Stoney Lamar, Kelly McCullough, Bill Ryan, John Waddill, Eva Kovacs, Holly Wilkes, Bill and Anne Jameson, Beverly Pickard, Dale McEntire and Bonnie Bardos.

Please support local art, artists, and the sponsoring businesses youll find artists not only here, but in Columbus, Tryon, Mill Spring, Green Creek, and Landrum.

Thoughts: Our resident native wildlife is important, whether we appreciate various creatures or not. It came to my attention that new residents to the Saluda area had both been clear-cutting a beautiful tree-filled hillside (to improve the view) and came upon a nest of young skunks, which they wanted to eradicate without forethought. Only after the fact, did I find out about it, and was so saddened that someone would do such a heartless thingI, and many others around, would be more than happy to talk to and educate folks about wildlife/nature and find some better alternatives over killing wildlife needlessly, or clear-cutting hillsides without thought.

We need our creatures and wood lands. All part of the circle, flora and fauna serve a purpose here. In respecting them, we learn much, and honor the earth we share. A skunks scent is self-protectionthey are intelligent, beautiful creatures with magnificent black and white plumed tails.

Skunks are mild-tempered, have poor eyesight, are mostly nocturnal, and defend themselves by spraying scent only when cornered or attacked. They benefit farmers, gardeners, and landowners because they feed on large numbers of agricultural and garden pests.

While young skunks are cute and like kittens, they are wild animals and its illegal to keep them as pets in most states.

John and Alice Waddill had a bear visitor that shimmied 26 feet up a tree to their upper deck… he had his eye on the birdseed snacks, but Alice gave him the teachers eye and he knew what side his bread was buttered on and left. Retired teachers can still strike fear into folks with that look… and it worked like a charm.

Happy Birthday to Max Thomas his birthday was in June, so I hope hell forgive my oversight last column! Max is now a whole year old, and I wish that young man many more birthdays ahead.

July Birthday hugs go out to Doris Marion, Debi Thomas, Linda Poole, Rheta Foster, Nancy Weinhagen and Tosh Miller. Dont forget to send those birthdays in!

Congratulations are in order for Dick Wright and his new bride… they met during mutual hip-replacement recovery and found love. Doesnt that make your heart smile?

Thank you all for your remarks and feedback about this column: it just makes my day knowing you are reading. I want you to feel like youre sitting out in the front porch swing drinking tea and enjoying birds and flowers with me. Keep in mind if you have something of note for this column, feel free to e-mail me at bbardos@gmail.com; or call me at 749-1153. &bsp;

You may also visit my website at bonniebardos.com.