…The dry scent of a dying garden in September / the wind fanning the ash of a low fire. / What I love is near at hand / always, in earth and air. ~Theodore Roethke, excerpt from The Far Field

Welcome to mid-September Saluda notes and notations! Sweet mornings are cool, spiders weave sparkled webs, cricket songs grace the slow afternoon. Scampering squirrels are busy packing acorns for winter…summer corn dries in wide clay river-bottom fields, apples hang low and ripe.

Kudzu-eating Kudzilla is one heck of a kudzu-eatin machine: look at Thompson/Ozone and see what you think of a reclaimed corner. Kudzilla stays in Spartanburg, usually, but he was sent up on a special trip to Saluda recently. Thanks to our Saluda Community Land Trust folks who go out and battle kudzu: I think we all need to gang up on the monster before it eats Polk County. Seems like this year is the worst ever.

By the way, Saluda Community Land Trust meets the third Wednesday of the month at 3 p.m. at McCreery Park pavilion. They are always looking for volunteers; as is our Saluda Center.

Toshs Whistlestop is moving to the Depot this month.

Our own Aaron Burdett is releasing his third CD, and will be performing live on WNCWs Studio B on Sept. 24. His songs are genuine, often poignant, down-to-earth.

Keep in mind that the Saluda tailgate market with fresh local produce and other goodies is on Fridays at the city parking lot off Main Street&bsp; (follow the signs) from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. It continues into October, so stop by and take advantage of being able to buy local treats.

I loaded up on an armful of colorful zinnias, tomatoes, moist pound cake, cocoa-dusted pecans, veggie soup and warm hugs on my last trip. Everybody was so kind and friendly: and I came away from Deerfield Farms booth with an exotic looking tomato to try…she handed it to me, and said enjoy! I will, I will!

The zinnias made my day: a large bright splotch of color…inspiration for new paintings. There is much joy in fresh flowers cut from a garden. Indeed. The good feeling still is here. Come on by, and load up on&bsp; Saluda charm and warmth!

Speaking of warmth, we just had a fantastic town barbecuedespite the overcast day, fog and drizzle, lots of folks came out to enjoy great music, food, and companionship. I knew I would not have to eat alone and that is the sheer beauty of a town like Saluda. No one has to be a stranger and eat off in a corner by themselves….folks just embrace you right on in: everybodys family!

I will admit to checking out the dessert table a time or two!

Thank you to Judy Ward and Clark Thompson for carrying on Charlies tradition, and all who donated or gave time! We had political candidates show up, lots of happy kids, old timers, and a mellow crowd. Thats what makes Saluda special.

Art note: if youre an artist who is a master of train/railroad themed murals, take pictures of your best work (with price ranges) and drop your information off for Judy Ward to take a look at. Shes often down working hard on Main Street at Thompsons Store/Wards Grill. Saluda artist Dale McEntire has a show up at Grovewood Gallery at Grove Park Inn, Asheville. Its a beautiful exhibit, and features Dales paintings and sculpture.

I ran into Mike Belleme&bsp; there, and have to brag on him, too…hes traveling a lot with camera, and has accolades in the photography world. I remember when he was jumping around on gym mats at Saluda School!

Simple joys: warm fresh bread, a ride in a golf cart up the hill, golden leaf drifting over blue water.

Garden notes: Autumn Joy sedum is a workhorse garden plant: this time of year, its attracting all sorts of bees, butterflies. Wasps enjoy it too: I just let them all have it, and am glad to see those bees working it over. The bees are loving my purple basil, which has been flowering with hundreds of tiny blooms.

What do you think about outdoor lighting? I think that it is time we consider a night sky ordinance or at least curtail unnecessary outdoor lighting which can be invasive. Most lights can be down-lit and shielded. Many towns in California have adopted this policy, and it makes a big difference.

Oscar Harbin is doing better which is good news to share. Condolences go to the family of Jay Hahn and Charles Wolff.

Happy September Birthdays to Dale McEntire, Joni Rauschenbach, Peggy Moffat, Sonya Monts, Linda Kaye Haynes, Carol Kenfield, Debbie Fisher, Leslie Jespersen, Linda Mintz, Betty Thompson, Sheila Billeter, Cary Pace, Ross Arrington. Feel free to add your birthday to the list!

Whats on your September reading list? Seems like I keep a pair of reading glasses at all my favorite places to sit these days! On my list, The Lacuna is still waiting to be finished, although The Help got finished (and enjoyed), Evidence, and Him Her Him Again: The End of Him, plus piles of magazines that I need to weed through and send to the post office table in Tryon to share. Just call me pack rat!

Remember to join and support our local libraries we have wonderful people who work at them, which I can attest to, remembering how when I first came to Polk County, I found my way quickly to the old library building that was downtown Columbus and the Bookmobile when it came up to the park in Saluda when we didnt have a library yet. &bsp;

I can remember when I was a little girl, and my pipe-smoking, opera loving dad took me one summer Saturday afternoon to town to get my very own card: it was blue and made me feel like I owned the world (which in a way you really do when youre a kid and get your very first library card). I loved the smell of the books in the stacks, and how they felt when I pulled them out there were books about everything imaginable: I made friends with bees, fairies, mythology, history, art, and so many places, all there in a libraryhours spent reading, browsing the endless rows, each title an invitation to discover something new, or a writer.

Ive never lost my love of the scent of a book, the feel, and the turn of the first page, and how I feel when I have one that Im itching to read, carrying it home as if it was a treasure.

Thank you for your much appreciated thoughts and continuing feedback about this column! It brightens my day to know YOU read it. As ever, the goal is to make you, dear reader, feel like youre enjoying a front porch visit with me porch swing, birds singing, watching those spider webs sparkle with dew.

Keep in mind if you have something of note, 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