“Each time she reaches for her keys, she recalls what you must be willing to turn into for love: spiny oyster mushroom, damson, salt marsh, cedar, creosote, new bud of pomegranate, Aegean sage blue sea, fig, blueberry, marigold, leaf fall, fogs eye, dusty miller, thief-of-the-night.”

~ Nikky Finney, excerpt from “Cattails”

August arrives on a cool mountain whisper, a welcome visitor with a crystal glass of freshly squeezed lemonade, the mornings clear, sweet. Could this really be August? Come on in, sit down, we like this respite from July. Delicate lacy webs sparkle over branch and eave, a few leaves drift, a change in the light filters through blue shadow onto emerald green.

Year to year, I notice the ever-so-subtle changes even in the heart of summer. It’ll be an early autumn maybe—the squirrels believe so. Butterflies dance over heliotrope and dusty lavender Joe Pye weed, whirls of Queen Anne’s lace, spiky sienna-brown cattails reflect on pond mirrors, a spill of pink roses, tight-furled chrysanthemums—amid all this, August sits herself down comfortably in the porch swing to sit and stay a while.

Saluda Tailgate Market is open on Fridays from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the city parking lot off Main Street with fresh produce, baked goodies, plants, and much more!

Saluda Welcome Table is every Tuesday and dinner is served from 5:30-6:45 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Saluda United Methodist Church. All are welcome; donations accepted.

Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) benefits from your donations or time as a volunteer for their many community projects. “Walks in the Woods” are on the first and third Sundays each month. The next walk is August 6 to Saluda Mountain Passage; meet at Saluda Library parking lot at 2 p.m. Wednesdays in August are open swim at Twin Lakes; children must have adult supervision. Contact SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit www.saludasclt.org. 

Social Singles will have a potluck dinner at Saluda Center on August 10, 5 p.m. All singles over 40 are welcome to attend, just bring a dish to share with all.

There’s a free Veterans’ Breakfast at Ward’s Grill every third Thursday of the month. Bring along a fellow vet and join in! 

Saluda Historic Depot is located at 32 West Main Street and is open Thursday-Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Saluda Train Tales are held on the third Friday each month at 7 p.m. through October. The next Train Tales on August 18 at 7 p.m. will feature Raymond “Bo” Brown, Sr., collector and writer.

Saluda Center will have a community potluck and bingo night on August 28, 6 p.m. Bring a dish to share.

Top of the Grade Concerts schedule at McCreery Park: August 11 – Casual Zealots, September 1 – Super 60’s. Music is from 7-9 p.m.

Saluda School may be out for summer vacation, but you can still collect specially marked box tops to send to the school office. Money is used to purchase books for the Books Are Really Fun program. August 24 is “Meet the Teachers” from 3-5 p.m.; August 28 is the first day of school.

Mark your calendars for the Charlie Ward Memorial Pig Out on September 9, 5-7 p.m. at McCreery Park.

Happy August Birthday to B.J. Kent, Linda Kaye Haynes, Paul Stoney, Jen Pace, Zack Pace, Don Mintz, Caroline Tindal, Nora Ward, Samantha Ward, Reeda Ward, Natalie Aabye, Verlie Murphy, Peter Eisenbrown, Coleman Bradley, and Ryan Bradley. Add your birthday to the list; no ages need be mentioned unless you’re under 2 or over 100!

Thank you, dear readers, for reading this column. You can contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, 828-749-1153, or bonniebardosart.com.