Mountain Living - June 2016
Art After Dark - you should try it!
June is one of those busy months in which a plethora of activity takes place. Father’s day, the beginning of summer, Flag Day, and here in the mountains: the continuation of Art After Dark on the first Friday of each month from May until December. If you have not experienced Art After Dark in downtown Waynesville, I would encourage you to take part in this casual and leisurely event. Some ten art studios and galleries stay open from 6:00pm to 9:00pm along Main Street, designated by Art After Dark flags, with many of the resident artist present and engaging in their crafts. Of course, art is available for sale at a very reasonable price.
Also, June is the time for the biennial Haywood County Garden Tour on Saturday, June 18. Jointly sponsored by the Haywood County Extension Center and the Haywood County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, this year’s theme is “Pollinate, Propagate, and Cultivate”. In addition to visiting several local gardens, this year there will be hands on demonstrations by Master Gardeners on propagation, Square Foot Gardening, monarch butterflies and other pollinators, grafting techniques, along with local honey for sale, all to benefit horticultural and educational projects throughout Haywood County. There will also be Plein Air Artists (the act of painting outdoors in order to paint the actual visual conditions seen at the time of painting) to paint views of the various gardens on the tour. The tour begins at the Mountain Research Station on Raccoon Road where ticket holders pick up directions to the gardens. Tickets are $15 in advance by emailing mgtour2016@charter.net or at the Extension Center at 589 Raccoon Road. Tickets are $20 the day of the tour. I have helped with the tour since 2009 and will again be at one of the gardens with other Master Gardeners to answer questions on the various plants, trees, and shrubs seen in the gardens. It is a great opportunity to see firsthand the hard work that has been put in by homeowners to beautify their gardens and perhaps get some ideas and tips of your own.
Don’t forget the July 4th Junaluska Highlands Community Association cook out and social next month. This is a great time for patriotic fun, food and fellowship with neighbors, friends, and family. More information will be sent out by e-mail to our property owners as we get closer to the event. Also, remember the Balsam Range concert at Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska is Saturday, July 2nd this year. This is an multiple award winning blue grass group made up of residents of Haywood County and if you have not been to one of their concerts previously, make plans to see them on July 2nd for outstanding entertainment you will not forget. Tickets are available at the Bethea Welcome Center at Lake Junaluska.
That’s all for now. Happy summer everyone!
Mac









