Wildflower Walk this Saturday
Wildflower expert Jack Carman returns to Rugby Saturday for his annual wildflower walk and slide show. Carman is the author of the book Wildflowers of Tennessee which is a “must have” for anyone interested in Tennessee wildflowers. The area around Rugby has lots of spring wildflowers, including several rare species. From what I have seen so far, this spring’s showing of wildflowers is very good. The charge for the walk and slideshow is $12. It will be from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm EDT with a break for lunch. The cost of lunch is not included. See calendar below for reservation information.
Spirit of Red Hill Returns
Donna Heffner says their shop, Spirit of Red Hill, which is next door to the Commissary in the Board of Aid building, will be opening for the 2008 season on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 a.m. Their schedule will be Fri., Sat. & Mon., 10-5, Sun noon-5. There is a rumor that “Mr. Gordon” will be wearing a spiffy new outfit when he returns to the front porch.
New Shop Under Roof
Butch and Cheryl Hodgkins’ new picture framing and art shop is now “dried in” as the metal roof was finished this week and a cupola was added on top. The shop is to the right rear of their new home, across from the Commissary. Butch said that they are hoping to have the shop open in some shape or form for Spring Festival. He laments that now that the shop has a roof, he doesn’t have any excuses for not working on it when the weather is bad.
Real Estate Happenings
Lisa Donegan recently purchased Lot 4 in Beacon Hill II from the Dunaways - the lot just beyond Rose Cottage. Lisa is an Assistant District Attorney for the state who currently lives in Dickson, but is hoping to retire to Rugby in a few years.
That leaves only one lot available for purchase in Beacon Hill and only three lots left on Boyle Avenue. Lot 2 in Beacon Hill is for sale because its owners, Glen and Carmita Wright have purchased a lot on Boyle Avenue. Barbara Stagg says that Lot 2 is a beautiful lot with about 1.87 acres. Anyone interested in Lot 2 should contact Barbara through Historic Rugby at 423-628-2441.
Three lots have already been sold on Boyle Avenue. In addition to the lot that the Wrights have purchased, another lot was sold to Rebecca Gully, Jessie Gully’s sister. The third lot was sold to Don Miller and Jayne Langan of Indianapolis. Barbara Stagg says that Jayne has worked in nursing and Don is a landscape specialist with the Indianapolis City Park system. They are especially interested in Rugby and the Cumberland Plateau because of its native plant diversity.
Carman Roberson says he hopes to get construction underway for his house in Beacon Hill sometime this summer. His lot is just beyond the Harris’ house on Offler Street. The house plans have been approved and a builder has been lined up. Carman is hoping to be a full-time resident of Rugby beginning sometime this fall.
Pearl is Back?
I heard a rumor that Pearl Nester was going to spending the week at Eric Wilson and Vi Biehl’s Beacon Hill house this week. As some of you may recall, Pearl was the lodging manager for Historic Rugby a number of years ago. She was always bringing baked goods over to us when George and I owned the Lindens over near Newbury House where she lived when she lived in Rugby. It will be great to see her again.
Jessie’s New Phone Number
Jessie Gully wants folks to know that she now has a Rugby landline phone number. It is 423-628-6090.
Birthdays
No birthdays reported for this week
Calendar of Events
April 26 – Spirit of Red Hill reopens for the season at 10:00 am EDT
May 3 - Community Potluck 7:00 pm EDT
Historic Rugby Workshops – contact Historic Rugby at 1-888-214-3400 or locally at 628-2441 for details and reservations or check online for more information at http://www.historicrugby.org/workshop/workshop.htm
April 19 – Wildflower Walk and Slide Show – instructor Jack Carman
April 26 & 27 – Honeysuckle Basketry with instructors Beth Hester and Scott Gilbert
Exercise Group - Monday and Thursday at 9:00 am EDT at the Friendly House
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT at the Friendly House
NATURE NOTES by Linda Konig
Oh, the joys of April! These are the days when every time you go outside, you can find something new blooming. From the lowly dandelion to the fragrant lilacs that remind us of New England, there’s floral color everywhere, overhead, at eye level, and underfoot.
I don’t know whether it still is or not, but April used to be National Poetry Month. I always find bits of poetry drifting through my head as I wander about looking for spring flowers. For instance, when I got up a couple of mornings ago, I saw that the big lilac bush in the southwest corner of my yard was starting to bloom, and the words “When lilacs last in the dooryard bloomed” sprang to mind. They were the first line of a poem that Walt Whitman wrote about Lincoln’s death in April, 1865.
The golden dandelion coins scattered about always make me think of one of my favorite books, Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. You do know that you can make wine with dandelions? Bradbury wrote about that and other simple joys of summer in his childhood.
Violets are everywhere now, and they once symbolized innocence and modesty. Wordsworth wrote,
“A violet by a mossy stone,
Half hidden from the eye
Fair as a star, when only one
Is shining in the sky.”
My advice to you is the same as Kentucky poet, Jesse Stuart’s: “Hold on to April! Never let her pass!”
