Jack Carman’s Wildflower Walk this Saturday

Rugby Friend and Expert on Tennessee Wildflowers


One of the most diverse wildflower walks in Tennessee will be held Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., led by instructor Jack Carman, whose book Wildflowers of Tennessee is a definitive guide. Jack leads field trips and photo workshops for the Gatlinburg Spring Flower Pilgrimage, among others, and has won awards for his wildflower photos. The fee is $25 and includes a plant list of expected sightings.

The day will finish with a film presentation and book signing in the late afternoon.

To register for workshops, call toll-free 1-888-214-3400 or 423-628-2441.

Hugh Bailey and Karen Davis

The Spirit of Spring Festival

38 Years of Something Special

There is something special about Hugh Bailey. Many of you have met Hugh during Spring Festival as he demonstrates his pottery turning skills on the front porch of the Commissary. Donna Heffner found out recently that he has done it every year of the annual event – 38 years to be exact. Of course, the Commissary was rebuilt in the mid-1980s, so his participation in the festival actually predates the current Commissary building.

Hugh and his porch-mate, Karen Davis (the wood spoon maker who has only been on the porch for 25 festivals!), were back this weekend. Saturday appeared to have a reasonably good crowd as it was a nice day - a little cloudy, but pleasant weather for attending an outdoor event. However, as so often has happened, Sunday was a wash-out with periodic rain and windy, cool weather. 

There must also be something special about the Spring Festival itself, which is more technically known as the Festival of British and Appalachian Culture, to survive 38 years of the whims of Mother Nature with relatively few changes.

Bluegrass Performers at Festival

Some amazing performers were at this year’s festival – so kudos to those involved in recruiting the talent. While I was working all day on Saturday, on Sunday I did get to hear Four Leaf Peat and Tony Thomas and Judy Carson perform, so I got a little bit of the Irish music and the Appalachian. They were all excellent performers.  And that is just a few of a very impressive list of musicians. Unfortunately, with the bad weather and perhaps because it was Mother’s Day, there were very few people in the audience at the music tent.

Home-made ice cream vendor Carol Gerlach serves eager customers.  Craft demonstrators and May Pole dancing.

The layout of the vendors and demonstrators was improved this year and there were some very interesting folks this year.  One interesting booth was run by couple who were making Sassafras tea in a kettle over an open fire and were giving rides in a cart pulled by a miniature horse – the kids loved the little horses.  In the spirit of the event, they donated all of the proceeds from sales to Historic Rugby.  But, alas, the actual number of vendors and demonstrators was substantially fewer than in years past.

HRI Interpreters Judy and Sarah

This is an event that holds great sentimental attachment for many folks involved with Rugby.  But the event has been steadily losing attendance over a number of years. And it has rained during at least the last three festivals, which is discouraging to the organizers and volunteers, who obviously cannot control the weather.

It takes a huge effort by staff and volunteers to put this festival on each year. And the vendors and demonstrators put forth quite an effort to support the festival, in spite of the low turnout and often slow sales.

So naturally, a lot of folks are talking about what can be done to improve and save it. Several people said they thought that it should not be on Mother’s Day weekend and that if it is done again as a two day festival that is should go back to being on the third weekend of May. Some vendors said that it is always poorly attended on Sunday and that increasingly festivals are Friday-Saturday ones.

Others raised concern about the marketing of the festival. There seem to be fewer stories about it in major markets, or even in local markets. Is that because of an inadequate marketing effort? Or is it because there are so many more community festivals these days that it is harder to get media attention in a media market hit hard by the Internet and that is becoming fractionalized?

And does it really make sense to do an outdoor festival when Rugby now has an indoor theatre which could handle a series of British-and Appalachian-related performances without having it held hostage to Mother Nature?

So, in order to save the spirit of Spring Festival is it time to rethink it? What do you think? Email us at rickmurphy13@gmail.com  

Fuzzy Orange Brings His Rugby to YouTube

Rugby’s friend Fuzzy Orange is known to most of you for his bark basket booth at Spring Festival and his Father Christmas outfit and reindeer dog during the holidays.  Fuzzy is a lifelong learner who is now attending Roane State Community College. He and his classmates have a new video of Rugby on YouTube.  Thank you Fuzzy! He even interviews George! 

Help make the video go viral.  Here is a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDNuNp9rkV0&feature=relmfu

Single Mother Needs Your Help

A stray cat has taken up residence under one of the Historic Buildings – Kingstone Lisle.  Unfortunately, she has decided to raise a family under the back kitchen and has given birth to four adorable kittens. If you would like a cat and kittens, or one or more kittens, or if you can otherwise help to relocate these cute creatures, your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Rugby Events Coming Up

In addition to the Wildflower Tour this weekend, several other events are coming up in Rugby in the next few weeks.

Lantern Tour - May 26

On Saturday, May 26, Historic Rugby will bring back some of Rugby's dearly departed to tell their stories in Laurel Dale Cemetery. It's the "Lantern Tour," when costumed portrayers tell about nine of Rugby's most colorful characters of the past. This year for the first time you'll meet a Rugby gentleman born in England whose claim to fame was this: HE NEVER SHAVED & NEVER MARRIED! You'll hear what he did do, why he paid particular attention to the Tennessee weather, and about his relations who chose different careers, like the Bishop of Calcutta! The tour is limited to 40 people because of the outdoor setting on sacred ground. So please make reservations soon 888-214-3400. 5:30 Eastern/ 4:30 Central - Tickets: $15

Cumberland Plateau Gardens at Historic Rugby – June 9

Saturday, June 9 - Tour Rugby's private gardens, attend a "sun-to-shade" design workshop and see big-screen photos from Rugby gardens of the past! Lunch at the Harrow Road Café. Afternoon garden tour ends with a tea at one of Rugby’s private gardens.  Time: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT.  Tickets: $40, including lunch and tea. Reservations: 888-214-3400

Save the Date – Independence Day Picnic

 By Kathy Hicks

The Annual Independence Day picnic at Lizzie's Place (home of John and Kathy Hicks) will be held on Saturday June 30 from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm.  Since the 4th of July falls on Wednesday and the Antique Car Show is on Sat. July 7, we will celebrate the 4th of July early.  Mark your calendar.

BIRTHDAYS

May 17  Julian Bankston and Mary Gilliat

 May 20  Charlie Erickson and Vince Neary

CALENDAR

Rugby is in the Eastern time zone, just barely.

Friday, May 18 – History Night Dinner , 7:30 p.m., at Grey Gables. 423-628-5252 for reservations.

Saturday, May 26 – Lantern Tour of Laurel Dale Cemetery – The tour is limited to 40 people because of the outdoor setting on sacred ground. So please make reservations soon – 423-628-2441 or 888-214-3400. 5:30 Eastern/ 4:30 Central - Tickets: $15

Saturday, June 2 – Community Potluck – 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 9 - Cumberland Plateau Gardens at Historic Rugby - Tour Rugby's private gardens, attend a "sun-to-shade" design workshop and see big-screen photos from Rugby gardens of the past! Lunch at the Harrow Road Café. Afternoon garden tour ends with a tea at one of Rugby’s private gardens.  Saturday, June 9  - 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT. Tickets: $40, incl. lunch and tea. Reservations: 423-628-2449 or 888-214-3400

June 30 – Independence Day Picnic - at Lizzie's Place (home of John and Kathy Hicks) will be held on Saturday June 30 from 6-9 p.m.   
Ongoing Activities

Quilters’ Group - Wednesdays and Saturdays, 2–4 p.m. Eastern, at the Friendly House behind Christ Church

Rugby Yoga – Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m. Eastern, at the Friendly House.

Christ Church Episcopal -- Sunday morning services, 11 a.m. Eastern year round; all are welcomed.


Historic Rugby Workshops


Spring Wildflower Walk and Picnic Lunch - On Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern, attendees can take part in one of the most diverse wildflower walks in Tennessee, led by instructor Jack Carman, whose book Wildflowers of Tennessee is a definitive guide. Jack leads field trips and photo workshops for the Gatlinburg Spring Flower Pilgrimage, among others, and has won awards for his wildflower photos. The fee is $25 and includes a plant list of expected sightings. The day will finish with a film presentation and book signing in the late afternoon.

Cumberland Plateau Gardens at Rugby - On Saturday, June 9 tour Rugby's private gardens, attend a "sun-to-shade" design workshop and see big-screen photos from Rugby gardens of the past! Lunch at the Harrow Road Café. Afternoon garden tour ends with a tea at one of Rugby’s private gardens.  Instructor Bob Washburn, co-owner of Wolf River Valley Growers in Pall Mall, will be joined by Rugby’s own Rick Murphy and Barbara Mitchell for this very special event. Register early – this is a day not to be missed.  Time: 10:00 am to 5:30 pm EDT.  Tickets: $40, incl. lunch and tea. Reservations: 423-628-2449 or 888-214-3400

Show Your Spirit Basket Workshop - Create a generously sized Spirit Basket that is perfect for tailgating or carrying with you. This is an intermediate level project. The workshop is Friday, June 22 from 4 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Eastern and Saturday, June 23 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern. Instructor Beth Hester is the owner of The Basket Maker’s Catalog. She has been teaching basketry workshops locally and throughout the southeastern U.S .for many years. Workshop fee is $99 ~ register early!

To register for workshops, call toll-free 1-888-214-3400 or 423-628-2441. Lodging may be available at 1880 Newbury House and Rugby's cottages at a 10% discount to students. Food service is available at the Harrow Road Café.

 NATURE NOTES

Moth Mulleins

By Linda Konig

The Moth Mulleins started showing up just this past week in our area.  These truly are some of our most beautiful wildflowers, as you'll see for yourself if you'll check out http://www.pbase.com/dr24/image/137602240

It's often interesting to learn how wildflowers came to have their names. The Latin name for Moth Mulleins is Verbascum blattaria which is Latin, of course, and the word blattaria means cockroach. Yep, it seems the Romans must have had 'em, too. The flowers were named this because people used to use them to repel cockroaches, but I was unable to learn how, precisely, they accomplished this. (Just throwing some part of the plants on the floor or in the cabinets?  Drying and grinding the seeds into a powder?)

Their common name, Moth Mulleins, is used because their stamens remind people of a moth's hairy antennae. The stamens are much more colorful than moth antennae, though.  The stamens have fuzzy purple hairs. The petals may be either white or yellow, but white and yellow flowers are never seen together on the same plant, though sometimes the white-flowering and yellow-flowering plants may grow near each other.

These erect, usually-single stalks with flowers near the top are often found along roadsides, in fields, and edges of woods. They remind me at first-glance of a miniature hollyhock, and someone in Rugby once asked me years ago if I'd ever seen any wild hollyhocks around here. So I looked up wild hollyhocks on the web and found that there is such a thing.  However, they aren't found in our area, so  they may have been thinking of the Moth Mulleins.

Moth Mulleins are biennial, meaning they live 2 years. In the first year, they're short and are just growing a basal rosette, a long taproot and gathering strength to grow tall the next year and produce flowers which naturally make seed. Probably bumblebees and Halicitid (little wild striped) bees pollinate the flowers since they visit these and collect pollen.  I hope we'll see some Moth Mulleins on our annual wildflower walks next weekend around Rugby, and who knows?  Maybe we'll even see some bees on them.  Great photo ops!

Our Mother’s Love

Poem by Mara Ferrata-Trumbo

 We know them well these angels called “Mothers”

There’s magic that sets them apart from all others

Like to you all, to me my Mom’s uniquely thought

To be the one and only, the best of the whole lot!

What makes this woman special you may exclaim?

The bond between us thru the years... let me explain

Her tears of happiness as I took my very first breath

The way she tenderly caressed my little face at birth.

Her eyes deep in mine spoke words I had not learned

Was it her voice or heaven’s music which I heard?

Later she held me firm when guiding my first stride

Lest I would trip or falter and hurt my little pride

Remember when growing tough meant to us all

Standing one’s ground, walking straight and tall?

Yet there were times no matter just how tough

We’d get badly beaten by someone rude or rough

Mamma’s soft kisses would wipe away the tears

And her reassuring words subsided all our fears

So once again we’d go out and face the world

This time unafraid, secure, arrogant and bold.

Oh those forlorn school years, I do remember well!

Dad’s work took him abroad, and I experienced hell

But Mom was there, to help me though the days

And I grew up fearless, like her in so many ways.

Mom taught me how to cook, bake and keep house

Her family values installed, helped me find a spouse.

She sewed my wedding dress with lots of love and tears

Guided me through childbirth over the next few years.

Her grandchildren she’d spoil and surely did adore

Blood of her blood, they grew and loved her even more

Then the time arrived for Mom and Dad to depart

And retire back to Italy, to begin life from the start

Now Mamma is so far from us, alone and e’er so frail

Awaiting to join my dear Papà along God’s Holy Trail

But in our heavy hearts though far, she’s ever oh so near

There will never be a Mom like her, so precious and so dear!

This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp