Boyle Woods Improvements

New signs were put up this week at the entrance to Boyle Woods, a Historic Rugby sponsored residential development.  Much work has been done there clearing tree debris from storms that occurred in the last two years. If you have not visited lately, you may want to. It is a great and shadyplace to walk or drive around.

The site has six large building lots, three of which are still available for sale. The entrance to Boyle Woods is bordered by two historic homes, Twin Oaks on one side and Ruralia on the other, making for a beautiful historic entrance to the meandering road that leads into the development. 

Thanks to Steve Logan, Kares Stonecipher and others for all the hard work on this beautiful site. Additional improvements are planned for Boyle Woods, including landscaping at the entrance sign.

For information about the lots for sale, contact Historic Rugby at 423-628-2441 or rugbylegacy@highland.net .

New Directors Join HRI Board

Executive Director Transition Discussed

A good turnout was in evidence Sunday for Historic Rugby’s Annual Membership meeting at the Visitor Centre Theatre. Annie Patterson and Lisa Donegan were welcomed as new members of the board of directors. John Hicks was elected for a second term. And it was announced that former board member and Board Chair Greg Reed would be recommended to the Board to fill, until the next membership meeting, the board seat recently vacated by Mike Harris. One vacancy remains on the board, which the Nominating Committee hopes to help fill in the near future.

Cheryl Cribbett and Mike Harris

Board President Jane Logan thanked Executive Director Cheryl Cribbet, who is leaving HRI in August, for all her hard work and accomplishments over the last few years and introduced Mike Harris, who will become Interim Executive Director in August. Jane said a committee has been formed to conduct a search for a permanent Executive Director.

Probably the highlight of the meeting was Jane’s presentation showing much of the work that has been accomplished over the last year. While the organization still faces great challenges in its operating budget, she reported that substantial progress has been made in reducing long term debt of the organization. In addition, progress continues to be made in improving lodging facilities and in further restoration of the historic buildings.  Throughout the presentation it was clear how much work is being done with the help of many volunteers, which is essential in an organization with such a small staff.

Special presentations were made to honor the long-time service of Rita Myers and John Gilliat. And departing board members Michael Stagg, Rick Murphy and Mike Harris were given beautiful large copies of the original historic Rugby town plan.

After a member reception on the porch of the Visitor Centre, the new board held its first meeting.

Many thanks to Jane and Steve Logan, Cheryl Cribbet and other the others who worked so hard to make the annual membership meeting such a nice experience.

Good Stuff, Cheap

Right Here in Rugby

The Hurys have some things for sale, things they didn't want to part with. Unfortunately, they have no place to put them as they combine two households.There are four or five table lamps of different sizes (none more than $10), a floor lamp, a metal art moderne chair, a very unusual 5x7 oriental rug in a pattern of squares, a small white oval mirror, an 18" (approximate) square antique Shaker-esque table, and some stackable shelving among other items. If you are interested, please call the Hurys at 423-628-6454 or email Marilyn, adamshury@gmail.com to come take a look.

– Marilyn Hury

BIRTHDAYS

June 28 - George Crabtree

June 29 - Wil Thornthwaite

July 2 - Bob Hemminger

CALENDAR

Rugby is in the Eastern time zone, just barely.

Saturday, 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. Eastern. Join your neighbors and friends for the annual 4th of July picnic on JUNE 30. Doug and Butch will provide music for this annual picnic. Bring a dish to share. John and Kathy will provide barbeque, buns & drinks.

July – There will be no community potluck in July since there is the Independence Day Picnic.

Saturday, July 7 – Antique Car Show - Historic Rugby and Appalachian Habitat will be hosting a 2nd Annual Benefit Antique Car Show. It's free admission to the public. Come out to enjoy the beautiful cars! Antique car owners are invited to feature their automobiles in this year's event with an entry fee of $10 per car. Register in advance by calling 888-214-3400 or register at the Community Center behind the Visitor Centre in Historic Rugby at 9 a.m. on the day of the show.

Saturday, July 21 – Appalachian Writer Series – Author Vicki Lane. Join us for an evening with Vicki Lane as she speaks on her novel series and how it draws on the Appalachian past and present. "I think that, as an outsider, I sometimes see more clearly the wonderful things that people who grew up here take for granted." 7 p.m. Eastern/ 6 Central. Lane and her husband moved to the mountains in 1975 to learn the rural life. She soon fell in love with the Appalachian culture. Her acute understanding of the ways of the mountains is easily spotted in her novels. She is author of the Elizabeth Goodweather Appalachian Mysteries, the fourth of which, IN A DARK SEASON, is an Anthony nominee for Best PBO and THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS, a spinoff/standalone, centering on Miss Birdie, Elizabeth's octogenarian neighbor.
http://vickilanemysteries.com

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

Kudzu Basket Workshop - July 21, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Finally! A use for kudzu vines! Learn to weave your very own Kudzu Basket with easy to learn techniques taught by Fuzzy Orange. Fuzzy lives near Rugby and has been studying and teaching bark basketry for many years. Anyone who has met him knows he is a joy to be around and a great story-teller. Students of his classes will be sure to have a good time. The cost for this workshop is $35. Please make advanced reservations.

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

Shamey Roses

By Linda Konig

I couldn't resist going back to John Gilliat and Barbara Stagg's meadow at Roslyn this past week to see what else I might find there. I was rewarded with the sight of many Little-Leaf Sensitive Brier vines with their pink powder puff blooms, more than I've ever seen anywhere else.  Actually, I'd never seen them at all until I moved here from Franklin, Tennessee, because they don't grow in Middle Tennessee. 

They're a member of the bean family.  Another name for them is Mimosa microphylla because they remind us somewhat of the flowers on a Mimosa tree, a non-native, unlike these flowering vines. Their little pink balls remind me of  fireworks explosions, especially with the minute yellow tips on each ball. Though the vines are somewhat prickly, try rubbing one of the flower puff balls against your cheek. So soft! The weak thin stems preclude gathering them for bouquets, however. Years ago, when I first discovered some of these across from the Commissary, I tried putting some in a bouquet, but they wilted instantly. So it's better just to enjoy them in the wild. 

This little vine goes by many names that are descriptive of its characteristics. Cat's Claw is a name that gives you an idea of its briars. One of the more colorful names is Shame-boy.  A local name on the Cumberland Plateau is Shamey Roses. Years ago, I asked Louise Beard why they called it that, and she answered, 'Cause they're bashful.' The leaves close up if you touch them. They will also close at twilight and if it rains. 

The sensitive closing trait is somewhat unusual in the plant kingdom. Two other wildflowers of the bean family that do this, the Partridge Pea and the Wild Sensitive Plant. Both these two flowers are yellow but have the same trait of partially or totally closing their leaves when touched. Like all bean plants, all three are great nitrogen fixers for soil.

For some more info and a gorgeous close-up of one of the pink flower balls, try www.hiltonpond.org/thisweek040822.html .  Shamey Roses are pollinated by bees. The seeds of Sensitive Briar are in pea-like pods and are sometimes eaten by Northern Bobwhite (quail) and seed-foraging songbirds.

This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp