Features

SAN MARCOS PUBLIC LIBRARY

The biggest surprise in The Garden Guy’s testing this year comes courtesy of the Soprano impatiens. I cannot remember the last time I planted what we call bedding impatiens. I'm sure I had dark hair and was still helping children with homework. All I can say is Holy Wow.

Every person has poetry within them, and the San Marcos Public Library would like to read yours. Through a new monthly poetry bulletin “When the River Speaks,” the SMPL invites San Marcosarea residents of any age to submit their original poetry to be collected into a monthly edition, the first of which is themed, “Everybody In!”

All across America, birds are migrating to their new homes. To help in the migration, the City of Dripping Springs is once again launching Lights Out Dripping Springs, asking residents and businesses to take a pledge to turn off exterior lights during fall migration, Sept. 5 through Oct. 29, and spring migration, March 15 through June 15, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Along with the Lights Out Dripping Springs pledge program, the Dripping Springs City Council has proclaimed August through October and March through May as Lights Out Migratory Months.

SAN MARCOS PUBLIC LIBRARY 625 E. HOPKINS ST. 512-393-8200

One man’s junk is another man’s treasures, but none will find any junk in the Heritage Association of San Marcos treasure sale on Saturday, Aug. 28 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Every room in the Charles S. Cock House Museum, home of the Cottage Kitchen, is chock full of curated collections and high-end treasures.

Backpacks are useful tools for students and adults alike. From hiking supplies to school books to sports equipment, backpacks can store just about anything. As veritable workhorses, they’re bound to get dirty and can benefit from periodic cleaning.

The Garden Guy is ‘Boldly’ going into August with geraniums blazing. I could also say I am going into August with ‘Boldly geraniums blazing. It wasn’t too long ago that August and Geraniums in the South would have been the definition of a garden oxymoron. Boldly geraniums have changed all of that.

My journey last week took me to a reunion of friends who shared a journey in an Infantry Rifle Company 54 years ago in Vietnam. The only thing better than a friend is an old friend.

Dr. Bruce Smith became a Rotarian 30 years ago in Fairbanks, Alaska. Currently, he’s the president of the Rotary chapter in San Marcos during the service organization’s centennial year.