By Annette Wright
Kingston Community News, Columnist
Hansville has so many volunteers working at worthwhile causes. It’s one of the things that makes it a great place to live — hundreds of interesting and interested people eager to devote their time and effort to causes they believe in and in which they enjoy participating. There are two activities coming up this month run solely by volunteers that you don’t want to miss.
Natural treasure
When TV and radio personality Ciscoe Morris recently visited he was definitely impressed by the Buck Lake Native Plant Garden’s beauty and diversity. Planted and tended by volunteers for over 10 years, the garden is a natural treasure right here in Hansville. Starting this month, you and a group of friends, your club or organization can tour the garden with an expert.
Ten volunteers have happily agreed to be docents and lead tours year-round. With about 500 native plants on just over an acre, you will see the amazing variety of natives available, how they can work in your landscape, and will be able to ask questions on their characteristics and care. The garden is lovely any time of year, by the way.
The tours will no doubt be popular because gardeners are increasingly interested in planting natives. They are beautiful, attractive to birds and other wildlife, useful in a wide variety of ways, and most importantly as far as I’m concerned, low-maintenance. Grown in local soils, acclimatized to our dry summers and wet winters, they are no-fuss plants, trees and shrubs every home-owner should seriously consider.
The minimum number for a guided tour is six. Contact www.bucklake nativeplants.org and send your e-mail request about two weeks in advance. The site has a lot of good info on native plants too.
The book’s always better
The twice-yearly book sale at the Greater Hansville Community Center is an event many of us look forward to. There are so many books for sale and in such a wide range of categories, it’s sure to be another big hit.
Organized by volunteers Alix Kosin and Howie O’Brien for the past 5 years, with the invaluable help of other residents, the Big Spring Book Sale has so far received about 5,000 donations. “We always get a lot of books, people here are great readers, but each sale is a little different,” says Kosin.
This time around you’ll find more tables than ever before tables packed with mysteries and romances. Also in abundance: art books and cookbooks. Other categories sure to attract readers: novels, non-fiction, travel, gardening, collectibles, and children’s books. And check out the unusually large collection of at least 600 CDs and 100 DVDs.
New this year: framed fine art, donated by residents, hanging on the walls of the Center. There are at least two dozen works, all priced to sell, including strikingly beautiful, numbered prints by noted wildlife artists Ed Tussey and the late Jean Drescher.
The sale will take place at the GHCC, Buck Lake Park on Friday, June 22, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, June 23, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., and Sunday, June 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Please note: no scanning devices allowed because too many books were being scooped up by professional pickers. Now just folks like us will have an equal chance to discover a real find, maybe even a national treasure, at a bargain price. Most books are less than $1! Credit cards accepted for purchases over $10. All proceeds go to support the GHCC.
