Features

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.

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.

SAN MARCOS PUBLIC LIBRARY

As the weather cools, hearty meals often take center stage. Home cooks may have plenty of go-to recipes to feed their families and guests. But expanding your culinary horizons can lead to some new family favorites.

My journey this week is near the end of the long days of August which has five Sundays. Most of my week was spent enjoying the great indoors. Judy, my wife, spent time on researching. Two interesting articles she found explained why “dog days” is part of our vocabulary — 1. On NPR’s Short Wave, with Emily Kwong and Maddie Sofia, “the constellation Canis which contains the brightest star Sirius (called the Dog Star) is forever associated with the heat of summer. 2. Mr. Rusty Chinnis, who writes a fishing column titled “Reel Time” for AMSun. com says, “‘Dog days’ is a common term among fishermen signifying the long, hot days of August and September when fish can be hard to find and catch, making the early morning hours or night the best fishing time for savvy anglers.” As a retired pastor, I recall August as having a hard time keeping attendance up in church… another type of “fishing.”

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.

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

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.