Beautiful Places, Beautiful Faces
The Sandhills Photography Club and the Artists League of the Sandhills will hold an opening reception on Friday, Sept. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. for its show “Travels Near and Far.” The exhibit will be on display through Sept. 24 at the Artists League of the Sandhills, 129 Exchange St., Aberdeen. For more information call (910) 944-3979 or go to www.artistleague.org.
Feasting on Weymouth
Reserve a Farm to Table boxed dinner created by Ashten’s Restaurant at the Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities on Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The dinner includes grilled chicken, grilled peaches, two side salads and corn bread. Picnic on the grounds or take it to go. The meal is $20 for Weymouth members and $30 for non-members. To reserve your dinner call (910) 692-6261, go to www.weymouthcenter.org or book through www.ticketmesandhills.com.
Live Music on the Green
On Friday, Sept. 11, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Darin and Brooke Aldridge will be appearing on the Bradshaw Performing Arts Center’s McNeill-Woodward Green at Sandhills Community College, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst. Masks and social distancing rules are in effect for this outdoor concert. Then, on Saturday, Sept. 26, The Contenders will be live on the green from 7:30 to 10 p.m. For information and tickets to either concert — or both — go to www.ticketmesandhills.com.
The Virtual Jenna
Join Today Show co-anchor Jenna Bush Hager, the daughter of George W. and Laura Bush, and acclaimed historian Jon Meacham at a book signing for Hager’s new book, Everything Beautiful in Its Time, sharing the moving stories of her beloved grandparents, George H.W. and Barbara Bush. The virtual event takes place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9. For information go to ticketmesandhills.com.
25 Years and Counting
Stop by the Southern Pines Public Library on Thursday, Sept. 10, to help celebrate its 25th Dedication Day. The first 50 visitors can enter a raffle to win a book-themed basket of delectable stuff and pick up a cupcake for the road. For more information call (910) 692-8235 or visit www.sppl.net.
Reflections of a Lifetime
In her just released book, South Toward Home: Tales of an Unlikely Journey, former Pinehurst resident Alice Joyner Irby leads you through decades of crises and joys, harsh realities and great kindnesses. Comprised of 26 separate stories combining intimate personal portraits with a pragmatic view of the world around her, Irby’s book describes her childhood in Weldon, North Carolina; the glass ceiling confronting women in the workplace; the creation of the Job Corps as part of Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty; the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s; and much more. It’s available at The Country Bookshop, through the Outer Banks Publishing Group or on Amazon.
Vote!
National Voter Registration Day is Tuesday, Sept. 22. If you have yet to register, stop by the Southern Pines Public Library, 170 W. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines to pick up a voter registration form.
As seen in The Sway
Local Woman Imports Tropical Plants for a Living
No one taught Elizabeth Hadley how to love plants. Like the dozens of tropical babies in her greenhouse in Whispering Pines, her love grew from years trial and error, research and TLC. In February 2020, Elizabeth started her tropical plant import business, Whispering Vines.
Whispering Vines brings in greenery from places like Thailand and Indonesia to clients across the state. Elizabeth communicates with plant vendors overseas to obtain rare, tropical plants for nurseries and even reptile vivariums across the state.
Elizabeth’s collection consists of everything from aroids like monsteras and philodendrons to rare orchids, palms and African/southeast Asian flowering trees.
“When it comes to plants, it’s a matter of networking and doing a ton of research,” Elizabeth said. “I’ve focused on developing long term relationships with suppliers overseas, so I can have access to a wider range of plants and the rarer plants.”
When Elizabeth receives an order, she coordinates with the buyer to have them pick up at her greenhouse or she will take them herself.
In the future, Elizabeth hopes to extend her import business to the interior landscaping market. Just as interior designers provide insight in room design, Elizabeth would provide clients with ways to use plants to enhance a space.
“Aesthetically speaking, you have lots of structural elements to plants,” Elizabeth said. “Some are vase shaped. Some are more wild. I feel like plants can add such an incredible aesthetic effect to a room — instead of pieces of furniture that serve no purpose.”
To learn more about Whispering Vines, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Thinking about getting in the plant game? This local Facebook group serves as a friendly online community for plant lovers across Moore County.
