Spring has officially arrived in Lake Norman and what better way to celebrate than to get outside and enjoy some of the things that make our region unique, like our native flora and homegrown music. Join us on May 6, 2023, from 2:00-5:30 for Wildflowers and Bluegrass, the May HEARTS happening at Huntersville’s historic Cedar Grove and Hugh Torance House and Store. HEARTS Happenings are free, monthly community gatherings featuring music, visual arts, and lectures exploring local history, nature, and our shared sense of place.
Wildflowers abound at this month’s event, along with opportunities to learn more about the plants that call our region home. Flower specialist and grower Julia Rogers from Blackberry Ridge Farm will share native wildflower plant lore and care.
And native plant expert Marion Sekerak will lead “wildflower walks” on the historic grounds, sharing information and lore about the plants that played a part in Native American, African American, and colonial history.
Native plants from Dutch Buffalo Farm and wildflower bouquets from Blackberry Ridge Farm will be on sale at the event while supplies last.
Local music is a tradition at every HEARTS Happening and this month’s musical guest is FaultLine, a high-energy bluegrass ensemble from Charlotte whose dynamic performances and infectious sound have quickly become a local favorite.
The band’s five members come from diverse musical backgrounds, including country, rock, and jazz. Their unique blend of influences results in a sound that is both traditional and modern, with tight harmonies and lightning-fast instrumental solos. At the heart of FaultLine's sound is their passion for bluegrass music. Drawing inspiration from the pioneers of the genre, such as Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs, they infuse their originality into each song, creating a sound that is unmistakably their own.
Also featured in May is the HEARTS Reunion Project, an ongoing effort to better document the family history and stories of all people connected to this land throughout time. The Catawba Valley region is an interwoven tapestry of many families, including descendants of pioneers, enslaved people, and Native people.
HTHS Board Member, Ron Potts, will host the Reunion Tent during the event, and we encourage the community to stop by to learn more about this project and share their own local connections.
The Hugh Torance House and Store will be open from 2:00-5:30 selling snacks, beer, wine, sundries, and more. Plan to come early and/or stay late to enjoy the historic grounds and take a tour of the oldest standing store in NC. The Hugh Torance House and Store is one of Mecklenburg County’s few surviving 18th-century structures and is adjacent to Cedar Grove, the 1831 Greek Revival home of James Torrance, son of Hugh and Isabella Torance.
Wildflowers and Bluegrass is a free community event with tickets available at www.hught.org, donations are appreciated. This event is made possible by dedicated volunteers, HEARTS Circle members, and community partners Lake Norman Realty, Blackberry Ridge Farm, and Dutch Buffalo Farm. All proceeds benefit HTHS’s efforts to further the HEARTS mission of historic preservation, ecological conservation, and forging community connections in our region.
The Store and HEARTS events are operated by the Hugh Torance House and Store (HTHS), a volunteer-based 501c3 nonprofit. For more information, visit www.hught.org, email info@hughtorancehouseandstore.org, or call (704) 920-9931. The historic Hugh Torance House and Store is located at 8231 Gilead Road, Huntersville, NC 28078.
Save the date for our June HEARTS event on June 10, 2023, “Junion,” featuring local connections from the Reunion project, honoring legacies and descendants from the enslaved people of this region.
