Hello, people, and welcome to Thursday! It’s the one day that stands between you and Friday, the day that ushers in the first official weekend of summer. I hope you’ve got your barbeque grills spiffed up and ready to go – personally, we use ours all winter, but we’re pretty excited to get back into making it a more regular event.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there are some new big sculptures out on the lawn in front of Emerson Umbrella. It was the egg-shaped sculpture that initially caught my eye, so I chatted with mixed-media artist Max Payne to get the skinny. About three years ago, Emerson Umbrella decided to let people know what they were all about, as well as showcase some of their artists, by putting their large sculptures out on their lawn. During the first two years, the sculptures were out from May to November; last year, they decided to keep a couple out throughout the winter, and now they’ve added some new ones. The idea is for it to be a revolving show, where some things go out and new ones come in.

The sculptures are truly impressive: the egg-shaped one I mentioned looks smooth from afar, but is actually made of resin over plaster and then wrapped with yards and yards of cloth. Max told me that it was created as part of a performance piece on stage in New York, and that if you look at it up close, you’ll see that it’s covered in poetry – in Chinese. Very cool. There’s also a twenty-eight foot tall vase made of wire, so ephemeral that you may miss seeing it despite its grandiose size.

All of these sculptures are for sale, but if you can’t find the space to bring one home, there are smaller sculptures and drawings by these same artists inside the building. These are really cool, too, and include one that moves in a really mesmerizing way. However, the inside show will only be around until June 28, so you may not want to wait.

In fact, happily, the show opens tonight, with a reception from 7 to 9 pm, and anyone can come. There will be wine and refreshments, and most of the sculptors will be there, so this is a great time to chat them up and hear all about their creations. The artists are Yin Teet, Michio Ihara, Kevin Duffy, Gary Haven Smith, Billy Sherry, Linda Hoffman, Ben Cabot, Louise Peterson, and Antionette Schultze. In the fall, some of them will be presenting talks about their works, so check that out when it happens.

Meantime, don’t just glance at the sculptures while driving by – stop the car, walk around, and really check them out. And tonight, come have a glass of wine and look at great art, up close.

Tour the garden

I know the rain makes everyone a little cranky, but you have to admit, it’s just what the gardens need. And good thing, because the Concord Museum’s annual Garden Tour happens next Friday and Saturday, June 1 and 2, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. I love this event: looking at other people’s beautifully planted yards, all colorful and inspiring. There are expansive gardens and cozy gardens, something for everyone.

Because the tour happens rain or shine, you can use your ticket any time over the two days, though you can only visit each garden once. Now pay attention: through May 25, the Museum is selling these tickets at a discounted price of $26 for members and $32 for non-members. After that, the price goes up to $32 for members and $38 for non-members. The money goes to support education programs at the museum.

And if you want to save even more money on your ticket, you can still volunteer to be a Garden Guide. Just contact Kate Galusza at 978-318-9880. Truly the easiest volunteer gig you’ll ever have.

Plant your own

Thinking of all this gardening might inspire you to plant your own – and after all, Memorial Day weekend is the official time here in New England to start planting. So you’ll be happy to know the composting site is open and ready for business, Saturdays from 9 to 3 pm.

Here’s what I love: I can get free mulch right here in town, as much as I want, by heading over to the composting site on Walden Street, on the left before Walden Pond. Just bring your truck, or some barrels or bins that fit in the back of your vehicle, and a shovel, and prepare to make your gardens look like the professionals’. One thing to keep in mind: this mulch isn’t screened, so it’s only good for flowers, and not for anything you plan to eat.

Have a great weekend!

Do you have something you would like to share? Contact me at stefanieac@comcast.net or Maureen at mcb23@comcast.net, and we will be happy to help you spread the good news. And follow us on Twitter: Maureen is @cosmo1162, I’m @stefanie3131.