San Juan Silver Stage | Premier Lifestyles Publication Since 1996 | March, 2020. Volume 24, No. 3
Branding on the RRL
Big Red, checking out the chicks
Planting at Camelot Gardens, Montrose CO
Spring Garden Prep
Mary Menz. Regardless of elevation, there are plenty of things to do before sowing seeds and transplanting vegetable or flower starts into patio containers and raised beds.
[Read more]
Spring on the Ranch
Erin Stadelman.The best part of “spring has sprung” on the ranch is in the form of over 800 baby calves soon to arrive. Our calving season begins on February 15 and takes a long, arduous trail to May 15. [Read more]
Chicks are Here!
Mary Menz. Few things inspire a smile like baby animals—wild or domesticated—and the fluffy chicks sat Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply are guaranteed not to disappoint. [Read more]
Know Where Your Food Comes From
Mary Menz. There is a renewed interest by a public that wants to know where its food comes from, whether it’s local or sustainably-raised, sustainably-grown, or sustainably-fished elsewhere. [Read more]
Western Colorado Wonder Women:
Connie Williams—Apples & Art
Kathryn R. Burke. Before she owned an art gallery, Connie Williams was a rodeo queen. Bet you didn’t know that! But art was a part of her life from the time she was a small child— drawing on her grandfather’s bald head (with consequences) until this moment, when she is wielding a paintbrush—Connie Williams’ heart is in her art. [Read more]
The Dutch Ditch Digger
Harvey Vijverberg, Pondmountain
Mary Menz. Harvey brings to his ditch-digging business years of experience working in Dutch agriculture. His company, Pondmountain, helps ditch owners and other water users keep the waterways clean of the winter debris and provides a cleaner alternative to burning ditches every spring and keeping waterways clear. [Read more]
Featured Artist
Susan Sandburg Humphrey, photographer & painter
Mary Menz. “I can’t help but be inspired by the scenery I’m surrounded by,” said the award-winning Pea Green artist. Her photographs of the Western Slope’s lush landscapes, oil paintings of ranch life, and digitally painted portraits of wild horses speak volumes. [Read more]
Get Ready for Camping
(We’ll be allowed back on the road soon.)
Ninah Hunter. It’s March on Colorado’s Western Slope and a great time to start planning for summertime camping and road tripping. Some of my favorite planning tools are Internet apps, which also have a mobile phone component for use on the road. [Read more]
Virtual Field Trips
Many of the world’s most iconic locations now offer virtual tours, meaning you can visit museums, world heritage sites and other attractions from the comfort of your couch. You don’t need a VR headset, either, although some attractions do support virtual reality for a more immersive experience. [Read story]
Shelter in Place Activities
Social Activity – Self-isolation and shelter-in-place do not mean that you have to be completely alone. It is important to maintain social connection to your family, friends, community, and humanity. [Suggestions here]
Cerise Park
Open, please but observe social distancing.
A Montrose Legacy Dating Back to 1881
Marilyn Cox. The park has a long history. Within three days of the removal of the Ute Indians in September 1881, all of the river lands were claimed. An early photo shows tents along both sides of the river. There was a series of owners, including the Cerise family, who owned it until it became a city park in 2008. [Read more]
Historic AppleShed
Closed by state mandate until further notice.
Cedaredge
The 28,000 S.F. Apple Shed dates back in the early 1920s, when the building was owned by the Cedaredge Fruit Company, [Read more]
Eckert Crane Days
OK to look, but public gatherings not permitted.
Jim Durr. Eckert Crane Days, from mid-March through mid-April, is the acknowledgment of the gift of Sandhill Cranes who announce the arrival of Spring to the Surface Creek area of Delta County. Cranes are ancient birds that announced the arrival of Spring long before the appearance of human species. [Read more]
Spring Equinox
This year it came with the start of a global pandemic. We are so ready for spring!
Kathryn R. Burke. It’s early this year, arriving 9:49 P.M., Mountain Time, March 19, the same day as the full moon. It signals the astronomical start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. This means that here in Southwest Colorado, as the days get longer and warmer, we’ll spend more time gardening (instead of shoveling snow!). [Read more]
Botanic Gardens
Closed by state mandate until further notice.
Valley Garden Expansion
LaBree Shide. After a long winter’s nap, Montrose Botanic Gardens awaits the spring emergence of three new demonstration gardens which were planted last summer: Waves of Grass, Rose Garden, and Sensory Garden. [Read more]
Fort Uncompahgre
Closed by state mandate until further notice.
Heritage Gardens Provide a Visual and Edible Feast
Mary Menz. Established 31 years ago, the “Kitchen Garden” planted annually with the “three sisters” (corn, beans, and squash).More recently planted, the Heirloom Hollyhock Garden and Hops Garden allow visitors to see how plants are used in the natural landscape. [Read more]
Not much going on in March. Public gatherings not allowed during Covid Crisis. Watch our calendar to see when A&E is back in business.
Book Review:
Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris
Reviewed by Sara Rinne, Maggie’s Bookstore, Montrose, Colo.
What Macfarlane and Morris have created is part poetry collection, part work of art. Macfarlane has created an acrostic poem—a “spell,” as he calls—for each of these disappearing words. Accompanying his spells are gorgeous watercolor and mixed-media illustrations by Morris. The idea is to read the book aloud and conjure, through these spells, pictures of the natural world in the mind’s eye. [Read more]
Publisher’s Corner:
For March, we had fun hunting for new calves, visiting horses, poking around in stables and pastures, and, of course, falling in love with the baby chicks. We also did a booth at the Home, Garden, and Business Expo to acquaint people with the many entertainment and activity options here. We also held an ‘advisory board’ meeting with business people and members of organizations, all of whom helped advise us on content for the year ahead. Then the Covid Crisis hit, businesses closed, theaters went dark, and restaurants turned to take-out and delivery. March has been a difficult month! [We’re still optimistic. Read more]
Tech for Today
Going Tech Down on the Farm
So, what does Farmer John do with a cell phone? And why does he need a tablet? Well, he can count his chickens or head of cattle, photograph his flock or his herd, and keep track without having to carry pencil and paper or run back to the barn and hope he remembers what he forgot to write down. [Read more]
Power Notes:
Elevating Our Community
DMEA installing Elevate Internet in local, rural communities.
Karen Prather. Elevate Internet, a subsidiary of Delta-Montrose Electric Association, selected Lightworks Fiber & Consulting as the general contractor of their upcoming expansion this coming summer. . [Read more]
Money Matters:
Don’t Bank On It!
Jim Elder, Finance Editor. Why so much money in a bank, a place barely paying any interest? Many folks these days live in financial fear, which has caused many investors to miss a great opportunity. [Read more]
Living Well—Real Estate:
Short-term Rental Investment Properties
By Ninah Hunter, Real Estate Editor. Pros and Cons of Short-term Rental Investment Properties. Are They Really a Great Moneymaker? S-T vs L-T comparisons. [Read more]
Be Well:
Renewal, Rebirth, Rejuvination
By Amiessa Jutten, MSW, LCSW. Winter can bring about fatigue, sadness, and even social withdrawal for many of us. But, just as we prepare our gardens for the growing season, anticipating the rebirth to come, we can also prepare ourselves for our own personal time of renewal. [Read more]
Be Well:
Coping With Cabin Fever
By Amiessa Jutten, MSW, LCSW. Even the most challenging times present opportunities for personal growth and healing. Remember that we will all get through this together as friends, family, and community. Let’s stay present and focused, and take life one day at a time [Read more]
Equine Connections:
Horse Healers
By Alice Billings, The Horse Lady. Equine therapy” is the buzzword these days for using horses to help heal emotionally, mentally, and physically as al alternative solution to managing mental distress. [Read more]
Community Living Services:
Kicking Up Their Heels
By Eva Veitch, Region 10 Community Living Services Program Director. April 18 will be a great afternoon in Delta when we roll out the red carpet to area senior citizens for their very own “Seniors Prom.” [Read more]
Senior Services:
Every Voice Counts
By Marilynn Huesby, Senior Resource Consultant. Medicare Part D was created to provide a low-cost drug plan that would help older Americans afford prescription drugs. Drugs have since increased threefold. What are we doing about it? [Read more]
By Kathryn R. Burke. The 80’s-90’s Club began when Winifred (Wini) Tappan, who turned 94 in February, was seeking answers for senior services and having trouble finding them. [Read more]
