Plant Select delosperma John Profit ice plants were blooming in this photo taken June 18. This dry-land garden features Plant Select cultivators as well as many native plants that flourish in our Steppe climate.Plant Select’s coveted annual Golden Shovel Award goes to an outstanding public demonstration garden. This is indeed wonderful recognition for the vision, implementation, and dedication to keep it maintained by Adams County Colorado Master Gardeners.We also planted boulders to give the demonstration garden a very native Colorado plateau feeling. First boulders were planted in 2009 with the plants following.The Architect and the Master Gardener consult the plan to determine where to install the rock mulch. This is summer of 2010 – a small group of us led the design efforts. We were thankful for all that helped with the labor!Another June view of penstemons blooming along another pathway.Many cuttings were supplied by Denver Botanic Garden to start our amazing cactus collection. Other plants supplied by Mountain States Nursery in Phoenix, Timberline Garden in Arvada, and Little Valley Nursery in Brighton.This is the reason we garden – gorgeous blooms for us and the pollinators.
Green River Campground – sunset while listening to a ranger talk on NPS. They had slept in 51 parks…while stargazing that evening by the river in campsite #77, we figured we had slept in 39 national park sites. The stars and Milky Way were incredible and it was warm enough evening to enjoy lingering and appreciating the Enormity-of-it-All.After picnicking at Echo Park overlook, we hiked to Harpers Corner Overlook spectacular viewpoint. Not the distance of our Green River to Desert Voices to Sound of Silence hike yesterday, but very enjoyable. This overlooks the confluence of the Green and Yampa rivers.Camping by the Yampa river, we had this spectacular sunset. Stargazing again was wonderful. We felt refreshed from splashing around in the river before dinner.An early morning hike on the Yampa. What a sight!We spent a couple nights near Steamboat Springs and hiked Rabbit Ears Pass, where this photo was taken.
Dowd Mt Overlook and Picnic area was the perfect spot. We absorbed the view during wine o’clock, fixing dinner and lingering until the stars came out. We set up a dispersed camp a 1/4-mile or so away.The panorama on a clear wind free day.Great color and reflections!We saw sheep in Sheep Creek Canyon area and asked this one to pose for us.We strolled around this pond on the way to the Flaming Gorge Dam. Fall colors dotting the hillsides and peaceful reflections.
South of Laramie and near the highest point of I-80, we spent a few nights exploring this area around Vedavoo.We motored the MINI right onto the rocks for a this dispersed camp site with some great views.Some very interesting rock formations.We hiked up the canyon and saw these other climbers on the far side to give us a sense of scale.Further west in the Medicine Bow National Forest, we hiked to Lost Lake.Lost Lake is gorgeous!And we saw this moose in both directions.Back to the campsite at Sugarloaf to enjoy the sunset and wine o’clock. Amazing stars with an almost full moon coming out before we crawled into the tent.Libby or Lewis Lake – great spot for morning coffee!
We have both been riding many miles this year and deserve to be on this podium in Colorado Springs…Henry has logged in over 2,300 miles and Pam over 1,400.Hey – here is our Jelly Belly team bus waiting for us at Vail.Watching George Hincapie’s last professional race at the USA Procycling Challenge Time Trail in Vail. No we did not take a selfie..Tom Danielson is in the yellow jersey today for the time trial. Did I mention how unseasonably cold and rainy it was? We skipped the podium and went right for some hot soup.It was so crowded we got one of the last parking spaces! Best for mini vehicles – flip up those mirrors.
So we motored the MINI up to Evergreen in May to house-sit for some friends…They thought we would enjoy their view of Mt Evans…They wanted their felines Polly n Vlad to have some company…We enjoyed the wildlife that wandered by in the morningSome great hikes with more good views.Lots of deer. we also saw elk, a couple foxes along with lots of chipmunks and squirrels.Wildflowers blooming like these lovely pasque flowers.The weather got warm enough to enjoy the patio and sunset view.A couple interesting storms and sunsets made it a very pleasant stay. Thanks for the opportunity.
Snowshoeing in Winter Park area. Over the hills and through Peaceful, Quiet forests with fresh fallen snow along the Frasier River.Another hike from The Red Gate in the old Idlewilde Ski area with views of Rocky Mountain National Park.We loved the sunshine and the hot tub reward afterwards.Perfection.
