It has taken me some time to learn that it’s best for my mental health to set out on a nature walk without any preconceived notions or expectations. While some birders are predominantly chasers, who look only for new or rare species to add to their life list, many more simply sally forth to explore … Continue reading Never a Dull Moment
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Garden of the Gods is one of the main attractions in Colorado Springs. Consequently, at certain times throughout the year, it tends to be overrun. I avoid weekends completely and when I venture there during the summer, the season with the highest number of visitors and the worst … Continue reading The Garden Under Cloudy Skies
In the arid American Southwest, made more arid by recurring drought, any form of moisture is welcome. Few forms are more fabulous than frozen flakes falling from the firmament, as was the case last week. After two days of watching a snowfall through the window from my desk, my body and mind yearned to dive … Continue reading Winter Isn’t Over
In my writing, as in person, I return to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs time and again. An amusing anecdote about the wonderful name of this wonderful spot recounts how two early local residents and co-founders of Old Colorado City, Melancthon S. Beach and Rufus E. Cable, were surveying the area in the … Continue reading Serendipity
Today I will add to the lore about General William Jackson Palmer, the founder of Colorado Springs. Based on numerous testimonies, he was a generous man. Only a few years after his marriage to Mary Lincoln “Queen” Mellen, his father-in-law died. Mr. Mellen had married Queen’s aunt, following the premature death of her mother when … Continue reading Rock Ledge Ranch
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