“When words are inadequate, have a ritual.” by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Various cultures have used plants and flowers to denote the changing of the seasons, to symbolize the cycle of birth and death. Like our bodies, plants and flowers do not last forever. But the symbolism can be more than just meanings and metaphors. It can be a language. The variety and color of... Read More
Audubon Society of Greater Denver 6th Annual HOOTenanny Owl & Bluegrass Festival Saturday, September 24, 10am-2pm Register Here Get Outdoors and Explore Nocturnal Wildlife Hike – Owls of Chatfield Friday, September 16 from 6:30-8:30p Join us for this ever popular program in search of bats, beavers, owls, and more. Listen for coyote calls, check out the bat... Read More
Free-form tarts (sometimes called crostatas) are an easy, quick-to-prepare way to use up seasonal fruit. ACTIVE: 25 MIN TOTAL TIME: 2 HR 25 MIN SERVINGS: 8 INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons granulated sugar Salt 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1/4 cup ice water 5 peaches (2 pounds)—halved, pitted and sliced 1/2 inch thick 1/4 cup... Read More
Go early for the best selection. Check out all the booths before making your choices. There is generally a large and colorful variety of produce and locally-made food products. Cash is always accepted but many of Colorado farmers’ markets also accept credit cards and Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards that enable food stamp transactions at farmers’ markets. Bring cloth shopping bags. They are sturdier and... Read More
Cucurbita maxima a.k.a Fall and Winter Squash This vegetable staple was a basic part of the agricultural system predating the exploration of the Spanish in the ancient Americas. The squash plant, whose horticultural family dates back 7,000 to 10,000 years ago, archeologists trace its origination to Mexico. The seeds from this plant were saved from each year’s harvest and traded from tribe to tribe throughout... Read More
Thanks to Robert Gibbon Johnson of Salem, New Jersey in 1820 having the courage to boldly eat a ripe tomato in front of the townspeople and surviving the feat. Today, we may think that is no big deal, but prior to his gastronomic prowess, tomatoes were considered poisonous. The tomato is related, botanically, to deadly nightshade and mandrake of the Solanaceae family which explains the... Read More
Who can forget their first visit to the fair — a magical land of sights and sounds and smells beyond the reach of teachers, bosses, worries, and chores? There is nothing quite like that strange, veritable city that rises anew year after year on the outskirts of town to fill youths with wide-eyed wonder and adults with vivid memories of their own childhoods. For many people and... Read More
Bet you may have a little extra zucchini around about now. Check this out. Most of us know that fried foods contain more fat and calories than we should eat on a daily basis, but they taste so good. There is no need to avoid all fat to have a healthy diet. Adults and children need some fat for proper growth and development. The goal... Read More
It has been an exhausting summer of heat, low moisture and visits from every insect imaginable in our Zone 5 home landscape. We pick, we prune, we squish and squash them, we spray and they keep coming. They are oblivious to the fact that it is your garden and you planted it for your enjoyment. You can incorporate a few of these “stinky” to insect... Read More
Campfire ˈkampˌfī(ə)r / noun an open-air fire in a camp, used for cooking and as a focal point for social activity.. ‘Tis the season for camping, cookouts, backyard barbeques or just settling around a firepit with family and friends. To make these times more memorable, take a daily routine like cooking in the kitchen and move it outdoors. This will set the stage for some... Read More
