Spring 2014
An associa
association of private donors, public participants and the City of Steamboat Springs
Sponsored Garden……
Healing for the
Medicinal Plant Garden
By Mary O’Brien
T hanks to the Yampa River Botanic Park Board and funding from the Botanic Park Capital Development Fund the
Non-native Medicinal Plant Garden will have a whole new
look this year. This is one of the oldest gardens in the Park
and it is showing signs of fatigue. The soil is compacted
and tired. The original Medicine Wheel design has faded
and lost its focus. Over the years, there have been irrigation and drainage issues. The beautiful monument in the
center that was added a few years ago has never gotten
the attention it deserved.
The garden will receive special TLC and be transformed
into a showcase for the non-native healing plants that can
be grown in our valley. The soil will be revived and fed;
low dry stack walls will provide new growing niches, elevation interest and some seating; stone paths will provide
access to the monument and garden interior. The microclimates created in the new beds will provide a variety of
growing environments for the plants, help control some
of the more “assertive plants”, and create opportunities
to experiment with some new plants.
The present plants will be divided and potted up during
the reconstruction phase. There will be a surplus of many
of the plants and these will be offered on our plant cart.
Many of the familiar healing plants will return since they
are the backbone of any healing plant garden. Echinacea,
lemon balm, lavender, hyssop, lady’s mantle, yarrow, violets, motherwort, California poppy, bee balm, comfrey,
calendula and feverfew will remain.
Many herbalists believe the best plants that we can use
for healing are those that grow in our own bioregions and
even better are those we grow ourselves. Along with the
Native Medicinal Garden nearby, I hope to show the diversity of medicinal plants available to us and how they can
be incorporated into our own landscapes and lifestyles.
Do you know…..
O ur green plant cart is located inside the front gate and
throughout the season there is quite an array of perennials available for a donation.
One of last year’s offerings was Eryngium alpinum,
Alpine Sea Holly, a native of the Alps. It can reach heights
of two feet at its peak in July and will add a silvery blue
shade to your garden. The blooms are strikingly beautiful
and will attract butterflies. You can see Alpine Sea Holly
established and growing in the Foliage Garden.
Visit our green plant cart for great additions to your
garden each time you visit the Park!
Alpine Sea Holly/Photo Credit Gayle Lehman
“A place of serenity, celebrating the trees, shrubs, plants and birds of the Yampa River Basin.”
Kathy Olsen, Landscape Designer
K athy Olsen has been involved in the design of gardens
By Audrey Enever
are to be seen in every subdivision and every corner of the
for the Yampa River Botanic Park from its earliest days in Yampa Valley, but Lotus Designs is about more than just dethe mid-1990s, both professionally and as a volunteer. She signs. Kathy has her own small crew and sub-contractors,
moved to Yampa in 1991 with her family. Not finding a job so she supervises and builds the gardens that she has dethat would use her training and talents, she opened her signed when the client so desires. This extends to providown office in Steamboat Springs as Lotus Designs Studio. ing maintenance of the gardens years later for some of her
Kathy studied horticulture and fine art for her bachelor’s most loyal clients.
degree, and zeroed in on landscape design for her master’s
To round out her life, Kathy teaches classes in landscape
degree at CSU.
design and xeriscaping at Colorado Mountain College and
When the Yampa River Botanic Park was in its infancy she occasionally works in the College Biology Lab. Kathy
Kathy was one of the first to volhas her own garden
unteer her services and she has
in which she spends
been on the Design Committee
less time than she
ever since. Her imaginative conwould prefer. With
cepts and deft hand can be seen
her early training as
in the design of many of the Park’s
an artist, she loves to
gardens, for example the Garden
paint and gets her exfor All Seasons and the Color Garercise on a mountain
dens. Some of her originally debike. Kathy Olsen is a
signed gardens are now in their
quiet, charming persecond generation with entirely
son with a busy life.
different concepts, such as Doris’s
Her many years of
Garden, built two years ago and
volunteer work for
the Crevice Garden, for which she
the Yampa River Bolaid out the lines and is a work-intanic Park are much
progress. She has designed this
appreciated.
year’s Annuals Garden, so look for
a colorful display this summer!
Garden for All Seasons/photo credit Bob Enever
Kathy’s attractive garden designs
Gayle’s News from the Shed
I can hardly believe this earth has made another trip
around the sun and spring is upon us again. There are over
100 inches of snow to melt in the mountains, yet the Park
has begun an early melt off. April snows are frustrating but
add wonderful moisture to emerging plants. Some Crocus
are blooming in sheltered spots around the Park.
I have been in planning mode for about a month
and am thrilled to report that many activities and programs
are scheduled. This is the third year for our Wednesday
Wonderings. Every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in June, July
and August we offer a FREE class. They will cover many
aspects of gardening and related crafts. Some of this year’s
include Tincture and Salve Making with Mary O’Brien, Sex
Lives of Plants with Karen Vail and Transplanting and Composting with yours truly. Other classes are being scheduled
at this time.
Last year’s yoga experiment was very successful.
This year Patty Zimmer will be offering yoga on Tuesdays
and Saturdays and Meditation on Thursdays. All classes are
from 9-10 a.m. These classes have a suggested donation of
By Gayle Lehman, Park Supervisor
$10. The Green is a perfect place for quiet contemplation.
NEW this year will be a Garden Story Time for
toddlers. We are joining with the Bud Werner Memorial
Library and their Friday session will now be held in the
Children’s Garden Amphitheater. We will be helping with
some of the activities associated with this.
As always we will have Music on the Green on
Thursdays at 12:15-1 p.m. The concerts start on June 26
and run through August 14. Pik*Nik Theater will be performing Shakespeare and an original musical during the All
Arts Festival. Dates run from August 1-16. Show time is at
6 p.m.
You can visit our website yampariverbotanicpark.
org for the full schedule of all activities.
Oh yes, we will be gardening too! Watch the Medicinal Herb Garden get a major overhaul and the planting
of our new Crevice Rock Garden. Please come in a lot and
remember Social Gardening is on Wednesday mornings
from 9 a.m. to noon. See you at the Shed!
Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, weddings and more!
A Park membership makes a wonderful gift for any happy occasion.
Thank You to Our 2013 Members and Donors
SUSTAINING SUPPORT
City of Steamboat Springs
Enever Botanic Park Endowment
BUSINESS SPONSORS
Ace at the Curve
Big Air Catering
Hale’s Landscape Supply
Northwest Graphics, Inc.
Ski Town Media
Steamboat Brochure Delivery
Steamboat Springs Chamber
Strings in the Mountains
Western Tree Management
SHOOTING STAR
Colorado Garden Show, Inc.
Jennifer Lea
Guy & Jennifer Loughridge
Emily & Tony Seaver
CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT FUND
Russ & Carol Atha
Carol & Rick Dowden
The Halverson Foundation
Gail Heins
Litterman Family Foundation
Emily & Tony Seaver
SUNFLOWER
Russ & Carol Atha
Kristen Crawford
James Crawford
Carol & Rick Dowden
John & Mary Ann Duffey
Bob & Audrey Enever
Anne & Jon Halverson
Gail Heins
Robert & Mary Litterman
Eric & Cheri Luck
Craig & Dierdre MacNab
Kevin & Maria McEvoy
Ellen M. Miller
Gay A. Roane
Stu Roberts & Lulu Gould
Strings in the Mountain
Joy & Denny Swanson
Patty Zimmer
GARDEN SPONSORS
Ace at the Curve
Robert A. Alter
Buddhist Community
Virginia & John Amato
Russ & Carol Atha
Babcock Wierman Sensory
Garden Fund
Lindarose & Richard Berkley
Carol Booth Fox Endowment Fund
Carol & Rick Dowden
Community Cultivation Group
Audrey Enever
Sonia & David Franzel
Anne & Jon Halverson
Sally Hertzog
Donna & David Howell
Kae Jenkins Sundial Garden Fund
Jennifer Lea
Erica Lindemann
Mambo Italiano
Jeff Morehead
Mary O’Brien
Over the Hill Gang
Barb & Bill Sanders
Ralph & Grace Strangis
Stu Roberts & Lulu Gould
Pat Wessel Hidden Garden Fund
Yampa Valley Comm. Foundation
MATCHING FUNDS
Bristol-Meyers Squibb Foundation
EXXONMOBIL Matching
Gift program
IBM Corporation
TRILLIUM
George Barlow
Margaret Bass Berglund
Steve & Kelly Bloom
Janet & Tim Borden
Maxann & Jay Collins
Jane and Bruce Hannon
William F. Higby
Sarah Isabel
Millie Jeckel
Philip Lloyd
Patricia & Marvin Meyers
Gary & Sandra Neale
Ernest & Sandra Smith, III
John R. Sprengle
Beth and George Wood
BUSINESS SUPPORTING
AllTerrain Excavating
Alpine Bank
Amaze Venture, Inc.
Axis West Realty Mgmt.
George Barlow
Calcon Constructors, Inc.
Gene Chupik
Colorado Group Realty
Corner 40, Inc. dba Freshies
Fireside Catering
Focus Adventures
Chapman & Kendall Geer
The Heart Of Healing
Daniel and Patricia Huber
Jeanne Ingalls
Native Eco Systems, Inc.
Natural Resource Consultants
Oliphant & Bursek Assoc.
Omostudio
Portfolio Collection
ProCure
Ski Haus International
Vectra Bank
Wells Fargo Bank
Western Security Services
Y.V.E.A.
COLUMBINE
Bill & Liz Aldendifer
Kathleen Alexander
Phyllis J. Allen
Mark and Kris Andersen
Diane Andersen
Nancy Attanasio
Gerald Audesirk
Robert & Ann Ball
Donald & Shirley Baxter
Leslie & Jacob Bayer
Marie L. Bear
John & Sharon Beaupre
Kevin & Jane Bennett
Evlyn Berge
James & Sandra Berger
Paula Cooper Black
Hill Blackett, Jr.
Karen & Bryan Bomberg
Clara & Frank Bradley
James & Barbara Bronner
Walter & Ellen Carlson
James & Cynthia Chamness
Sarah Claussen
Bob & Joan Conroy
Renea Cowman
Clark Davidson
Clavadetscher Family Trust
David M. Davis
Win & Elaine Dermody
John & Leslie Dorman
Susan Dreska
Lynn & Ira Dubinsky
Pamela Duckworth
Garretson Dulin
Jack Dysart
Gail & Don Eden
Nancy & Bob Ehle
Bob & Barbara Ells
Sarah Faulkner
Monica Fenton
Paul & Bridget Ferguson
Sara Ferris
Ronni Fitzgerald
Barbara Flowers
Edie & Joe Fogliano
Claire and Bob Fraser
Dennis & Sally Frostic
Jay Gallagher
Marsha Gardner
Elaine & Sam Garner
Thomas & Lana Geselbracht
Joan & Richard Gibbs
Elaine Gilbertson
Fredel & Jim Goodrich
Judith & Jeffrey Greenwald
Jackie Grimaldi & Lawrence Guss
Mark & Tori Helm
Edwin & Jayne Hill
Debra Hinsvark
Tina & Howard Hooker
Dee Hubbard
Rick Hubina
Terry Huffington
Annie Jeckel
Clair Jenson
Gary & Carolyn Jerman
Douglas & Julia Ann Jones
Sharon & Terry Jost
Kerry & Laura Kaster
James & Judith Kewley
Jim Kohler
Bart Kounovsky
Harold & Joan Krauthamer
John & Rebecca Kugler
Mary Kurtz
Robert & Melrose Kuusinen
Robert & Ann Larkin
Kathleen & Rocco Laterzo
Henry & Linda Laughlin
Barbara LeRoy
Brian & Sherri Lewis
Ward & Sherry Longbottom
Jessica Ludwick
Verne & Nancy Lundquist
Terry & Kathleen Malone
Carl & Helen Marbach
James & Christina Martin
Libbie & Donald Mathes
Scott & Crystal Maughan
Carole McDermott
Judy McGinnis
Barry & Melissa McNeil
Gareth & Sharon Mensing
Carole Milligan, M.D.
Pamela & Thomas Mischell
Patrick & Marijo Moran
Jeff Morehead
John & Linda Morrison
Peter & Susan Neidecker
Georgianne & Charles Nelson
Holly & Gary Nelson
Beverly & Emmett Olson
Paul & Susanna Orzech
Anita & Eduardo Pajon
Craig Palmer
Gary & Christine Pon
Marion Porento
Rosemary G. Post
Jean Ray
Julie & John Reid
Glenn & Lynn Reiff
John & Diane Reynolds
Bruce & Pamela Roemmich
Jim & Barb Ross
Elizabeth Ross
Ken Rotner
William & Tosia Sauter
Linda & Richard Schapiro
Lola & Scott Schlapkohl
Gerald & LaRue Schmelzer
Tom & Lesley Schuldt
Stacy & Jason Sear
Marion Scotty Searle
Jan & Victor Serafy
Tom & Sandy Sharp
Barbara Shortle
Douglas & Heidi Shurtleff
Elaine & Bill Siverling
Richard & June Slavin
“Laying out grounds may be considered art…like poetry and painting.” Wordsworth
Thank You to Our 2013 Members and Donors
COLUMBINE(CONT)
Linda Smith
Greg Smith
Robert & Susan Snead
Jim Steinberg
Kenneth & Joan Steinhouse
Arianthe & Paul Stettner
Joe & Carolyn Strack
Thomas & Barbara Swissler
Toni & William Thomson
Carl Vail
Ed & Mary Vanderwall
Klasina Vanderwerf
James & Roxanne Weaver
John & Blair Weibel
Lucille Werlinich
Bertie Wetzler
Sally White
Barbara Williams
Hollly & Dave Williams
Elaine Wilwerding
Diane Wright
Louise & Arthur Wu
David & Patricia Zabel
Carolyn Zimmerman
GLACIER LILY
Lynn & Chuck Abbott
Jean & James Anderson
Ann Barbier
Victoria & Patrick Barney
Millie & Ben Beall
Tommye & Robert Beavers
Jennifer Berdine
Luther & Helen Berntson
Cynthia Bosco
Denise Brazier
Frank Brown
Jack & Lindsay Cantley
Doug & Adele Carlson
Kay Clagett
Burt & Carole Cohen
Kathy Connell
Madeline Connelly
Hope Cook
Nancy Cook
Joseph Cosby& Sheila Mahoney
Eric Cosh
Elyse & Kyle Craig
Linda & Richard Danter
Lynn & Bill Davis
Jeanne Detlefsen
Lindsay Dillenbeck
Cheryl & Dan Dooley
Thomas & Roberta Dougan
Stephen & Joanne Downes
Pinky & Steve Downs
Sally & Ross Dyer
Hank & DJ Edwards
Judith & Bill Emerson
Arthur & Janet Fine
I.J. & Carol Fisher
Van & Katie Fletcher
Bill & Cathy Flynn
Ingrid Fotino
Sarah Fox
Margaret Frank
Marda Frazer
Janet Fritz
Cindy Gay
Joan & Richard Gibbs
Gail & Charles Gray
Trudy Greig
Karen Grenfell
Henry & Ann Guardino
Anita Handing
John Hatch
Nancy & Joel Hausman
Kathleen Hawk
Orrin & Deborah Heller
Barbara & Jonathan Heuberger
Mary Hofman
John Holloway
Kent & Grace Holt
Carole & Roland Huffman
Mike & Barbara Hughes
Paula Jo Jaconetta
Carol Janousek
Bruce & Nancy Jarchow
Deborah & Ernie Jenkins
Charlotte Jensen
Salli Johnroe
Erika & Steve Johnson
Alan & Debbie Jurgens
Kenneth & Sandra Keating
Jeanine Keating
Thomas Keenan
Sandra & Mike Kent
Elaine & Jay Kopf
Lyle & Jane Krug
Don & Jo Ann Lathrop
Linda & Steve Lewis
Beatrice Lloyd
Kay Makens
Marilyn Mastoras
Anne & Hal Matthes
John & Nancy Merrill
G. Meyer
Carol & David Miller
Margery Mitchell
Jack & Jo Morrison
Jo Ann & Michael Mow
Calvin and Marlyn Myers
Susan Joy Nahlik
Ann Noyes
Mary O’Brien
Barbara & Brad O’Conner
Kathy Olsen
Calvin & Carole Ranck
Stan Rice
Susan & Dale Richey
Rife Photography
Holly Rogers
Bill & Ann Root
Marty & Vicki Rosenzweig
Nancy M. Rosi
Ann Ross
Ken Schomaker
Donald Sheffel, M.D.
Susan Shoemaker
Annamarie Shunny
Bruce Smith
Bonnie Starr
Jane & Bob Stein
Bob & Tracy Stoddard
Robin & Thomas Stone
David & Elaine Sturges
Susan Sullivan
Arnold & Amy Swartz
Joyce Tibbetts
Mary-Jane Tisch
Marian & George Tolles
Maxim Tsypin
Karen Vail
Kathy Vaynkof
Helen & Gabriele Villa
Bob & Deane Weiss
William & Marijean Whitcher
Bain & Christine White
Cindy & John Wither
Pete & Barbi Wither
John & Sandra Worthen
Lindsay Yates
MEMORIALS & HONORARIUMS
Dana & Paul Magno in Memory of
Gail & Evelyn Landers
Margery Mitchell in Memory of Marie Mitchell
Barbara Backurz in Memory of Peter Enever
Therese & Gilbert in Honor of Nolan Heydon
Charles & Carol Semple in Memory of
Carol Booth Fox
Dr. & Mrs. David Street in Honor of
Dr. & Mrs Albert Michelback
Pam Vanatta in Memory of Jeanette Bitter
Marian Engle in Memory of David R. Engle
Robert & Mary Franklin in Memory of
Maria Gouvea
Pamela & Jonas Katz in Memory of
H.C. Pace, III
Javier & Marybeth Magallanes in Honor of
Liz & Martha Ruzicka
In Memory of Alice Lewis
Jean & Frank Ariano
Jane Garrison
Marit Perkins
Elke Bass & Ray Vaitkus
Gail & Randy White
In Memory of Sandra Smith
Jean & Frank Ariano
Jane Garrison
Sandra & Mike Ihlenfeldt
Anita & Jack McEncroe
Gail and Russell Overgaard
Sharon Owings
Marit Perkins
Jean L. Perry
Victoria Sandvik
Paula & Ralph Scafuri
Elke Bass & Ray Vaitkus
Gail and Randy White
“When we tug at a single thing in nature, we find it attached to the rest of the world.”
John Muir
Birds in the Park: Osprey
Article by Bob Enever
I n recent years we have been seeing the beautiful six-foot wingspan of osprey on our stretch of the Yampa River. These birds
are found on every continent except Antarctica. The North American birds breed here in summer then migrate to the southern
states or as far south as Argentina and Chile. They fish in both fresh and salt water.
Females are larger than males. They mate for life and if they survive the first year, osprey can live for over twenty years. Great
horned owls and bald eagles can kill them, but the eagles mostly steal their food. Osprey feed almost exclusively on fish, and
their whole body is designed around seeing, capturing and eating fish. After hovering to see a target-fish near the surface, they
typically dive feet-first, with
their head inches behind.
Their claws have adapted
to two in front, two behind
with sharp hooks and oneway scales on their pads to
prevent slippery fish from
escaping. They prefer fish
of less than a pound and
not more than 14 inches
in length. They carry them
torpedo-style with both
feet to a tree to eat, or
to their nest. They fish as
close to the nest as possible, normally not traveling
more than eight miles. Two
or three eggs are laid and
they hatch in 7-8 weeks, sequentially, so only the first
one survives unless food is
plentiful.
Osprey/photo credit Bob Enever
A nesting platform was
erected on a pole within sight of the Park and close to the Core Trail last fall and we’re hoping for early occupancy!
Happenings on the Green
Music on the Green
In concert with Strings in the Mountains
Thursdays at 12:15 p.m.
June 26: Trevor G. Potter – Americana singer/songwriter | July 3: C Street Brass – Sousa marches, Bach and Mozart
July 10: C Street Brass – Tangos, jazz and classical rock | July 17: Ping – Americana vocal music
July 24: Ping – Songs from Shakespeare to modern times | July 31: Chamberlin Birch – Pop indie duo
Aug. 7: Acutonic – Reggae | Aug. 14: Leaner, Lunker & Friends – Classic folk rock
Shakespeare on the Green
Pik*Nik Theatre presents Shakespeare and more in August at 6:00 p.m.
August 2, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17
Yoga and Meditation on the Green
Begins June 21. See yampariverbotanicpark.org for schedule.
Children’s Story Hour
See yampariverbotanicpark.org for schedule.
Wednesday Wonderings
June 4 thru August 20 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
See yampariverbotanicpark.org for schedule.
Time to Renew Your Membership!
To donate with a credit card, please visit www.yvcf.org and click on “Donate Now”. Choose Yampa River Botanic Park
Fund from the local non-profit funds list. Call 970- 879-8632 with questions. To donate with a check, please send your
check with this form.
Name
Business Name
Address
City/State/Zip
Telephone
Email
Membership Levels
Make checks payable to Yampa River Botanic Park and mail to:
Yampa River Botanic Park
PO Box 776269
Steamboat Springs, CO 80477
Volunteer Opportunities, please check your interest
___ Gardening ___ Concerts ___ Trillium House ___ Other Duties
___ Check here if you’d like us to contact you regarding other sponsorships or
memorial/tribute giving
___ Forget Me Not - $20,000 and over
___ Sego Lily - $10,000 - $19,999
___ Shooting Star - $5,000 - $9,999
___ Sunflower - $1,000 - $4,999
___ Trillium - $500 - $999
___ Columbine - $100 - $499
___ Glacier Lily - $30 - $99
___ Business Supporter - $100 and over
___ Garden Sponsor - $900 and over
____Check here if you would like to receive your newsletter electronically.
Officers & Board Members
Emily Seaver, President
Renea Cowman, Vice President
Bill Sauter, Treasurer
Georgianne Nelson, Secretary
Russ Atha
Evlyn Berge
Kathy Connell
Carol Dowden
Audrey Enever
Bob Enever
Sonia Franzel
Kerry Kaster
Leslie Steen
John Overstreet, City Director of Parks & Recreation
Ernie Jenkins, City Parks Supervisor
Gayle Lehman, Botanic Park Supervisor
David Howell, Kim M. Kline, Advisors
The Newsletter Crew: Georgianne Nelson,
Carol Dowden, Kim M. Kline, Shelly St. Pierre
Special thanks to the City of Steamboat
Springs for printing services
www.yampariverbotanicpark.org
PO Box 776269
Steamboat Springs, CO 80477