New Garden

Few things exemplify spring and the promise of summer like planting a garden. 

Two tiny rows, lettuce and beets, to begin the anticipation of sprouting.

A nice gentleman at Rick's Garden Center gave us some information on planting times here:

• May 15 - Average last killing frost in Colorado Springs
• June 3, 1951 - latest recorded spring frost
• October 10 - Average first killing fall frost
• September 3, 1961 - Earliest recorded fall frost
• Average growing season is 148 days
• Average annual rainfall is 15.42 inches

The sheet indicates that lettuce, peas, turnips, and squash can be sown outside after April 1. Beets, chard, and radishes are good after April 15. Everything else we should wait until May 15 for.

I actually have no idea how this compares to back home, since I've never looked up this information for Winnipeg before, not even dreaming of ever planting anything before Victoria Day. This is my first 'real in the ground' garden since moving out of my parents house, and Mr. Prairie's first 'real in the ground' garden ever!

Palmer Park

This past Sunday we finally, intentionally, did a hike out of this book. Like reviewers on Amazon.com state, if you had to find your way solely out of the book, you might spend a fair bit of time feeling distraught, but luckily the Templeton Trail is well marked. (Finding the beginning had us scratching our heads for a minute or two, but that's all.) We ended up doing the trail in the opposite direction than the guide suggests, so maybe that is an unfair review.

Beautiful views of Pike's Peak were everywhere

The trail system in the 730 acre park (just under 3 square km) can be viewed here. It's the largest park within the Colorado Springs city limits. William Jackson Palmer used to own the land, and sometime after founding this fine town, he donated it. Come check it out!

Monday's Bike Ride

 

This chained fence is actually an invitation to come onto the trail! (Just not for cars)

There are a great many bike trails in Colorado Springs. I attempted one, but didn't want to climb back up it, so I meandered back through town instead. I got a little lost at the end.

p.s. the iPhone application I used to trace a map while biking is pretty spiffy. And free. How I feel about the GPS people being able to find me so easily, I'm not sure.

Windfall

I'm sitting in my pyjamas, listening to the thunder, planning where to put away all my junk now that it has finally arrived, and daydreaming about future road trips. In fact I'm getting so excited about the upcoming days, I am already forgetting about the super-fantastic Saturday we just enjoyed.

My boyfriend spent a considerable amount of time chatting up these guys.

First, we returned to the farmer's market to learn that it was also Founders Day. This meant even more market stalls than last week (your usual trinkets and Avon dealers, plus some unique finds - the handcrafted wooden birdhouse shaped like a moose was my favourite) as well as people dressed up and doing historical things (some civil war re-enactors, and Victorian dancers.) The civil war guys wanted to outfit me in a hoop skirt and a bustle.

After that, we noticed it was getting nice and hot so it was time to refresh at Seven Falls. Maybe it wasn't so cooling, as we first climbed hundreds of stairs and then hiked to "Inspiration Point" but it was beautiful. Worth $9? Definately!

Colorado Springs is off in the distance!

Our farmer's market finds. Yum!

While I would cite this weekend as a general success (elements of Clean Sweep, human interaction, yummy breakfast) it was low on the Colorado Tourism front.

Note the glowing halo from above.

Enter Tinseltown, USA. This American movie theatre shamed our humble Silver Cities with its whopping 20 cinemas, outdoor ticket windows manned by real humans, giant semi-reclining leatherette seats, and 3-D Harry Potter part 7-3/4. The movie was up to the franchise-standard, although the 3-D aspects may not have been worth the extra $3.
And the theatre itself? It has a hard time measuring up to the one I attended in Manchester where we booked both our tickets and our seat assignments online. In 2002. North America, we have a ways to go yet!

Starbucks

That's right, I said it! When I initially learned of Starbucks, I wasn't too crazy about it, thinking their coffees tasted funny, and preferring my own Canadian Second Cup and Tim Hortons. However, the company has grown on me over time. Now I've had Starbucks beverages in 3 of the following 4 countries:

• Canada
• The United States
• England
• Peru

If you're thinking the 3rd country was England, no dice... it was Peru! Is consuming Starbucks in different countries the yuppie equivalent to having McDonald's all over Europe as I did when I was 23?

Nonetheless, since arriving in Colorado Springs, and probably until my coffee maker arrives (hopefully unscathed) I begin my weekdays with a 15 minute walk downhill, followed by a coffee at Starbucks (it's cheaper if you bring your own cup!) and some people watching. This morning there was a Venus Flytrap on my table.