You've perhaps already read & seen pix of the abundance of flowers earlier in the season, and now that the nights are hovering just above freezing some have bit the dust. But do not despair, botanical beauties are still bountiful throughout the town.
Then there are the boardwalks and benches, both in evidence throughout the town square area to the extent that to me they have become a point of interest and a trademark of this town.
So come for another walk with me, and see what I mean.....
We depart the RV park and cross the Henson Creek Bridge, and just across the creek we see this rustic bench awaiting a traveller or two who wish to sit, watch the creek run by, and contemplate the flow of life.
Right away our eyes are drawn to a vivid patch of sheltered poppies on the south side of a home located a few feet off the creek bank.
We find this welcoming bench available this afternoon, and like so many others who visit this high elevation, take a short rest before wandering on.
Flags fly in front of virtually every place of business; the one on the flagpole here is in front of the one bank in town.
At the courthouse, one has been flying since 1877.
Homeowners express their individuality via the style of flowerbeds, or pots, or baskets....this one has taken good advantage of the ready supply of rocks!
As has this owner, in a slightly different way.
Two visual symbols of life in Lake City, flags & pickups.
This set of flags flies over the Historical Museum, a short walk from the RV park.
Across the street from the Museum we enter the town square and take our first steps on the town boardwalks. These boardwalks have been a successful project, financed by donations (we are a contributor), and laid by local volunteers. Our donation has earned us a small plaque on board located right in front of the Depot Saloon, a newer watering hole which appears to be thriving.
Nearby, the porch of Southern Vittles restaurant hosts summer visitors beneath a 6-flag display.
Around the corner we see a home which has it all..flag, flowers, benches, and yes, even a small boardwalk, barely visible.
In the park on the town square, a number of benches and tables are available for public use; this one is well situated for parents/friends to watch children at play on the adjacent playground equipment.
Brilliant color is a hallmark of the plants chosen for the many floral displays located in front of places of business.
This scene in front of the library is somewhat unusual; normally the benches just down the way in front of the San Juan Soda Co. would be full of people of all ages, shapes & sizes, happily licking away on ice cream cones. On this afternoon it's just a little too cool for that.
We enjoy the lush brilliance of this keg of geraniums & snaps; it's been well taken care of, probably by local artist/businessman/outdoorsman Russ Brown, it's located right in front of his gallery. Russ is very involved in the various projects that make the town square so lovely and charming, like the boardwalks and flowerbeds.
We find "stick flags" poked into the ground here and there, on street corners, in flower pots, in building trim. This one resides on the street corner in the shadow of the larger one which flies over the bank's entry.
We walk around the corner toward the National Guard Armory and find this bench waiting. Note that one back leg is AWOL, so the bench is supported by a large log.
Logs are abundant and they are widely used in every possible way, like these benches we find at the 3rd Street Market where vendors and buyers gather every Saturday morning and at special events in between. Several local businesses and organizations maintain flower displays here, and additional benches....
like this one which was donated by a family group,
are strategically placed to enjoy people watching and flower gazing.
We admire the large stand of white daisy and find it shades this small and delicate bloomer from the intense western sunrays.
The icecream shop, aka San Juan Soda Co., sponsors a planting that was glorious in midsummer but is now reduced to one lonely snapdragon survivor.
In the edge of the 3rd Street Market we find another "stick flag", a stone bench, and daisies past their prime, fading into fall and their winter's rest.
More sheltered pots give us another boost of color, but these, too, will soon be dried and dormant. One night of a hard freeze and all will be gone.
We note that this bench has been turned slightly to allow a view of the turning aspens in the surrounding mountains.
We find several flower displays, like this one by the Lake City Art Gallery, feature a combination of red, white & blue bloomers. We recognize the container as an old mining car and admire the artistic presentation, including yet another "stick flag."
We award FIRST PRIZE to this bench! It's not only very unique but also surpisingly comfortable.
We fully understand and empathize with the lack of breath and exhaustion that can overtake lowland visitors at this elevation. Seating opportunities are provided by merchants and the town to make strolling & shopping a little easier & more comfortable. In high season (July), they're widely used and appreciated.
This white glider brings back memories of hot summer days in the shade and evenings full of fireflies and stars.
Though the boardwalk is deserted on this cool September afternoon, we know that by late June next year and throughout July and August it will be full of people enjoying the ambiance of this laidback mountain town.
Another thriving watering hole and grill sports an outdoor patio; that alcove behind the flag is a part of the serving area and the flag does double duty as shade and decoration.
We know from experience that marigolds are one of the most deer-proof flowers available. Deer commonly feast on flowering plants throughout the town.....AND in our RV park, as we well know. We only thought deer didn't like geraniums!
Poppies have an amazingly long season here, especially in a summer like this one when we've had so few really hot days.
This homeowner we think must LOVE sunflowers, enough to erect a supporting fence alongside the house.
We may think pay phones are history in today's world, but here we find one...right off the boardwalk, well sheltered in its own little hut, in front of the phone company. We aren't certain, but we believe there's another outside the one local grocery store.
We begin our walk back to the RV park and this sight greets us.
Second prize in the benches category goes to this one. We enjoy the smiles of the two young folks who're enjoying a sit in the sun on a bench made almost entirely of highly decorated snowboards.
Isn't this a restful, peaceful scene? Not public, but just looking at it makes us feel good.
Back at the RV park, we've spent many an hour sitting on THIS bench! The flowers, sadly, were entirely decapitated last evening by the deer....aren't we glad we got the picture first?Note the white arrow.....that's our Montero SUV and 5th wheel right behind it.
Hope you enjoyed our walk!
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