Near Tucker Gulch
Photo by Linda Cobb
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Monday, Aug. 18th
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Live Workouts with Community Center Pros
- All day - Golden History Tours
- 7-9AM - Clear Creek Corridor Cleanup
- 8AM - Municipal Court Criminal Arraignments
- 10:15-10:45AM - Let's Dance - Registration Required
- 12-12:30PM - Canceled: Mondays with the Mayor
- 1-2:30PM - Computer Basics
- 2-3PM - Virtual: Active Minds Monday
- 5:30-7PM - Downtown Development Authority Meeting
- 5:30-7:30PM - The Fundamental Principles of Art
- 6PM - Cookies With Councilors
- 6-7PM - Rooftop Tango @ The Eddy
- 6-9PM - Teach Me to Play! Mondays
- 6:30PM - Movement Monday Running Club
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
What’s Blooming Along Golden’s Trails? Grama Grasses!
Figure 1. Grama Grass in Windy Saddle Park. Left: Flatbed scan of Blue Grama – Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. Ex Griffiths. Right: Photograph of Side-Oats Grama – Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torrey.
By Tom Schweich
In Colorado, we have two main “seasons” of grasses. Cool-season grasses grow mostly in spring and fall, when temperatures are mild, while warm-season grasses wait until the heat of summer to burst into growth. Warm-season species like the grama grasses are specially adapted to hot, dry conditions. They use a more efficient form of photosynthesis (C4 photosynthesis) that allows them to grow well with less water, have deep roots to tap hidden moisture, and stay productive through the summer when many other plants slow down. This timing gives our landscapes a second wave of green, supports wildlife, and helps keep soils healthy even in the hottest months.
The warm-season grasses that live around Golden include big bluestem, little bluestem, yellow Indian grass, and the grama grasses. The grama grasses are valuable forage grasses, particularly for livestock. They are a significant part of the diet for various animals, including cattle, bison, elk, and pronghorn, and also provide habitat and erosion control.
There are two main species of grama grass in Golden. One, blue grama grass – Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. Ex Griffiths – is a very common short-grass prairie grass. It has been widely collected around Golden, from Heritage Square in the south to North Table Mountain. The native range of this species is Canada to Mexico.
The first known scientific collection of blue grama was made on “… on the slopes and slopes of the porphyritic mountain La Buffa in Guanaxuato, Mexico (Kunth (1815-1825).” Today we know the mountain as El Cerro De La Bufa, a short walk from downtown Guanajuato, Mexico. The collection was made by the Humboldt and Bonpland expedition to Mexico in 1803 and 1804. This expedition is considered a landmark event in the history of scientific exploration and a crucial contribution to understanding the natural world of the Americas (Wikipedia, 2025). Kunth (1815-25) gave blue grama the scientific name of Chondrosium gracile when he wrote about the results of the Humboldt and Bonpland expedition. Some floras still use that name. The first collection of blue grama in Colorado was made by Charles C. Parry in 1861 somewhere between the headwaters of Clear Creek and Middle Park.
While we typically use the common name of blue grama, our grass is also known as eyelash grass and navajita común. Google translates “navajita” as a razor clam. I had my doubts about Google Translate, but my Spanish-American family confirmed that it could mean both a razor clam or a knife blade, which makes sense because the inflorescence is shaped somewhat like a knife blade.
The other common grama grass in Golden is side-oats grama – Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torrey. The first scientific name given to side-oats grama was Chloris curtipendula, by Andre Michaux. We met Michaux before, when we discussed Needle and Thread grass. Michaux found side-oats grama in Prairie du Rocher (now in Illinois about 45 miles south of Saint Louis), founded in 1722 by French colonists, mostly migrants from Canada.
Side-oats grama is a perennial, short prairie grass that is native throughout the temperate and tropical Western Hemisphere, from Canada south to Argentina. The specific epithet, curtipendula, comes from Latin curtus "shortened" and pendulus "hanging." While we use the common name of side-oats grama, it is also known as banderilla or banderita (“flag or small flag”).
Side-oats grama has been collected in several places throughout Golden, from Heritage Square to North and South Table Mountain, to Windy Saddle Park, though it is probably in every City of Golden open space. The first Colorado collection was made by George Vasey in 1868 while on Powell’s Colorado Exploring Expedition.
While the grama grasses were given different genus names by their authors, they were united in the genus Bouteloua by Griffiths (1912). David Griffiths’s 1912 monograph on Bouteloua was part of a much larger, long-term effort by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), especially its Bureau of Plant Industry, and the U.S. National Herbarium at the Smithsonian, to systematically study, classify, and document the grasses of North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The generic name Bouteloua was proposed by Lagasca (1805) to honor Claudio Boutelou, professor, and principal gardener of the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid, and Esteban Boutelou, his brother, senior gardener at Royal Gardens of Aranjuez, Spain.
References
Griffiths, David. 1912. The grama grasses: Bouteloua and related genera. Bulletin (United States National Museum). Contributions from the United States National Herbarium. 14(3):343-425. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/113894
Kunth, Carol Sigismund. 1815-1825. Nova genera et species plantarum :quas in peregrinatione ad plagam aequinoctialem orbis novi collegerunt /descripserunt, partim adumbraverunt Amat. Bonpland et Alex. de Humboldt. [New genera and species of plants which they collected in their travels to the equatorial region of the New World /described, partly outlined by Amie. Bonpland and Alexander de Humboldt.] Antverpiae [Antwerp, Belgium], Ex officina Christophori Plantini 7 volumes. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/11233#page/239/
La Gasca, Don Mariano. 1805. Memoria sobre un genero de la familia de las gramas, llamado Botelua, y sobre otro de la misma familia que le es afine : por Don Mariana La Gasca. [Memoir on a genus of the grass family, called Botelua, and on another of the same family that is related to it: by Don Mariano La Gasca.] Variedades de Ciencias, Literatura Y Artes. [Various (subjects) of Science, Literature and Arts] 2(4):129-. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=ucm.5326515049&seq=131
Wikipedia contributors. Alexander von Humboldt. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date retrieved: 15 August 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alexander_von_Humboldt&oldid=1303951359
2-3PM Virtual: Active Minds Monday - Artificial Intelligence
At Jefferson County Public Library, we foster continuous learning and connections. Keep your minds engaged every Monday! Be sure to explore our website for additional weekly event options, including call-ins and livestreams.
Today’s theme: Artificial Intelligence
The release of artificial intelligence programs such as Chat GPT, Grok and Perplexity have catapulted this technology to the forefront of global conversations. The enormous potential of this technology has many people both excited and fearful. Join Active Minds as we explain what AI is, how it can be used for good, but also the potential for abuse.
Save your spot for this Zoom program.
When:
2-3PM on Monday, Aug. 18th
5:30-7PM Downtown Development Authority Meeting @ City Hall Council Chambers
- Meeting Agenda
- Watch the meeting streaming live starting at 5:30PM
- Attend the meeting @ City Hall Council Chambers - 911 10th Street - (map)
- Send comments on any of the following topics to dda@cityofgolden.net
- Provide in-person comment during the meeting, at 5:30PM.
Tonight's Topics:
The DDA is going to help fund the "East Zone Amenities" part of the Heart of Golden project. As of Sunday night, the meeting packet didn't contain any details about the topic, but the group will discuss them at this evening's meeting. There will be a public meeting on the topic tomorrow night at 5:30 in Lion's Park.
The Golden Welcome Center has been working on a plan to expand their building to make it more usable (and rentable) for the community. They have discussed the plan with the DDA, which agreed to provide a conditional grant of $375K to help fund the project. Staff recommends that the board formalize the agreement at this time.
Golden Laser Aesthetic at 1113 Washington Ave is requesting a grant of $9,113 to cover 50% of the cost of replacing their windows with more energy efficient ones.
Atomic Cowboy at 1100 Washington Ave is requesting a grant of $5,950 to cover 50% of the cost to install an awning over their alley entrance.
Staff continues to work on downtown "wayfinding" signs.
Staff is also working with an electrical contractor to repair and replace the lights on the two pedestrian bridges over Highway 58. The bid is $19,500 for 30 lights.
Staff proposes creating a gateway to the City at the south end of the highway 58 bridge on Washington Avenue (next to the Clayworks/Coorstek project). As a step toward that goal, they have spoken with a landscaper about clearing the wooded lot at the southwest corner of the bridge. The estimated cost is $4,500.
Staff is working with an electrician to calculate the cost to upgrade the electrical service to the Farmers Market lot and Parfet Park.
Staff has submitted social media and newsletter information to the City's Communications department. If Communications approves, the info will be shared with downtown businesses. Staff is also revising the EDComm web page.
DDA's Development Committee met on August 13th. Staff presented information about a downtown property that may be of interest to the City and/or DDA. There may be further discussion from the committee at the meeting.
An exterminator continues to provide weekly service to control the rat population in Miners Alley and on Jackson Street.
Amplified music is now prohibited on downtown streets and sidewalks.
Staff is working to make the crosswalks more visible near the Buffalo Bill statue in front of the Welcome Center.
Clayworks/CoorsTek reports that their next project will be to remodel and reuse the large building in the middle of the property.
The project at 1106 Washington Ave is nearly done and the developers say many people are interested in renting the first-floor retail space.
Location:
City Hall Council Chambers
911 10th Street (Map)
6PM Cookies With Councilors @ Fossil Trace Golf Club
Join your City Councilors for an exciting evening at Fossil Trace Golf Club where you'll hear from management at the Course, ask questions, and play in a mini competition on the green.
The event will start indoors at Fossil Trace Golf Club but will move outdoors.
Location:
Fossil Trace Golf Club
3050 Illinois Street (Map)
When:
6PM on Monday, Aug. 18th
Golden History: The Staff of Life
Rock Flour Mill on 9th Street
Click to enlarge
121 Years Ago
The August 18, 1904 Colorado Transcript included an article titled “Golden Furnishes Much ‘Staff of Life’ Material,” which described Golden’s two flour mills. Both were powered by Clear Creek.
The Rock Flour Mill on 9th Street had a capacity of 400 sacks of flour per day. Their warehouse on 8th Street had a storage capacity of 30,000 bushels. They produced two brands of flour at the time: “Shogo” and “Pride of Golden.” They also sold hay and feed, averaging 75 carloads (railroad freight cars, that is) per month.
The Rock Flour warehouse is still extant, on 8th Street at Cheyenne.
The Golden Milling Company was located on Ford Street, on the north side of Clear Creek. They produced 300 sacks of flour per day, their brand being “Pride of the West.” Their elevator, which was located next to the railroad tracks on 8th Street, had capacity to store 50,000 bushels of wheat. They also sold hay, grain, feed, and other mill products, ranging from 75 to 100 carloads per month.
The Golden Mill produced flour until the 1950s and continued as a feed store for another 60 years. Today, it’s a wildly successful food hall. They still sell fine grain-based products.
Weather
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. West wind around 7 mph.
Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Sunny, with a high near 88. South southeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. South southwest wind around 8 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly Clear, 63°F
Tuesday: Sunny, 90°F
Tuesday Night: Mostly Clear, 65°F
Wednesday: Sunny, 93°F
Wednesday Night: Mostly Clear, 67°F
Thursday: Sunny, 95°F
Thursday Night: Partly Cloudy, 65°F
Friday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 83°F
Friday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 61°F
Saturday: Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 80°F
Saturday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 60°F
Sunday: Slight Chance Rain Showers then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 80°F
Supporters
Many thanks to the people and organizations who support What’s Happening in Golden? If you would like to support local news, please CLICK HERE!
Sponsors:
($100/month and up)
Buffalo Rose, Buglet Solar, Foothills Art Center, Golden Cultural Alliance, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, The Golden Mill, Golden Chamber of Commerce, Golden History Tours, Miners Saloon, Golden Hayride Outpost, Unite Fitness, Tom Reiley, Michael Mason, Colorado Railroad Museum, and Goosetown Station
Friends:
($50-99.99/month or $550/yr)
Tall Pines Painting, Baby Doe’s Clothing, Goozell Yogurt & Coffee Paul Haseman, Donna Anderson, Carol & Doug Harwood, Stephanie Painter, Greg Poulos, Ann Norton & Jonathan Storer, Mary & Don Parker, Saré Merrigan, The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, and Joy Brandt
Supporters:
($25-49.99/month or $250/yr)
Laura King and Scott Wilson, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Forrest Jones, Barry & Liz Bettis, Cheryl & Tom Schweich, Marjorie Sloan, Chris and Joyce Davell, Rick Flint, Forrest Jones, Cynthia Merrill Tamny, Stephen Pero, Meg Van Ness & Steve Kalasz, Steve & Karla Schaefer, Bud Rockhill, Steve Enger, Kristie Brice & Mike Schwartz, The Golden Hotel, Kurt & Janet Siegfried, Ella Lyons & Jeanne Fritch, Robert Thresher, Tonie Mattox, and Centennial State Wealth Advisors
Members:
($10-24.99/month or $110/yr)
Brad Miller & Julie Bartos, Holly Thomas, Jim and LouAnne Dale, Ann Pattison, Thomas Hoffman, Carol Abel, Brian Quarnstrom, Sandra Curran, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Kathy Smith, Karen Smith, Carlos & Nancy Bernal, Robert Storrs, Michele Sannes, Elaine Marolla, Dixie Termin & Ron Miller, E Tom Hughes, Crystal M Culbert, Patrick A. Madison, Alice Madison & Jim Kalivas, Deb Goeldner, Christopher Ball, 6th Chair Home Services, Dot & Eric Brownson, Rosemary Coffman, Emeline Paulson, Sandy Schneider, Mark and Cathy Pattridge, Cheryl G Leidich, Jen Rutter, Frani R Bickart, Jennings and Litz, Bill Sedgeley, Nancy Hughes, Justin L Wade, Kathi Eggers, Traci Case, Donna Owen, Leslie D Lutz, Karen Oxman, Catherine Skokan, Ross Fraser & KC Gilliland, Lynne Haigh, Elizabeth Hilliard, Frank Young & Terre Deegan-Young, Kathy Hirons & Jack Markin, Jess & Anthony Monasterio, Heather Duncan, Lee Ann & Pete Horneck, Carol Cameron, Cheryl Williamson, San Daugherty, Jim Garner, John and Carol McEncroe, the Golden Welcome Center, the Golden Transcript, Koshare Eagle, Ken and Colleen Krantz, Traci Neuman Lacey, Jo Barber, Jamie Cookinham, Kermit Shields, Meridee Cecil, Vicki Olson, Colleen & Michael Ramey, Nancy & Pete Torpey, Jax Baker, Simon Maybury, Rose McLaughlin, Cameron Chambers, Joyce Gravina, Patrick Klein, Barb Robie, and Mary Rains, Richard Caldwell, Janice Waring, Sam & Marilyn Baron, Carmen Johnson, Mary Eiberger, Kevin Nichols, Ed & Carol Freza, Laura and Curtis Moore, Ruth Hund, Shelley & Jerry Devitt, Eileen Masterson, and Kate Olivier
Followers:
($5-9.99/month)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser, Mel Perkins, Bob Hamilton, Steve Stevens, Vicki Olson, Emily Kurzinski, Nanette Johnson, and Peyton Gibson
