Parking Structure with a View
Photo by Scott Burcar
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Monday, May. 26th
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Live Workouts with Community Center Pros
- All day - Golden History Tours
- 11AM-12PM - Memorial Day Ceremony
- 1:45PM - Memorial Day Ceremony
- 5:30-7:30PM - The Fundamental Principles of Art
- 6-9PM - Teach Me to Play! Mondays
- 6:30PM - Movement Monday Running Club
- 6:30-8:30PM - Specialty Trivia with Deep Eddy - Colorado Sports @ The Golden Mill
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
What’s Blooming Along Golden’s Trails? Pale Bastard Toadflax!
Figure 1. Pale Bastard Toadflax — Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt. ssp. pallida (A. DC.) Piehl. Top left: Flowers in Schweich Hill Open Space. Bottom left: On Tin Cup Ridge. Right: In the author’s garden.
By Tom Schweich
Pale Bastard Toadflax — Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt. ssp. pallida (A. DC.) Piehl — is common in all Golden open spaces and some parks, though it is often overlooked because it is small and the flowers are not showy. The plant is found across the United States and into Canada, while the subspecies found in Colorado, subspecies pallida, is found between Kansas/Nebraska west to Nevada. Bastard toadflax has an unusual global distribution. There is one species in North America with three subspecies, and a fourth subspecies in the Balkan region of Europe.
The name "bastard toadflax" for Comandra umbellata originates from the similarity between the plant's leaves and those of true toadflax (genus Linaria). However, the name is not meant to be a derogatory one, but rather a description of a plant that is not a true toadflax but resembles it. Indeed, the Weedbusters (City of Golden, 2025) struggle to distinguish between toadflax and bastard toadflax while weeding at DeLong Park. Often, we must wait until the plants get larger to distinguish between the two.
Thomas Nuttall (1818) first published the name Comandra umbellata, using a Linnaeus name of Thesium umbellatum as a base-name. Unfortunately, Nuttall did not tell us if he saw it along the Missouri River in 1811. C. pallida was proposed by A. DeCandolle (1857) from a collection made in Oregon Territory (present-day Nez Perce County, Idaho) by missionary Reverend Henry H. Spalding.
Reverend Spalding collected plants for one year in 1846 and sent a box of dried plants to botanists in the east (Oliphant, 1934; Wikipedia, 2025). He apparently got the idea from Charles A. Geyer, a German botanist, who was in Oregon Territory in 1843-44. Spalding’s box of plants arrived in Boston in 1848. Asa Gray sent Spalding a letter encouraging him to continue collecting in March 1849. However, a massacre at Waiilatpu (now in Walla Walla County, Washington) sent Spalding and others fleeing to Lower Oregon, ending his botanical career.
Pale bastard toadflax has some interesting characteristics. First, it parasitizes other plants from its rhizomes as do many plants of its family, the Sandalwood family (Santalaceae, san-ta-LA-see-e). However, because it can photosynthesize with green leaves and stems, we call it a hemi-, or half-, parasite. Bastard toadflax plays a role in forest pathology as alternate hosts of the comandra-pine blister rust. Finally, our subspecies, pallida, dies back to the ground each year, resprouting each spring from subterranean buds, whereas the other subspecies retain above-ground parts through the winter.
References
City of Golden. 2025. DeLong Park Weedbusters Volunteers. https://www.cityofgolden.gov/community/get_involved/delong_park_weedbusters.php
DeCandolle, Augustus Pyramus. 1857. Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis. [Overview of the Natural System of the Plant Kingdom.] 14. Paris: 1857. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/109211#page/642/
Nuttall, Thomas. 1818. The Genera of North American Plants and a catalogue of the species to the year 1817. 2 Vols.. Philadelphia: 1818. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/722357#page/164/
Oliphant, J. Olin. 1934. The Botanical Labors of the Reverend Henry H. Spalding. The Washington History Quarterly. 25(2):93-102. https://journals.lib.washington.edu/index.php/WHQ/article/viewFile/8781/7816
Wikipedia contributors. (2025, May 7). Henry H. Spalding. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:49, May 24, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Henry_H._Spalding&oldid=1289240893
11AM-12PM Memorial Day Ceremony @ Golden Cemetery
Photo by Dave Powers
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion will be hosting a service at the Golden Cemetery in the Veteran's section of the cemetery, the public is invited to join in honoring the efforts and commitment of our military service men and women.
Location:
Golden Cemetery
755 Ulysses Street (Map)
When:
11AM-12PM on Monday, May. 26th
1:45PM Memorial Day Ceremony @ Marine Corps Memorial
Photo by Dave Powers
Guest Speaker: Sergeant Robert J Chicca, USMC (R)
Program
Please arrive by 1:30 p.m.
What you'll need: bring your own chairs if you are unable to stand for more than 30 minutes without assistance.
Location:
Marine Corps Memorial
Intersection of Highways 6 and 40 (Map)
When:
1:45PM on Monday, May. 26th
6:30-8:30PM Colorado Sports Trivia @ The Golden Mill
Location:
Golden Mill
1012 Ford Street (Map)
When:
6:30-8:30PM on Monday, May. 26th
Live Music for Monday, May. 26th
- 7PM Sabbath Knights featuring Vinny Appice @ Buffalo Rose (main venue)
For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar
Golden History: Decoration Day, 1905
The Stewart building (10th and Washington), decorated with patriotic bunting - Golden History Museum collection
Click to enlarge
120 Years Ago
As the Civil War veterans got older, Decoration Day (later called "Memorial Day") observances became more and more elaborate. A 1905 Transcript article entitled “Old Boys in Blue Honor Their Dead” described the full panoply.
That year, the downtown buildings were decorated with flags and bunting. Many businesses closed, out of respect for the day. In deference to the wishes of veterans, no games or frivolity were planned.
The day began with a procession of carriages going to the Golden Cemetery. There they were greeted by a squad of active servicemen and a bugler. There was a ceremony, a rifle salute, and the playing of Taps. The group then visited the grave of every soldier and sailor and laid a wreath and flowers at each one.
That afternoon, they met at the Opera House (now the Ace Hi). Seats had been reserved for the Grand Army veterans, the Women’s Relief Corps (wives and daughters of veterans), public school classes, the “Boys’ Brigade,” and a group of boys from the Industrial School.
The Transcript said that more than 600 seats had been provided and there was standing room only. (I was surprised to learn that the second floor of that building could hold so many.)
Speeches were given and patriotic songs were sung. The President of the School of Mines (Victor Alderson) then spoke of his own patriotic feelings, inspired by the Civil War soldiers he knew as a boy.
After the service, the Boys’ Brigade escorted the group to Clear Creek. There, the Women’s Relief Corps tossed flowers into the water, in memory of dead sailors. This was followed by another rifle salute and Taps.
The Industrial School had its own program, which included songs, recitations, readings, band music, and a speaker.
George West, who founded the Colorado Transcript in 1866 and remained its editor for 40 years, was a veteran of the Civil War and very involved in Grand Army of the Republic events. He likely planned many of the Decoration Day ceremonies and almost certainly wrote the article describing them in such detail. George died a year after this Decoration Day, and while the events may have remained splendid, the descriptions of them in the Transcript were never again quite as poignant.
Weather
Overnight: A chance of rain showers and patchy fog. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Northwest wind around 2 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Memorial Day: A chance of rain showers and patchy fog before 9am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy. High near 60, with temperatures falling to around 56 in the afternoon. Northeast wind 2 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. South wind 2 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy, 48°F
Tuesday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 73°F
Tuesday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy, 51°F
Wednesday: Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 68°F
Wednesday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy, 49°F
Thursday: Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 67°F
Thursday Night: Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 50°F
Friday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 76°F
Friday Night: Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 53°F
Saturday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 75°F
Saturday Night: Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 55°F
Sunday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 79°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 City Brewery, 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, Joy Brandt, Tom Reiley, Michael Mason, and the Colorado Railroad Museum, 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, Beth Bidwell, Stephanie Painter, Greg Poulos, Ann Norton & Jonathan Storer, Mary & Don Parker, Saré Merrigan, The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, and Vic DeMaria
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, and Ella Lyons & Jeanne Fritch.
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
Followers:
($5-9.99/month)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser, Mel Perkins, Bob Hamilton, Kim Linton, Steve Stevens
