OURAY – Bob McCulloch dazzled an audience of more than 95 at the Ouray Community Center with his magnificent wildflower photos on Tuesday, July 15. In his lecture titled “Wildflowers of the Colorado Mountains,” part of the Ouray County Historical Museum’s Evenings of History series, McCulloch appealed to the visual senses of the audience, as well as its desire for knowledge.

As McCulloch described and identified a multitude of wildflowers, he pointed out that while most people can agree on a flower’s Latin name, the common name is not always so straightforward. For example, elephant head and little pink elephants are two different common names for the same flower.

McCulloch, a free-lance photographer for the past 20 years, began photographing wildflowers for his wife, Sue, to use for her paintings. It has since turned into a passion for him, one he shared with a grateful audience.

Audience members will again be treated to an informative Evenings of History lecture when on Tuesday, July 22, former OCHS director Ginny Harrington presents “Marie Scott, Ranching Matriarch of the San Juans.”

Harrington has a bachelor of science degree in agricultural business from Colorado State University, and agriculture and historic preservation are two of her key interests. From 2001 through 2006 she focused her career and volunteer efforts on nonprofit organizations dedicated to historic preservation. She served as executive director of OCHS, chairperson for the Ranching History of Ouray County oral history project, business advisor to the Ouray County Ranch Museum, and board member of Colorado Preservation, Inc. Prior to relocating to Montana in December 2006, Harrington served one year as program director for the Northern San Juan Initiative, a branch of the Black Canyon Land Trust dedicated to keeping family farms and ranches in production.

Harrington currently works for the Montana Department of Agriculture as the Industry and Commodity Development Officer.

Harrington’s family traces its roots to Montrose and Ouray counties beginning in the 1870s, and includes ranchers, farmers and miners. For over 12 years, Harrington and her husband, Tom, resided on the ranch that Marie Scott earlier called her own. Harrington was fortunate to visit with many of Scott’s heirs and friends to compile her story, which is one of perseverance, grit and determination.

Scott amassed 100,000 acres in her prime, stretching from Dallas Divide across Lone Cone and into the La Salle Mountains of Utah. Harrington will tell stories of Scott’s humor, generosity and never-give-up attitude and of how her family helped shaped who she became. The Scott family left its mark on Ouray County and the surrounding San Juan Mountains, and the lessons they learned through the hardships of the early years are lessons that we all can take to heart.

Harrington’s presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Ouray Community Center. As always, admission is free, but donations are greatly appreciated.

—Watch Staff Report