Fall is the best time to plant trees, shrubs & perennials. Take a look around your yard—if a plant is healthy and thriving, there’s little doubt that the roots are strong and growing. For newly-planted trees, shrubs or perennials, the fall season can be the best time […]
The approval of Ballot Measure 91 in 2015 to allow the sale and use of recreational marijuana has made some dramatic changes to the landscape of Southern Oregon. The County’s limited farmland, especially properties with irrigation rights, has increased considerably in value and there is a limited inventory […]
Life was not a valuable gift, but death was. Life was a fever-dream made up of joys embittered by sorrows, pleasure poisoned by pain; a dream that was a nightmare-confusion of spasmodic and fleeting delights, ecstasies, exultations, happinesses, interspersed with long-drawn miseries, griefs, perils, horrors, disappointments, defeats, humiliations, and […]
Rental prices have been increasing since the real estate crash in 2007, but home prices didn’t begin to rebound until 2013. Rental prices are now running at an average of $1 a square foot for a suburban home in Medford and higher in Ashland and Jacksonville and for rural […]
The previous two installments of Pioneer Profiles recounted Col. John England Ross’ exploits as Indian fighter, treasure seeker, and entrepreneur. We left him in the Klamath basin escorting wagon trains across the Cascades, providing protection from ambush and murder by the Modoc Indians. But by October of 1852, he and his […]
Thank You!—It has been a real challenge this summer hosting our events and activities with the record heat and all the smoke in our valley. While the turn-out was understandably down a bit from previous years, those attending enjoyed some very interesting and informative History Saturday in the Cemetery programs and Tuesday Evening Cemetery Strolls. […]
October marks four years since we excavated the burned dwelling along Main Street in Jacksonville’s Chinese Quarter. October also marks my favorite holiday, and in honor of both, I am going to tell you a ghost story.
Our story is set in the late nineteenth century and features a young man named […]
Editor’s note: Since starting this column, “Sensational Seniors” back in 2016, Mike McClain has featured many of Jacksonville’s most respected and admired citizens. This month, in honor of Mike’s writing success, his dear friend, Mira Wingfield, thought it was time to […]
Okay, we’ll admit it. We haven’t reviewed much cinema this year. Frankly, we weren’t inspired by Hollywood’s offerings in 2017. Yes, we liked Wonder Woman (a lot) but many of the other films left us—hmm—we believe the correct word in the current parlance would be “meh.” Look it up.
Until recently, […]
We’d like to share our excitement about critical improvements being made on the Britt hill. With the close of another fantastic season, Britt is transitioning into what is sure to be a busy “off” season. Beginning this month, our old grey Britt bench seats will become just a memory. […]
The October Imaginarium: Hats & Masks—Every year, Art Presence Art Center sends out a call to artists, challenging them to create their most imaginative work in a theme that changes annually. This year is our fifth annual Challenge, and the theme of Hats & Masks yielded many wonderfully creative pieces of art in a wide […]
John Muir’s quote speaks to the interconnectedness of all things. Humans to nature, nature to earth, earth to the universe, and the cosmos back to humans. Take for example the zeal surrounding the solar eclipse uniting us all under one sky to witness the moon’s passage over the sun. Something exceptional transpires when we grasp […]
As the heat of another record-hot summer begins to abate in this season of the equinox, our feet yearn to revisit our trails within this forested landscape we call home. From early September until winter’s harsh grip sends us scampering to the coffee shops for warmer libations, the outdoors beckons our […]
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported last year that more than a third of Americans don’t get enough sleep. Many health issues like depression, autoimmune disorders and memory issues have been linked to insufficient sleep. Harvard medical researchers have also linked sleep deprivation with obesity, high blood pressure […]
Last month I wrote about the decks of my life being cleared: how my practice rather abruptly emptied out and how that seemed purposeful and meaningful. The way I wrote about it made the experience sound like a cruise through the Greek Isles, reclining on my metaphorical deck chair aboard the ship of my life’s […]
Anyone who comes in to our shop will instantly see that we love antique and vintage glass. While we rarely get “big name” glass makers’ items in-stock, such as “Tiffany” or “Stuben,” you will see the classic “Fenton” glass.
Fenton glass has been around since Frank and John Fenton (brothers) set […]
“Be you in the park about midnight at Herne’s Oak, and you shall see wonders.”
– In William Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” 1597
I’ve mentioned before that every year Jerry and I enjoy watching a performance at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, and this month I’m looking forward to […]
All classes begin at 10:00am and are located at the nursery unless indicated otherwise. Space is limited so please be sure to register on our website: www.roguevalleynursery.com/class. A minimum of 8 attendees is needed for a class, otherwise the class may be canceled. Classes happen rain or shine. During classes there […]
Summer is winding down, but I think we would all agree there’s something special about the back-to-school season that’s filled with the promise of new beginnings. This time of year offers fall colors in bloom, and the bounty of harvesting fruits and vegetables from backyard gardens.
According to Wikipedia, “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings,” is an expression that means you shouldn’t presume to know the outcome of an event which is still in progress. Although the phrase is generally understood to be referencing the stereotypically overweight sopranos of the opera, it […]
Hanley Farm’s music festival was GREAT! Hundreds of people attended, making the Southern Oregon Historical Society’s 71st anniversary an event to remember. The forecast for the day was 103 degrees, but the weather gods prevailed and it was a cooler 97 degrees, with a slight breeze. Despite the hazy […]
Home prices soared over the last 5 years with the median price of a single family home in Jackson County increasing from $176,000 at the end of 2012 to $282,500 as of August 2017, yielding an increase of over 60%. The increase in the median price is only part […]
Thanks for an Interesting Tuesday Evening Cemetery Stroll—My appreciation to Docents Pat Stancel and Ellen Martin for putting on a very interesting and informative Tuesday Evening Cemetery Stroll in July, “Cemetery Art—Symbolism and Inscriptions” that was enjoyed by all in attendance.
History Saturday in the Cemetery, Saturday, September 9, 10:00-11:30am—Join us for our final History Saturday […]
“Be they ever so humble looking,” each of the three Native tools shown here were of crucial importance to their owner’s survival. All three were found at Hanley Farm, as part of the recent archaeological dig for the Farm’s new septic drain field.
For most of us now living here, it is […]
When we left Colonel John England Ross in our August 2017 Pioneer Profile, he had barely avoided eating crow…literally. After finding gold near Sawyer’s Bar on the Klamath River in California in 1850, he had been wounded in a skirmish with Indians and had his horses stolen. By the time prospectors […]
Harvest-—Harvest, a one-month Art Presence member show, opens on Friday, September 1. Don’t miss our special display of abstract watercolor, acrylic and collage paintings by Dolores Ribal on the gallery’s back wall. The reception is Saturday, September 2, from 1:00-3:00pm, featuring author readings by Jacksonville wordsmiths Ginna and David Gordon. Ginna’s new novel, “Deke Interrupted,” […]
You don’t know what you missed. And that makes us very sad.
We’re serious. Every August, the residents of Southern Oregon are offered a tremendous opportunity. Yet many residents let that opportunity slip away with little thought of its value. And, now that September has arrived, it’s gone. Again.
Yes, we’re talking […]
I had not planned on writing about a power outage for the September column. Mother Nature had different plans. When you think about it, we were due. Britt concerts have lucked out for 55 years. With that statistic, we had already beaten the law of averages. We should be […]
One of my favorite quotes, torn and taped to my desk, is this one, attributed to Joseph Campbell: “We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” Letting go of what we want or love or […]
Another 100 degree day in the Bear Creek Valley, another early morning trail run kept short by daunting afternoon temperatures, and my mind’s fantasy went to snowy trails in August. Who could blame me?
Oregon, unlike our neighbor to the south, does not have a lot of trails that boast elevations in […]
It’s summer. Guests are coming. Trips are being planned. August brings a haste to get it all done before it’s too late. The first thing we compromise is our self-care routines because we are too busy. We often come to the end of summer with high levels of stress, which can […]
Lately, I have been spending many hours sanding old furniture. My purpose is not to refinish antique furniture to its former glory, but to add a couple of coats of chalk paint, and sand some more. And then add a soft finish wax and rub and buff until my elbow […]
Monarch butterflies have been on earth for roughly 175 million years, but it’s only since the 1990’s that their numbers have declined by 80%. In 25 short years, 560 of the 700 million Monarch butterflies in North America have disappeared.
Being in the presence of a Monarch has brought me great […]
“The first week of August hangs at the very top of the summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning.” ~Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting, 1975
I love this image of August, the month when summer’s heat […]
When it comes to your landscaping, long-term planning offers many rewards. Resale value, maintenance considerations and future landscape plans are a few reasons to plan ahead…now!
When planning the initial infrastructure for your landscape, start with the end in mind. […]
The world we live in today is a digital one and searching for a home is no exception. Buyers now have apps that let them search by location and neighborhood. Online listings have virtual tours so viewers can look at potential homes while narrowing down their search in […]
July 4th has come and gone… now for the “lazy hazy days of summer.” If you missed it, we had one “swellegant” party here in town on the Courthouse lawn with 350 to 400 people this year. That’s not counting the many volunteers as well as the […]
Damaged Cemetery Headstone—Sadly, in June, we discovered the headstone of William Thompson who died in 1856, broken into several pieces and flat on the ground. At this time we believe this was most likely the result of an accident, and not a deliberate act of vandalism, the fact remains that a beautiful piece of our […]
As part of Jacksonville’s 2010 Sesquicentennial celebration, the Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology (SOULA) conducted a large-scale archaeological excavation at the former homestead of Peter Britt, which is now the Peter Britt Gardens and Britt Festival grounds. Due to the volume of archaeological material recovered from the project, paired with […]
Ross Lane, which meanders through the Valley floor just north of Jacksonville, demarcates some of the former land holdings of Colonel John England Ross.
Ross, who gained his title and his reputation as an Indian fighter during Oregon’s various Indian wars, is an enigmatic character. His first marriage was to a half-breed […]
Robert Atkinson, known in Jacksonville as “Bo,” first moved here in 2000 with his effervescent wife, Iris, and the two immediately became a popular and well-known couple around town. Bo’s quiet and unassuming manner belies the fact that he had a distinguished career in the army as a helicopter pilot and […]
By the time you read this, the migration will have begun.
Dozens of classically trained, world-class musicians will be returning to the stage on Britt Hill, where Conductor Teddy Abrams will greet them, ready to chase the summer doldrums from all of our brains.
To some, the summer seems a sleepy time. […]
By the time you read this News from the Hill, the Britt Orchestra will have arrived here in beautiful southern Oregon. Thanks to over 90 host families, our orchestra members are already settled into their temporary homes for the Season. Teddy Abrams, Britt’s Music Director, and Mark Knippel, Director […]
Dropping in to the cool, comfortable gallery at Art Presence Art Center will provide you with the gift of new artistic dimensions, stress reduction, and possibly a treasure to add to your collection! Stop by to view the art currently on exhibit any Friday, Saturday, or Sunday from 11:00am-5:00pm.
Artists Workshop Annual Show & Sale—The Southern […]
Are you thinking of taking a trip up to Crater Lake National Park this summer? Are you wanting to escape the heat of the Rogue Valley to bask in some cool mountain air? As you probably already know, Crater Lake National Park is an 80-mile drive from Jacksonville—about an hour-and-a-half to two-hour drive, depending on […]
When I entered Mary Ann Byrne’s stately historic Jacksonville home on California Street to begin my “Sensational Seniors” interview, I was greeted with, “I have always lived in and loved older homes and, while they take a good deal of tender care and are expensive to maintain, they help define who […]
Glass insulators have been around since 1840 when the first telegraph lines were strung across America. They were non-threaded, and had wings or “ram’s horns” that some collectors today call “Mickey Mouse ears.” Another type from that era was the “glass block” design. They were square-ish. Soon […]
She rested gently in his soft, young hand
In awe, he stared, at a smallness so grand.
What have we done? In earnest he pleaded.
They forgot, she whispered, how much we are needed.
But I don’t understand, he stuttered through tears.
You’re not to blame, she said, it’s been going on for years.
How can […]
As the days have gotten longer and music flows off Britt Hill, I know summer is definitely upon us. Around here, the natural surroundings of our historic town cast our summers with an almost magical quality.
While […]
Everyone wants to get the highest price possible when selling their home, and many people believe their home is worth more than it actually may be. After all, homeowners have emotions attached to their home and, as a result, often think their home is worth more than prospective […]