Hot springs soak proves it's a small world
Once more I discovered, it is a small world!
Our youngest daughter who has been living in Tucson for two years recently moved to New Mexico. I said, “Wrong way, daughter, Yuma is this way.” Love was calling her in the other direction.
Her dad and I were able to help her move. I must tell you we didn't help much, but wasn't it a good excuse to get to look over her new area? We stayed at the Riverbend Hot Springs where she would be living and working.
This “soaking” in the hot, mineral water was a new experience for me. The first morning I was out there soaking with the other early arrivals. The air was fresh and the view of the Rio Grande river going by just a few yards away was great. The deciduous trees had not leafed out yet but there were other trees and plants to enjoy; especially the beautiful spring bulbs blooming on the property.
Of course, I struck up a gardening conversation with one of the other early soakers. He was from the area and asked me where I was from. I said, “Arizona.” He asked me where in Arizona and I said, “Yuma.” He laughed and said that is where he was raised. After college, he worked with the citrus crops in the Yuma area. He proceeded to tell me what he does now and when he left, mentioned his name was Lee.
He never mentioned he was the owner of Riverbend and his son Jake now manages it. I found out later that day. Jake is young and a hard worker. Since taking over as manager four years ago, he has been doing a lot of remodeling. We stayed in the La Casita cabin - very comfortable. The soaking makes for a really relaxing vacation. As they say, “All you need to do is just soak, snack and nap.”
The next morning I got to talk to him again about Yuma and he mentioned the Pecan Grove area. I said, I'll bet you knew Jim and Dorothy Starek. I finally asked him about his last name, Foerstner. I said, I used to know a May Foerstner; turns out she is his mother. I met her when I first got involved with the University of Arizona and the demonstration garden.
May, Elizabeth Moody and Pat Callahan were members of the Native Plant Society and were involved from the beginning with the planning of the University of Arizona demonstration garden. May has since moved up to the Northwest near her daughter.
Oh, and I certainly recommend Riverbend Hot Springs, the desert oasis on the Rio Grande, in Truth or Consequences, N.M. - www.RiverbendHotSprings.com.
We decided our daughter will be fine in New Mexico. I didn't get her to move to Yuma. As it turns out, she's with Yuma people!
Karen Bowen, who also writes articles for this column, knew May and she told me, “May was sweet enough to give me recipes of some of her favorite Southern dishes. I plan on making a Southern cookbook with my mom's (Georgia Bolton also writes for this column) stories of her life in it.”
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Ellen Gardner, a Master Gardener, writes this column for the Federated Garden Clubs of Yuma, can be reached at 343-4020 or at gardner3028@netzero.com.
