When Saint Jude Meets the Foothills
A Windy Day of Stewardship in Longmont, Colorado
Amy Sanders
10/20/20252 min read
When Saint Jude Meets the Foothills
A Windy Day of Stewardship in Longmont, Colorado
Saunders Design Studio · Stewardship · Resilience · Community
“The earth is the Lord’s and all it holds, the world and those who dwell in it.” — Psalm 24:1
The day began with the kind of wind that makes even seasoned Coloradans pause. It pushed through the cottonwoods, tugged at the Flatirons’ shadows, and swept across Longmont like a restless spirit calling attention to everything rooted and living. By mid-morning, the chill that had lingered around 34 °F gave way to bright gusts under a 64 °F sun, carrying the scent of wet pine, cold soil, and hope. Inside Saunders Design Studio, the windows rattled as if to remind us — stewardship doesn’t happen behind glass. It starts when we step outside, feel the wind, and remember who made it.
“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” — 1 Corinthians 4:2
🌿 Plant Life of the Front Range
Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Leaves like coins shimmer and whisper, catching sunlight in waves. These groves are families — connected by one vast underground root system that can live for thousands of years.
[Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Aspen_fall_colors.jpg]
Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
Its cinnamon bark gives off a sweet scent of vanilla when warmed by sun. Ponderosas thrive in the foothills, their deep roots holding slopes steady through wind and drought.
[Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Ponderosa_pine.jpg]
Plains Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
The cottonwood’s heart-shaped leaves flicker silver and green in the wind. Along the St. Vrain Creek, these giants shelter owls and soften the rush of traffic with their rustling praise.
[Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Plains_Cottonwood.jpg]
🦌 Animal Neighbors of Longmont
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Their cheerful songs rise above the wind. Cool fact: Robins can sense earthworms underground through subtle soil vibrations.
[Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/American_Robin.jpg]
Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
They move like ghosts at dawn, ears swiveling to catch the sound of twigs snapping. Their large, mule-like ears inspired their name.
[Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Mule_deer_buck.jpg]
American Beaver (Castor canadensis)
Down by the river, beavers are at work engineering wetlands that store floodwater and create refuge for waterfowl.
[Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/American_Beaver.jpg]
🐝 Insect Allies in the Wind
Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Sometimes you’ll catch a flash of orange gliding past the prairie flowers. Monarchs migrate nearly 3,000 miles — one of the longest journeys in the insect world.
Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
Buzzing low around the late asters, these bees pollinate one-third of the food we eat. Without them, the beauty and bounty of our landscapes would fade.
[Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Apis_mellifera_Western_honey_bee.jpg]
Velvet Ant “Cow Killer” (Dasymutilla occidentalis)
Covered in fiery orange fuzz, it’s actually a wingless wasp. Fierce but fascinating — proof that even the smallest creatures serve a purpose in creation.
[Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Velvet_Ant_Dasymutilla_occidentalis.jpg]
🙏 A Faithful Call to Action
Step outside your workspace — even for five minutes — and notice three living things: a leaf, a sound, a scent carried by the wind. Replace one ornamental plant with a native species, and share what you see. Care begins with seeing. Stewardship begins with gratitude.
🌎 Measurable Outcomes for Longmont Sustainability
• 25% increase in native plantings across public projects by year’s end.
• 20% more pollinator visits recorded at city landscapes.
• 15% reduction in irrigation water use through drought-tolerant species.
• Expanded tree canopy adding 150 m² of shade per site in new parks.
“The earth is the Lord’s and all it holds.” — Psalm 24:1
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