Great Garden Series
Old Colorado Apples - Past, Present, Future
2026-10-28 16:30:00
2026-10-28 18:00:00
America/Denver
Great Garden Series
With Jude Schuenemeyer: Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
Wednesday, October 28 4:30pm - 6:00pm
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Durango Public Library
Room 1&2 Combined
With Jude Schuenemeyer: Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project
Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project (MORP) was co-founded by Jude and Addie Schuenemeyer in 2008, who drew upon their experiences in horticulture and managing a nursery. Their lifelong journey began when they discovered many forgotten old apple trees in the region, inspired by requests from elderly clients about apple varieties they remembered from their youth. MORP works to preserve Colorado's fruit-growing heritage and restore an orchard culture and economy to the southwest region.
The roots of Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project (MORP) were established when co-founders Jude and Addie Schuenemeyer began their horticulture careers in 2001. For fifteen years, they ran a nursery that had originally been in business for over 50 years and had a lot of older clientele who often asked about apple varieties they remembered enjoying as children. In asking around, the Schuenemeyers realized just how many old trees still grew in the region – hidden or right in plain sight – sometimes forgotten, and other times revered by the families who always remembered. In collaboration with the Montezuma County Historical Society, they founded MORP in 2008 with the belief that the remarkable orchard culture and economy that once thrived in southwestern Colorado could be rebuilt.
After the couple purchased a peach orchard in McElmo Canyon, Jude attended an orchard restoration workshop in Capital Reef with some of our Nation’s most renowned fruit enthusiasts, and taught himself to graft from books. Thus began their efforts to find and graft from heritage trees returning one to the trees owners when possible, bringing a piece of living history back to the place where the parent tree stood for more than 100 years. For them, to pass back a tree that was grafted by someone’s grand or great grandparents is priceless.
Jude and Addie also plant young scions grafted from these trees in their McElmo Orchard as a genetic bank- a way to preserve the rare varieties found. They hope, however, to do more than just build and preserve a collection of old apple varieties. They hope to capture and preserve the history of the region as a fruit-growing center in the late 1800s and early 1900s, as well as restore a lost fruit economy.
In 2014, MORP put together an Advisory Team and organized under 501c3 fiscal sponsorship in order to systematically collect, document, and share the work done so far; and to secure funding to make further progress towards its goals.
Since its founding, MORP has established school, community, and conservation orchards to preserve Colorado’s rare and endangered apple cultivars.
Great Garden events happen every fourth Wednesday of the month, April-September, presented by the Durango Botanic Gardens, CSU Extension Office, & Durango Public Library. For more details visit www.durangobotanicgardens.org/events.
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Durango Public Library
Hours
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Mon, Oct 12
9:30AM to 6:00PM
Tue, Oct 13
9:30AM to 6:00PM
Wed, Oct 14
9:30AM to 6:00PM
Thu, Oct 15
10:00AM to 6:00PM
Fri, Oct 16
9:30AM to 5:30PM
Sat, Oct 17
9:30AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Oct 18
Closed
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1900 East 3rd Avenue,
Durango,
CO,
81301
About the Library
Overlooking the Animas River, the Durango Public Library and Botanical Gardens is one of the most popular gathering spots in our community.
Upcoming Events
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Storytime - followed by Stay & Play
Wed, Oct 14, 10:30am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Storytime followed by a fun Stay & Play! For children 3+ and their adult.
Teen Advisory Group (TAG)
Wed, Oct 14, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Want to make a fun space for you and your friends? Join the Teen Advisory Group! Help the library meet your needs and interests, gain valuable experience, meet new friends, and hang out!
Writers & Scribblers - Monthly meeting
Wed, Oct 14, 6:15pm - 7:45pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1
October's Topic: Moments of Change and Connection
Toddler Time - followed by Stay & Play
Thu, Oct 15, 10:30am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Join us for stories, songs, rhymes, & other fun activities! For children 1-2 and their adult.
Teen Game Zone
Thu, Oct 15, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Enjoy gaming in the library with a variety of games!
Spanish Conversation Hour / Hora de Conversación en Español
Thu, Oct 15, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
Come speak Spanish in an informal setting. All language levels welcome!
Ven a hablar español en un ambiente informal. ¡Abierto a todas las habilidades!
Baby Time
Fri, Oct 16, 11:00am - 11:45am
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Baby Time is tailored for babies from birth-12 months together with their favorite adult!
Friday Fun - Art
Fri, Oct 16, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
Friday afternoons are all about having fun building, playing, exploring, and creating together!
Stories in the Park
Sat, Oct 17, 10:00am - 10:45am
Santa Rita Park
Join us for Storytime and a nature themed craft!
Acoustic Jam
Sat, Oct 17, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
Let's make music!
Silent Book Club - No assigned reading, no group discussion, and no judgement!
Sat, Oct 17, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 3
Join us for an hour of dedicated reading. Socialize after, or not!
LEGO Club
Mon, Oct 19, 2:00pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Build, create, & play!
Community Story Circle
Mon, Oct 19, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 2
With local author and life coach, Brooke Heller.
Curiosity Club
Tue, Oct 20, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Your weekly place to have fun, be creative, and explore something new!
Book Club: Banned Books
Tue, Oct 20, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Bread Downtown
Join us at Bread Downtown (135 E 8th St) for a "nontraditional" book club, where the discussion is based on a genre/topic rather than a specific book!
Register
Storytime - followed by Stay & Play
Wed, Oct 21, 10:30am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Storytime followed by a fun Stay & Play! For children 3+ and their adult.
Teen Advisory Group (TAG)
Wed, Oct 21, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Want to make a fun space for you and your friends? Join the Teen Advisory Group! Help the library meet your needs and interests, gain valuable experience, meet new friends, and hang out!
Lonesome Landscapes: Stories from National Conservation Land - An Author Event with Dr. Andrew Gulliford
Wed, Oct 21, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1
The hidden stories of the public lands that unite us.
Word Honey at The Hive - Free Poetry Workshop
Wed, Oct 21, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
The Hive - 1175 Camino Del Rio
Write and create original works with us!
Toddler Time - followed by Stay & Play
Thu, Oct 22, 10:30am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Join us for stories, songs, rhymes, & other fun activities! For children 1-2 and their adult.
Teen Game Zone
Thu, Oct 22, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Enjoy gaming in the library with a variety of games!
Baby Time
Fri, Oct 23, 11:00am - 11:45am
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Baby Time is tailored for babies from birth-12 months together with their favorite adult!
Friday Fun - STEM
Fri, Oct 23, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Friday afternoons are all about having fun building, playing, exploring, and creating together!
Teen After Hours - Super Smash Bros. Tournament
Fri, Oct 23, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 2
After much demand, we will host our first Teen Super Smash Bros. Tournament!
Register
Japanese Tea Ceremony
Sat, Oct 24, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1
With Sochi Nomoto, Japanese tea ceremony teacher
This event is full
Yarn Meetup
Sat, Oct 24, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 3
Calling knitters, crocheters, and fiber artists of all ages and levels!
LEGO Club
Mon, Oct 26, 2:00pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Build, create, & play!
Death Cafe
Mon, Oct 26, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1
At a Death Cafe people gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. Our objective is 'to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives'.
Curiosity Club
Tue, Oct 27, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Your weekly place to have fun, be creative, and explore something new!
Halloween Storytime!
Wed, Oct 28, 10:30am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
A special Halloween themed storytime designed for ages 3+.
Teen Advisory Group (TAG)
Wed, Oct 28, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Want to make a fun space for you and your friends? Join the Teen Advisory Group! Help the library meet your needs and interests, gain valuable experience, meet new friends, and hang out!
Great Garden Series - Old Colorado Apples - Past, Present, Future
Wed, Oct 28, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
With Jude Schuenemeyer: Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project
Haloween Toddler Time!
Thu, Oct 29, 10:30am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
A special Halloween themed Toddler Time designed for ages 1-2.
Teen Game Zone
Thu, Oct 29, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Enjoy gaming in the library with a variety of games!
Baby Time
Fri, Oct 30, 11:00am - 11:45am
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Baby Time is tailored for babies from birth-12 months together with their favorite adult!
Friday Fun - Art
Fri, Oct 30, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
Friday afternoons are all about having fun building, playing, exploring, and creating together!
Halloween Family Movie - Casper (1995)
Sat, Oct 31, 11:00am - 1:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
Come cozy up for some friendly ghostly fun!
LEGO Club
Mon, Nov 02, 2:00pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Build, create, & play!
Beer 101 - With Ska
Mon, Nov 02, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1
Join us for this two-part series for ages 21+.
Register
Curiosity Club
Tue, Nov 03, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Your weekly place to have fun, be creative, and explore something new!
Book Club: White Horse - by Erika T. Wurth
Tue, Nov 03, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Durango Public Library - First floor river lounge
Register at the reference desk, then join us to discuss the book at the library. A free book is available for the first 15 people who register and attend!
Register
Storytime - followed by Stay & Play
Wed, Nov 04, 10:30am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Storytime followed by a fun Stay & Play! For children 3+ and their adult.
Teen Advisory Group (TAG)
Wed, Nov 04, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Want to make a fun space for you and your friends? Join the Teen Advisory Group! Help the library meet your needs and interests, gain valuable experience, meet new friends, and hang out!
Word Honey at The Hive - Free Poetry Workshop
Wed, Nov 04, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
The Hive - 1175 Camino Del Rio
Write and create original works with us!
Toddler Time - followed by Stay & Play
Thu, Nov 05, 10:30am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Join us for stories, songs, rhymes, & other fun activities! For children 1-2 and their adult.
Teen Game Zone
Thu, Nov 05, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Enjoy gaming in the library with a variety of games!
Spanish Conversation Hour / Hora de Conversación en Español
Thu, Nov 05, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Durango Public Library - Lobby
Come speak Spanish in an informal setting. All language levels welcome!
Ven a hablar español en un ambiente informal. ¡Abierto a todas las habilidades!
Friends of the San Juan Snow Series - Avalanche Awareness Class
Thu, Nov 05, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
When was the last time that you refreshed your avalanche skills?
Baby Time
Fri, Nov 06, 11:00am - 11:45am
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Baby Time is tailored for babies from birth-12 months together with their favorite adult!
Friday Fun - STEM
Fri, Nov 06, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
Friday afternoons are all about having fun building, playing, exploring, and creating together!
Preserving Stories - A guide to recording oral histories
Sat, Nov 07, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 2
Come learn how to use our oral history equipment available for checkout at the library!
LEGO Club
Mon, Nov 09, 2:00pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Build, create, & play!
Beer 101 - With Ska
Mon, Nov 09, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
Join us for this two-part series for ages 21+.
Register
Curiosity Club
Tue, Nov 10, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Your weekly place to have fun, be creative, and explore something new!
No Sew Tote Bags
Tue, Nov 10, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 2
Upcycle your own old t-shirts or use the ones we provide.
Holiday Closure - Library Is Closed
Wed, Nov 11, All day
Durango Public Library
Library is closed for Veterans Day.
Cancelled
Writers & Scribblers - Monthly meeting
Wed, Nov 11, 6:15pm - 7:45pm
Durango Public Library
October's Topic: Moments of Change and Connection
Toddler Time - followed by Stay & Play
Thu, Nov 12, 10:30am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Join us for stories, songs, rhymes, & other fun activities! For children 1-2 and their adult.
Teen Game Zone
Thu, Nov 12, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Enjoy gaming in the library with a variety of games!
Friends of the Library Book Sale
Fri, Nov 13, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Durango Public Library
Stop by to stock up on some great reads!
Baby Time
Fri, Nov 13, 11:00am - 11:45am
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Baby Time is tailored for babies from birth-12 months together with their favorite adult!
Friday Fun - Art
Fri, Nov 13, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Youth Activity Room
Friday afternoons are all about having fun building, playing, exploring, and creating together!
See all events