10 Reasons To Move To Loveland CO

I get the same response about every time I'm asked where I'm from.  Loveland, Colorado. "Oh, I'd love to live in Colorado".  So why is there such a draw to this area?  Why should you move to Loveland CO?

1. The Rocky Mountains

With views as beautiful as the Rocky Mountains, who wouldn't want to live here.  Every season is as gorgeous as the last one.  From snow-capped mountains to springtime wildflowers, the Colorado Rockies are a breathtaking sight.  The majestic pink skies and cotton candy clouds are a magnificent image. Amazing as it seems, there is a view for anyone who opens their eyes.

2. The Sweetheart City

Since we are known for Love, why not send your sweetheart a Valentine from our city?  Every February you can have your Valentine sent to the Chamber of Commerce, stamped with the official Valentine stamp for the year, and remailed to your sweetheart.  What better way to share your love than with a special Valentine!

3. Big Thompson River & Area Lakes

The Big Thompson River provides excellent fishing opportunities.  If you are a novice fisherman or a beginner, you can catch trout, walleye, bass, or other fish from this river.  Loveland also is the backdrop for a lot of lakes.  In fact, Lake Loveland, Boyd Lake, and Carter Lake are just a few lakes that have public access.  If fishing isn't your forte, paddleboarding, boating, jet skiing, and swimming are other options.  Carter Lake is also home to sailboating enthusiasts. There are a lot more lakes but many are private lakes.  

4. The Public Arts Program

Loveland, CO has 475 pieces of art in its public arts collection.  The arts collection consists primarily of sculptures; however, the collection also includes murals and other flatwork.  Over 150 pieces of the city's sculptures can be found in Loveland's Benson Sculpture Garden.  This "public treasure" draws tens of thousands of visits each year.

5. Hiking/Biking

Loveland is host to 26 miles of bike and hiking trails.   The Recreation Trail System consists of paved trail nearly encircling Loveland and connecting to other regional trails, including Long View Trail and Colorado Front Range Trail.  Take a ride and enjoy the view!!

6. Microbrews

Loveland on tap consists of various brews from Sours to IPA's to Porters and Stouts.  Strawberry beer, chocolate beer, lemon etc.  Different tastes for different folks with 388 breweries in the state of Colorado and 50 new pending licenses as of January 2019.  Entertainment, greenhouses, warehouses, and eclectic decor enhance the experience of the local brews.   A new delicious brew to try each day of the week.  

Living in Loveland is home to all of the above but it's also home to (7.) wonderful schools, (8.)robust higher education opportunities, (9.)a variety of restaurants, and (10.)community events on a regular basis.  

If you are interested in moving to Loveland or Northern Colorado, contact me, Margaret Herdt, Turn Key Realty for all of your real estate needs.

5 Fragrant Plants for Your Home

Do you want your guests to smell wonderful fragrant plants as they walk up the steps to your home? Since spring has arrived, we turn our attention to the great outdoors and gardening.  Fragrant plants are a must for your senses.  Try planting these five fragrant plants to give wonderful aroma and appeal to your home.

1.  Honeysuckle

This vining plant comes in several different colors.  Yellow, white, and pink are the most common colors. The unusual flower has a very strong sweet aroma to it.  These plants grow rapidly along trellises, fences, and anywhere that has adequate support.  These grow well in Northern Colorado but don't like bitter cold.

2.  Hyacinths

Hyacinths are a bulb that blooms in the spring.  Each bulb produces one to three spikes of flowers.  These can be grown in pots near your front door or they are also attractive as a border plant.

They have a heady perfumed scent that is intoxicating.  They usually planted in the fall and come in a variety of colors.  

3.  Roses

Roses come in over 200 species.  They are known as the Sweetheart flower.  They come in multiple colors, some variegated, some shades are even as dark as night.  

Roses can be used in a multitude of ways because they come as bushes, stemmed roses, climbing roses, miniature roses, platter size (showy) roses,  or trailing roses.  They even vary in size and shape.

A few of the most fragrant varieties are: Honey Perfume, Double Delight, and Climbing Rose America.

4.  Lilac Bush

The lilac bush has long been known for it's sweet intense fragrance.  It's easily grown in Northern Colorado and blooms right around graduation time in the spring.  

The lilac bush is a plant that gets quite large and can be grown as hedge.  They can be pruned to stay smaller for under a front window.  The fragrance is unmistakable and quite lovely.  

Flowers are white or different shades of purple and attract butterflies. 

5.  Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley is a partial shade loving plant and is easy to grow.  It is a perennial and spreads quite quickly. 

Although this flower is fragrant, it is poisonous. It has a very sweet bouquet to it and is used in perfumes and wedding bouquets. 

The bell shaped flowers and large waxy leaves make it a striking plant in flower beds.  

Most of these flowers, shrubs, or bushes can be found at local Nurseries such as Loveland Garden Center and Nursery, Gulley Greenhouse and Garden Center, or Donath Lake Greenhouse.