An early August bounty at Norris Hot Springs
Are you kicking yourself because you didn’t put in a garden this year? Did you miss the last farmer’s market and don’t have anything natural and green to feed your family? Norris Hot Springs has you covered. Their garden is yielding far beyond anything in their history, producing loads of perfectly ripe and home grown vegetables, herbs and salad greens.
The figures are coming in and it’s very impressive — in 2014, the garden produced 2108lbs of homegrown organic produce, 2040lbs in 2015, and in 2016 after a late frost, the garden put out 1777lbs. So far this year, 345lbs of produce has been harvested and served, putting things way ahead of years past.
Come to the No LoOse Saloon for a large menu of delectable offerings for lunch, supper or snacks — and a soak! What better way to top off an impossibly fresh, organic meal with locally-sourced meats and site-grown veggies and greens than with a soak in the Water of the Gods? The staff will deliver your meal poolside while you enjoy the wildlife and birds that inhabit this ancient wetland.
The health benefits are many — stress reduction, nutrition and a general sense of well-being – all available just a short drive from Bozeman. No fancy water fountains, just a historic wooden pool with room for plenty of devoted soakers (not hundreds, but they like it just like it is). Norris Hot Springs offers something no other local springs can match including the best in live acoustic music. Norris is open daily from 10am–10pm through Labor Day, every day but Tuesday.
Music erupts on the Poolside Stage every weekend evening at 7pm
The second week of August gets off to a fine start on Friday, August 11th with Aran Buzzas. Calling his music “Homegrown Montana Folky Tonk,” Aran performs songs that are easy to relate to, often amusing, and frequently with a regional backdrop.
Saturday, August 12th brings Christy Hays to the Poolside Stage. Hays’ latest EPs, O’ Montana and Caliche, reflect both the singer/songwriter’s complicated, dual nature and the sounds of the many places she’s called home. The former is a gorgeous folk and country-flavored solo collection and a natural progression from her 2012 album Drought. Despite the difference in approach and musical styles, both EPs capture Hays’ distinctive artistic voice. Her songs resonate with a vulnerable rawness that exposes her emotional baggage and scar tissue, but never veer into self-pity. There is a sense of underlying optimism in her music and resiliency in her voice. Fans of artists like Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Joe Pug, the Old 97’s, and Neil Young will find much to love in the music of Christy Hays.
Winding up the front half of the month on Sunday, August 13th is Neil Filo Beddow. He plays original folk rock for the soul, and describes his guitar style as the “West Dakota stutter.” His lyrically scrambled iambic pentameter can be politically bent, spiritually seeking, tongue in cheek humorous with just a twist of serious.
Please visit www.norrishotsprings.com for further details on soaking, dining, and camping at Norris Hot Springs. You’ll also find directions, information about their designated driver program, and more about the natural features at Norris. Located just 34 miles west of Bozeman on Route 84, Norris can also be reached at (406) 685-3303. •
