As our world around us starts to turn green, many find comfort in watching new sprouts appear, trees and shrubs leaf out — and with even better luck, bloom — it smells good after a rain and somehow the world becomes more manageable ... May all of our readers share that sense of hope as we enter yet another week of limited activity ... Or going for a walk or bike ride, perhaps ... Watch for migrating birds as you stroll in the neighborhood — or explore your yard or perhaps one of the many local trails that are open — or visit Littleton’s Hudson Gardens, which is open for walkers, although the office is not. In any case, admission is free. Colorado State Parks (cpw.state.co.us) include several locations within a short drive — and we read recently that some gates are manned to collect admission fee. See website for open hours. South Suburban’s parks are yes and no — playgrounds are closed — check for information on trails ... Virtual visits to Denver Botanic Gardens are available online: botanicgardens.org, but the properties at York Street and Chatfield are closed. See online info for eye candy! Explore ... (I realize this isn’t a treat for all, but there’s beauty out there ...

Museums online

Virtual tours of museums near and far are available online and one can get lost for a bit with a visit to Denver Art Museum, the Kirkland, the British Museum in London, the Prada in Madrid, the Louvre in Paris, the Smithsonian in D.C., the Metropolitan or MOMA in New York — or where you imagination might lead you ... Those tours could be tailored to a child’s interests, as well. Explore ...

Concerts canceled

Sad news: Hudson Gardens has canceled its entire summer concert season, right about when tickets would ordinarily go on sale. Still waiting to hear about other series nearby and will report ...

Mask challenge

Colorado Creative Industries has launched a Colorado Face Mask Design Challenge design contest for kids. All Colorado schoolchildren are invited to create a design representing the masks they want to see in their schools or neighborhoods. Guidelines and entry submission forms at: coloradocreativeindustries.org/masks. This state office, CCI, has also created and donated to a Colorado Artist Relief Fund to aid the many artists who are without places to exhibit, sell or perform. redlineart.submittable.com. Arts and culture makes up 4.5 % of the state’s GDP, according to Margaret Hunt, CCI director. (We hope readers will find a way to support your favorite arts group — many are hurting badly.)

Virtual concerts stream

The Colorado Symphony has released a recording of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 and every Friday at 6 p.m., we are told that viewers can go to ColoradoSymphony.org to tune in a performance made with separate shots of each musician — with the sound all pieced together. CSO Conductor Brett Mitchell is quoted in a release: “If anyone understood the struggles of self-distancing and isolation — something we’ve all learned a little more about in the past few weeks — it was Beethoven. When he was barely 30 years old, he wrote a heartbreaking letter to his brothers saying that because of his ever-worsening hearing loss `I was compelled early to isolate myself, to live in loneliness ...’”

Virtual rec center

Englewood’s Virtual Recreation Center is open for fitness and health, fun and games, cultural excursions, family-friendly outdoor activities, educational resources, social connectivity. It hosted an “Eggstraordinary Virtual Eggstravaganza Eggsperience” that attracted over 550 Facebook Friends to search for eggs in virtual parks! www.englewoodco.gov/parks-recreation-library/recreation/virtual-recreation-center

Exhibit rescheduled

We had reported earlier on the Governor’s Art Show, scheduled for the Loveland Museum this spring, including some local artists. It is rescheduled for Sept. 26 through Nov. 1 as we write this week.

Art festival off for 2020

The annual Denver Art Festival, normally is held on Memorial Day Weekend, is canceled. Paul Suter writes that the Affordable Art Festival is still scheduled at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton on Aug. 30 ...

Food and more ...

The City of Littleton has compiled an extensive list of restaurants and businesses that are available for curbside pick-up and in some cases, delivery. It ranges from Adelita’s to View House and several pages in between, with hours and offers. We hope you can support our local businesses.

Southeast suburbs

Parker has canceled almost 100 shows and is working to reschedule others, as has Lone Tree. Stay tuned ...