Stephen Johnson talks about his education and background as a horticulturalist, and opening Johnson’s House of Flowers in Montrose, Colorado in 1919. He speaks about moving to Grand Junction, where he opened a florist business of the same name in 1937. He describes his love of practical jokes, shopping with his sons for school clothes on Main Street, and the different businesses there. He talks about his son Bob Johnson, his friendship with Al Look Jr. and Bill Ela, how they trapped two monkeys who had gotten away from their owners, and came to care for the monkeys. He and interview Al Look describe the Lincoln Park Zoo. He recalls a “pet” elk named Solomon in Ouray and a crocodile or alligator that was kept at the Ouray Hot Springs. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
