Like the flip of a switch, spring blew into the Twin Cities this past week. Last Monday, May 1st, brought us snow flurries in abundance – it looked and felt more like November than May. But as the week wore on, the temperatures rebounded, the sun appeared, and the leaves started opening. The tulips and daffodils became riots of color, the crabapple trees were awash in pinks and whites, and the once-barren, brown grass became green again. This weekend found people outside – gardening, walking, running, biking, having parties on their patios and decks – anything to soak up the warmth and the return of spring.
Minnesota
The value of serendipity
I was headed somewhere else, took a detour on a gravel road, came to a high point and my eye caught a tall white steeple looming over the farmlands. A u-turn put me in the right direction, and as I pulled into the churchyard another car was pulling in behind me. Ken had just arrived to clean the oldest of the churches, and he graciously told me the history of the site near Nerstrand, Minnesota. The Norwegian community built the original limestone church in 1862, and the white wooden frame church was finished in 1894. Complete with a beautiful pipe organ, it is a simple, sun-drenched sanctuary. The church was decommissioned in 1973, but the Valley Grove Preservation Society has worked tirelessly to restore both churches and acquire many of the acres of land surrounding the site for prairie and oak savanna restoration. The haze of the sky in the photo was from the prairie that was being burned just to the west of the white church. I was delighted to have happened upon this site at the same time that Ken arrived, otherwise I would have missed the inside view and the stories he shared of the history and the efforts by the Preservation Society. I was even able to ring the old church bell and hear it resonate from its old tower. I am looking forward to sharing in the community’s country social in September, and hopefully attending their Christmas Eve service. It was my lucky day for having taken that winding road off my original path to follow the white steeple.
A softer side to the season
Spring generally announces its arrival with the bright colors of tulips, crocus, and daffodils, and the greening of grass and trees leafing out. And yet I’ve found a much softer and more delicate side to the season just out my front window. We have a lovely magnolia tree that bursts forth into blossoms near the middle of April. It’s bloom is much anticipated. And unfortunately its bloom is also short-lived, with the flower petals giving way to the wind or rain, and quickly to the green leaves that burst forth afterward. But as it becomes awash in white flowers it becomes magnificent. The petals are thin and delicate with a soft tinge of pink. To me it signals the whisper and call of a softer side to spring.
Spring and Easter
Spring and Easter – all at the same time. Bright colors, light colors, the colors of spring. This flowering crabapple bonsai seemed to sum up the season and the day. Wishing you the bright colors and warmth and joy of spring and Easter!
Pasque flowers on the prairie
Yesterday I drove south from the Twin Cities with a photographer friend in search of pasque flowers. The weather was unusually warm, the sunshine was bright, and it was good to catch up with my friend. We arrived at this gravel prairie area and were at first disappointed thinking the flowers were not in bloom yet. But as we looked more closely we could see peeks of flowers amidst the dry prairie grasses. The pasque flowers are only three to four inches tall, so they can easily hide. They start out as little fuzz balls (of which we saw many) and gradually open their petals to the warmth of the sun. Although there will be a larger and showier display with more flowers blooming in the days ahead, it was a delightful evening and a reminder of all the good things that come with spring.
lindastaatsphoto.com 