The past week has been stormy and rainy, with downpours of historic amounts. What a delight to have a return to sunshine on Friday – it seemed as though everyone got outside to enjoy the warmth of summer again. The unsettled weather has also brought some amazing clouds, and on this night there was a beautiful reflection of light and dark, pink and gray, as the sun was setting in the west. The lake at Como Park was filled with people – walking or biking the paths around the lake, taking in the sunset, or fishing. Summer is short in Minnesota so it’s important to make the most of each wonderful evening.
summer
Pivot sunset
My intention was to photograph the full moonrise, yet sometimes the best intentions don’t work out — as was the case when a layer of clouds hovered on the horizon to the east. After this change of plans, I decided to concentrate on the sunset that was about to take place to the west. We were south of the Twin Cities by 35 miles, but we were in the heart of an agricultural area. Minnesota farmers have been late getting their crops into the ground this year because of the rain, but it was good to see the corn pushing up. The pivot outlined the hillside in the distance, and the sun set to the side of the silos, glowing brilliantly before slipping past the horizon. Sometimes a change of plans creates new opportunities. (PS – On this Fathers’s Day, a thanks to my dad for nurturing my sense of adventure and optimism. Miss you, Dad!)
Morning light at Hidden Falls
I took the opportunity to venture out to one of the wonderful state parks we have in Minnesota. In the south-central part of the state is Nerstrand Big Woods Park. Along with the large trees and prairie that co-exist in this park, there is a wonderful waterfall, Hidden Falls. Prairie Creek meanders through the park and it tumbles over the layers of limestone at the falls. With the large amount of rain we’ve had recently, all our lakes are full and the falls are running with larger than normal volumes of water. And such was the case when I arrived at Hidden Falls. It was early in the morning and I was accompanied only by the birds in the woods and the sound of the rushing water. The overhead trees have come into full leaf and are green. This delicate tree branch seemed to contrast with the fury of the tumbling water behind it. The scene was complete with the early morning sunlight glistening off the falls.
Minnesota fishing opener weekend
This weekend has been the Minnesota fishing opener – a tradition of celebrating the beginning of open lakes and water, the promise of spring and summer, and the outdoor recreation of fishing. This is the weekend for the opening of walleye and Northern pike fishing – a time that finds all fisher-people out on the water. We have participated in this ritual for the past few years, heading north to some of our favorite lakes. This weekend we camped near Inguadona Lake and we were fortunate to be rewarded with a wonderful sunset. Although the day had been sunny and windy, with clouds around, the evening calmed and the sun broke through the clouds before setting. The reflection over the lake seemed fitting for the close of the day. As we later slipped into our tent, we drifted off to sleep with the sound of loons calling across the lake. All in all, a true Minnesota celebration of the fishing tradition and the North Woods and Lake Country.
Minnesota State Capitol Building at night
We recently took a special starlight tour of the Minnesota State Capitol Building, one of the most majestic and beautiful buildings in Saint Paul. Designed in the late 1890’s by Cass Gilbert and opened to the public in January, 1905, the building towers over the city. The exterior is made of white marble and granite, and the unsupported marble dome is the second largest in the world. At the center of the first floor, under the massive dome, is a brass and glass star representing the North Star State. We toured the chambers of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Supreme Court, and we climbed to the roof and the base of the capitol dome to see the golden sculpture that’s called the Quadriga. Titled “The Progress of the State” it is a chariot drawn by four horses representing the powers of nature: earth, wind, fire, and water. At night the statues, which are covered with gold leaf, glow with the warmth of the lights illuminating them. From this high vantage point we could see the Cathedral of St. Paul which is down the boulevard from the Capitol, we could see the lights of the High Bridge spanning the Mississippi River, and we could look across the western sky to the downtown skyline of Minneapolis. It was the perfect late summer night to take in the beauty of this wonderful building and its surroundings.
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