Winter has arrived this week, and with it so many changes. For the past six days, our temperatures have stayed below freezing. We’ve had some blowing snow, although not enough to cover the grass. But the cold weather is now allowing Mother Nature to ice over our lakes and ponds. Many of the Canada geese are flying high in the sky, heading south to warmer climes. Whereas before we heard their calls in the early morning and before sunset, now they are continuous throughout the day as they journey away in large flocks before the winter becomes harder and colder. What waterfowl remain, find it slippery going on the once-liquid lakes. Soon the transition to winter will be complete and we will revel in her white and shimmering beauty.
Como Park
From fair time to fall time
The surest sign of fall is the end of the Minnesota State Fair. With perfect temps and blue skies, the fair set a new attendance record this year. Living just a few blocks away from the fairgrounds has its good and bad — lots of car traffic, people everywhere, the sounds of the shows at the Grandstand, and the fireworks every night. Now the neighborhood returns to its usual routine, and we slide into fall. Already there are spots of color in some of the trees. The temperatures slide a little bit cooler in the evenings, and the sun has lost its intensity. The Canada geese are flying again, cruising over our rooftop as they commute between the agricultural fields at the university and Como Lake. The summer flowers are fading and the fall mums are evident in gardens and on entry steps. This morning the children were standing at bus stops waiting for their first day back at school. All the familiarities that tell us the seasons have changed.
McNeely Conservatory summer flower garden
One of my favorite places to go, whether to photograph or to soothe my soul is the McNeely Conservatory in Como Park. The Sunken Garden flower shows are a feast of color to the eyes and a treat to my sense of smell. Right now the summer flowers are on exhibit in the garden. I was fortunate to be there one night this past week when there were only a few fellow photographers. It was peaceful, calm, and very quiet except for the water flowing at the base of the sculpture. This bronze piece is titled “Play Days” and was created by Harriet Frishmuth in the early 1900’s. On this night the young woman was surrounded by a beautiful reflection of the evening sky and the blooming flowers of summer.
Double rainbow at Como Park
Spring is an unsettled time of year in the upper Midwest. Our weather comes from all four directions, oftentimes colliding over Minnesota. Last week we had a beautifully sunny and warm day. Until about 5:00pm, when the clouds rolled in, the winds picked up, and it started to rain. I headed to my office to get some work done, not realizing that the front was moving through quickly and it would be followed by clearing. About 7:30 the clouds parted from the western horizon, creating a beautiful low directional golden light. With the rain still to the east a vivid double rainbow emerged. I grabbed my camera and hurried to nearby Como Park and the McNeely Conservatory. Luckily I arrived before the rainbow disappeared, thanking the weather and photo gods for presenting such a stunning and vibrant display.
Looking for spring
Winter still has its hold on us here in Minnesota. We vacillate from cool to cold, cool to warm, and all the variations in-between. We have snow, it thaws, it freezes, then thaws again, leaving us in the middle of “mud season” (as a good friend of mine calls it). So when I get tired of winter and need a jolt of spring I go to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in Como Park. The current Sunken Garden display is filled with cineraria, primrose, azalea, cyclamen, foxglove and lilies. It’s a welcome visual and aromatic jolt to the winter-weary senses, and gives us the reassurance that spring can’t be too far away… maybe only another flip of the calendar page, from March to April???
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