We just recently returned from the Biking across Kansas ride where we traversed from the Colorado border, across the wide state of Kansas, to the eastern border with Missouri. As the state has had plenty of rain this spring, the landscape was lush and green. Although I was focused on bicycling (as opposed to photographing), what jumped out to me were the beautiful wildflowers that were dotting the fields and roadsides. The coneflowers, butterfly milkweed, daisies, spider-wort — all were bursting into bloom. Last year at this time I spent over two weeks in Iowa and was fortunate to document the daily changes in a prairie area. That experience gave me a new appreciation for the wildflowers that grace our landscapes with their burst of color and beauty. So our mode of travel across the state of Kansas by bicycle gave us front-row seats to this amazing display of blooms.
flowers
Biking across Kansas 2009
553 miles, 8 days, heat, cold, sun, rain, wind — we had it all on the Biking Across Kansas ride that just finished last Saturday. It was a great experience, and an adventure of the best kind. 800+ riders travelled from the Colorado border across southern Kansas to the Missouri border. We stayed in small towns that rolled out the red carpet for this mass of hungry cyclists. The wheat in western Kansas was golden and beautiful, and the Flint Hills of central Kansas were lush and green. Wildflowers were in bloom throughout the state, benefiting from the abundance of rain in the past few months. And I can attest to the fact that Kansas in NOT flat; the rolling hills of the east side of the state gave us our toughest workout. This was a perfect way to see and experience my home state. Bicycling puts you directly into the landscape, and you meet the locals face-to-face. Everyone (and I do mean everyone) was friendly, giving me a real taste of mid-western hospitality. This was the 35th year for the BAK ride (www.bak.org), and I tip my helmet to the BAK committee. The ride was wonderfully organized, the food was fabulous, and the entire experience was a great adventure!
Purple trillium in bloom
In the heart of Minneapolis is a hidden garden gem — the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden. With fifteen acres of woodland, wetland, and prairie, it is the oldest public wildflower garden in the nation. The garden was established in 1907 by botanist Eloise Butler and the Minneapolis Parks Board. We spent a delightful early Saturday morning at the garden. These purple trilliums were blooming profusely, along with marsh marigolds, hepatica, anemones, two-leaved toothwart, and trout lilies.
Spring blooms
I found the first bloom of spring in my backyard yesterday. Those of you in the upper Midwest know this has been a long and drawn out winter. But we had a delightfully warm & sunny day yesterday, allowing me to clear the marsh grass from the garden beds and do some general cleanup. It was a delight to find the tulip bulbs had emerged about an inch and half above the soil. That was reason to celebrate. But when I uncovered these beautiful little squill blooms I was delighted — our first glimpse of color since last fall. These are tiny flowers, only about two inches tall, so I didn’t see them at first. But for being so small they are certainly mighty; surviving the summer and bringing springtime joy and the promise of warmth and a renewed growing season!
Bougainvillea red & white
My exhibit of photographs titled “Paths and Portals” ends today at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Thanks to all the people who came to the receptions (the opening and the closing) and to those who left comments for me at the Center. This image “Bougainvillea red and white” was one of the more popular photographs. Perhaps the colors speak of warmth and summer, while we’re still battling winter’s grip here in Minnesota. This scene is from Tucson, Arizona and caught my eye with its contrasting colors as well as the details that were so artistically painted over the door.
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