Lilac and Hawthorn

Yesterday's rain and wind have bent the old-fashioned lilacs, but they perfume the air. The wild hawthorn looks spectacular this year. The apples bore heavily last year and the winter and late frosts have stressed them, so I didn't seen any blossoms this year. Yet the bees are feasting on the hawthorn's flowers. Wild strawberries grow robustly (along with a few weeds, in the foreground of this photo).

Petroglyphs

Yesterday we took a day trip to near Comfrey, Minnesota, to view the petroglyphs. Currently the Minnesota Historical Society site is named Jeffers Petroglyphs, though there is some discussion about changing the name to better reflect the people who created it thousands of years ago. This image is of a Thunderbird. I learned about the history of the sacred site, and I'm impressed by the management of the prairie. 

On May 29, I took a walk in the woods. The yellow violets are blooming, and I found a patch of wild strawberries, unusual in the dense woods, in one small sunny spot. The mosquitoes are hatching as I swatted one (just one!) while taking photos. I'm thankful for their delayed arrival this year.

Spring has sprung!

After the awfulness (and awe-fullness) of the late snow, spring flowers are blooming, and the spring frogs are singing.  (I've been experimenting with using the cell phone for photos...so far I like my Canon G12 better, but the phone is easier.)

Snow in May

Yes, snow in May! I had to drive slowly through the sloppy mess last night. The lines were covered with snow on our county road, though a little further south and west was a mix of rain and snow. The snow's still melting at 11 am here (photos from 7 am). The weather is never boring in Minnesota!

First Flowers

I'm a few days late for posting (technology! migraine! work!), but welcome to Siberian squill blooming in my yard.  I'm impressed that these flowers bloom a couple of weeks after everything was covered in an icy, snowy blanket. Also, I've planted some grass seed, which is slowing sprouting...and providing extra food for the birds. 

Blizzard!

The trees weave like drunken sports fans. The wind blows the snow sideways. Is it snow? It's also rain, sleet, hail, and tiny pellets of icy precipitation. The thunder rumbles. No travel is advised. Ah yes, April in Minnesota. I remember fondly the warm temps (81F one day!) and blooming trees and tulips from last weekend's visit to St. Louis. 

Frustrating yet beautiful

This brutal Minnesota winter has tried the very best of us with its record-breaking cold and snow. I fear it has affected both my physical and mental health because I haven't been able to get my soul-refreshing outdoor walks due to the cold and ice. Yet even as we're clearing out the nine inches of snow from last night, I'm reminded how lung-achingly magnificent it is.