Springtime in Winona

 

Flowering Tree near the east lake in Winona.

Redbud trees and crabapple trees create lots of color.  The crabapples are also very fragrant.

May 8, Bluffs surround Winona

May 15, Green bluffs surround Winona. A very dramatic change in the landscape!

Midland shooting stars in bloom

Ferns are coming up out of the rich leafy ground cover.

See the dark green at the center of the picture above.  That's some of the fern leaves getting ready to unfold open.  The leaves appear to be creating a circular hug around one another.

The fresh evergreen growth at the tips of the branches are fresh with new life.

The delicate pink of the Midland Shooting Star from another angle.  The colors are so beautiful together.

Ferns and violets growing together.

The invitation to hike the Holzinger Lodge Trails.  Join us sometime!

Spring in Minnesota

 

May 1st, the tulips that I bought at the last Indoor Farmer's Market were coming to their last days.  And incredibly beautiful on the inside.

Around my house, the tulips were not blooming yet.  The hyacinth were coming:

It was still quite cold--not much color on the branches of the trees yet.

I'm still wearing a wool sweater.  Happy for sun! Squinty eyes

Scilla, the little blue flowers symbolize loyalty, fidelity and constancy.  The work on the land, in our relationships, in our homes.

 

Got my bike out for the first rides of the season; early May is still very brown.

May 8th, warmer for a hike up to the Ice Park and found a little bloodroot.  It's about 3" tall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The hike up to Sugarloaf had a bit of color with the yellow bellworts, an early spring native flower. 

Fringe tulips from my friends at Windy Ridge selling at the first outdoor Farmer's Market.

The fringe tulips inner beauty.

The cherry blossoms in all their splendor on the east end of the big lake.

 

Setting sun.  These beautiful days. Breathe in their beauty.  With the heat spike of last week, many early flowers had one day.  Breathe it in.  More next week!

River Hike

 Oh, Spring is here and it's time to get outside!

Walking from downtown Winona, one can walk across the bridge--good path for walkers or bikers. And travel to Prairie Island beach. Walking across the wagon bridge is fun.  You may see a pigeon!

My friend, Dawn and I were hiking there this past weekend because the trails on the bluffs were too muddy and off limits this weekend.

We were snapping pictures and a friendly bicycler took pictures of us!

MaryLee & Dawn and the tip of a bike wheel!

We got warmed up out of the wind and in the sun!

The path was quite dry. The shadows created interesting lines.

See the small black dots in the tops of the trees?  Red-wing blackbirds singing in the Spring!

 

Some interesting shapes in these downed trees and the Wagon Bridge in the distance.

Do you see the tiny bit of green in the center of the leaf floor?  

It's coming.  

Waking up!