Afton State Park

Scenes from Afton State Park and the St. Croix River.

Geometric figures

Looking up from the bottom of a large electrical tower presented an abstract view of many geometric patterns, including lots of triangles.

Wood duck on house

Over the years I've seen all kinds of birds, both big and small, perch on this wood duck house.  Finally I saw a wood duck!

Heron reflection

Dolan Springs Nursery

I had to chuckle and stop to take a picture of the sign above the entrance to the Dolan Springs Nursery in Maplewood, MN.  They use a lot of big trucks to dig and transport trees, and so they relayed this in their sign over the driveway.

Springbrook Nature Center

Grasses backlit with afternoon sun

Muskrat

Yesterday we went for a walk around Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley, MN.  While walking through the woods there was very little underbrush.  It seems they've had a massive effort to rid the park of buckthorn.
Good luck to them!

Silver Aspen

Bald Eagle Visitor

An American Bald Eagle decided to perch on a cottonwood tree overlooking the pond at Bassett Creek Park yesterday.  It seemed to be eagle eying the many ducks and geese swimming in the pond.

Fall Egret Reflection

This is a reflection of a Great Egret in the pond at Bassett Creek Park.  I flipped it upside down so that it appears right side up.

Basking together in the sun

These two were basking together in the afternoon sun at Bassett Creek Park.

Heron wading in the leaves

This Great Blue Heron was wading in the water, which was blanketed with autumn leaves yesterday morning.

A trip to Fort Snelling State Park

River bridge

A view of downtown Minneapolis

Jonathan Padelford Riverboat

Getting off the beaten path

While on a road trip in southern Minnesota we decided to take the back roads, instead of the freeway.  It wasn't long before we were on a gravel road and discovered some tents and tepees that looked interesting, so we pulled over to explore.  Turns out it was a rendezvous; people spending the weekend camping like others might have lived in the late 1700's or early 1800's in this country.  They were practicing archery, fire starting, mussel loading, and hatchet throwing. We would have never happened upon this interesting encounter with these delightful people had we not gotten of the expressway, and took a slower route through the country.

Fall Fliers

This is a panned shot of a few Canada Geese in Flight over the pond at Bassett Creek Park.

Impressionism at the park

I think the reflective fall colors in the pond at Bassett Creek Park provide an impressionistic appearance.

Season's Greetings

I happened to catch a shot of this maple tree by the pond just as a gull was passing by.  It reminded me of a variation on a Christmas tree, with a maple instead of a pine and a gull filling in for a dove or angel. This also serves as a symbol of transition; from fall to winter; and life to death. It is dedicated to my Godfather, George Austin, who is now in hospice care.

Still in training

It seems this group of Canada Geese is still in training. They are practicing their navigational skills while preparing for a landing.  Later in the fall they'll be in a V formation, that will help to take them fly efficiently during their migration south.

Canada Goose

There is a good reason that the Canada Goose is also called a "Honker".  They communicate regularly with others around them, even upon takeoff.

Fall frost and maple

An early morning frost and fall colors make for an enchanting morning at the park.

Two way street

A couple of mallards and a heron passing by each other in the pond.

Floating fall leaf

The creative colors and natural designs of a maple leaf, floating on the water.

Heron putting on a show

This Great Blue Heron put on quite a feathery show for the Hooded Merganser and Canada Goose... who seemed to be quite disinterested.

Solar eclipse

Pictures from this morning's solar eclipse.

Northern Shovelers

 It has been fun watching the Northern Shovelers swimming in the pond at Bassett Creek Park.  It seems about half of the time they have their heads underwater, filtering out food from the pond.

Fall flying by

Fall is rapidly flying by, as are these Canada Geese, by this maple tree at Bassett Creek Park.

Banning State Park

Wolf Creek Falls

Kettle River

Remains of Rock Crushing Facility

Over the weekend we went to visit Banning State Park, located along the Kettle River in northern Minnesota.  The fall colors were still beautiful.  The park has a series of walking trails, which become nordic ski trails during the winter months.

Incoming

Canada goose taking to flight at Bassett Creek Park.

Fall Maple Leaf

Isn't it impressive how many different colors are represented in this one maple leaf?

Swamp Milkweed

Seems to me Swamp Milkweed looks much more elegant than its name might suggest.

Mallard

On a brisk afternoon this mallard seemed to want to do what it could to stay warm on the shore.

Geese in flight

After staying on the pond over night the Canada Geese depart for grazing during the day.  Pictured is a couple of geese making their morning departure.