The sun sets on the prairie at River Bend Nature Center in Faribault on Sunday evening.
SUNDAY BROUGHT as perfect of a day as we have here in Minnesota. Sunshine. High temps without the humidity. No wind. A day to linger outdoors until the sunlight fades into the dark calm of a perfect summer evening.
Honestly, do days get any better than this?
In Minnesota, we gather these days into our memories, filing them away for the brutal months of winter, of bitter cold temps, snow (dare I mention that word?) and too much darkness.
For now we choose to celebrate the days of summer with family and friends, backyard barbecues and icy beer, laughter and conversation.
Here’s to the arrival of summer and the banishment of winter to some hinterland far, far, far away from Minnesota.
A deer I spotted just inside the nature center. (If only I had a telephoto lens.)
I saw this deer atop a hill at the nature center as my husband and I were leaving after a short hike. Same deer?
© Copyright 2011 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
It looks so lovely and lush. I can’t wait to be in Minnesota in July. Just in time for the mosquitos to carry me away.
I hate to tell you this, but with all of the rain we’ve had, the mosquitoes can likely pick up your plane and fly you back to Montana. At least that will save on fuel and maybe you’ll even get a trip.
Gorgeous pictures, thanks so much for sharing such beauty!