THESE ARE GLORIOUS DAYS in Minnesota. This May. This month when the landscape morphs from greys and browns into the vibrant greens of spring.
Leaves unfurl a canopy of green.
Lawns grow lush and sprout crops of dandelions.
Tulips pop bold colors like exclamation marks in flowerbeds.
Coiled fiddleheads unwind into feathery ferns dancing in cool spring breezes.
Bleeding hearts awaken, pushing new growth from stems dangling dozens of pink hearts. Hearts of love and hope and the beating of spring. All of this I see as if for the first time, although 60 springs have passed since I was born a Minnesotan.
In the countryside, I watch a blue green Ford pick-up truck tool along an Interstate frontage road between strips of greening road ditches.
I observe, too, farmers working the land. Soon shoots of green will emerge from black soil as corn and soybean seeds erupt in new growth.
This is the season of newness in Minnesota, when anything seems possible. And perhaps it is.
TELL ME: How do you view and react to spring, wherever you may live?
Ā© Copyright 2017 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Beautiful photos š I love and enjoy the newness of Spring – buds, baby animals, greenery, etc. Happy Day – Enjoy!
I was outside yesterday playing in the dirt, I mean pulling Creeping Charlie from a flowerbed.
Nothing better than some fun time weed picking. Our yard is a hot mess – put in a sprinkler system and then a drought occurred, so basically growing weeds and sand. No sense laying some sod and plants when it is so very dry here – may need to reassess how to landscape the yard – we came from the desert so know that landscaping style pretty well.
At least you are experienced enough to realize that putting in sod and plants wouldn’t be too smart right now. š
Wonderful photos so Spring- I especially liked the one with the green truck. Here in northern Ohio- one day it’s snowy and then we’re mowing the grass three times a week! Right now I am at our place near Lake Erie- spring means launching the boats! Happy Spring to you!
Ah, Lake Erie, saw that last spring about this time en route to Massachusetts.
Weather can change on a dime here in Minnesota, too. I remember one Memorial Day weekend when snow fell. And a few years ago, we had a major snowstorm in the first days of May.
Beautiful photos of the flowers…especially the red tulip!
Thank you, Valerie.
Last Sunday we took a drive north of our home and saw dozens of farmers on tractors working the fields; they are getting ready to plant rice. Some were already cutting early grain and baling straw. For a mid-westerner like me it is hard to realize what season we are having in northern California. I’d say summer is here. But no matter where I live spring green is the color I look forward to.
I expect it would be difficult to detect the changing of the seasons in a place where the distinction is not as significant as in the Midwest.
The photo’s are beautiful Audrey, Spring has certainly made it’s way to southern MN. Many of the fields were planted up north…lots of farmers in the fields š
Thank you, Jackie. Thanks for the Up North farm report.
Lovely spring photos! I’ll try to plant Bleeding Hearts this year, I’ll plant in the pot first then transplant into the garden. I don’t know if it’s too late in southern CA!
I don’t know the best time to plant Bleeding Hearts. They bloom for only a short time in the spring here in Minnesota.
Yes, weather and soil affect the plants very much!
Spring arrived early this year here in Oklahoma… and I LOVE it! All of nature’s finery shows up in color and sweet perfume. The fresh smell of rain and the breeze causing all sorts of dancing. Who couldn’t love it?
I can smell that rain, feel that breeze. Happy Spring, Lori!
Same back at ya, Audrey! Summer’s heat will be here before you know it!! š
Shhh…I don’t want to hear those words heat and humidity quite yet, not to mention mosquitoes.
Beautiful photos! The best part is that they don’t smell
Good point from someone with allergies.
Your photos are beautiful! I especially love the ferns and the bleeding hearts (two of my favorites in my part of the world as well).
Thank you. Where’s your part of the world?
Eastern Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. I’ve got some deep roots in Northern Wisconsin, too.
Well, welcome from the East Coast. My son lives in Somerville, landing a job in computer science after graduating last spring from Tufts University. We did a road trip for his graduation about a year ago. Type Tufts and/or Massachusetts into my blog search engine to read stories from your area.
Will do! That’s quite funny. We lived in Somerville for six years, and I spent three of those in the Teele Square neighborhood just outside of Tufts. What a small world!
Small world, indeed.