THIS PAST WEEKEND took me from the quiet of a nature center to the heart of a city to the neighborhood of a suburb. And, in each place, family surrounded me. It was a good weekend. There is nothing better than to be in the presence of those you love and those who love you. And the bonus was weather so perfect that I wished I could clasp the sunshine and warmth and blue skies to release many months from now in the deep of a Minnesota winter.
In today’s post, I take you to River Bend Nature Center in Faribault, one of my favorite local places to flee the busyness and noise of life. On this Saturday afternoon, I meandered the trails with my husband, second daughter and her husband, visiting from far eastern Wisconsin.
Wild columbines.
This was no purposeful hike to burn off calories, but rather a pausing to appreciate woods-born wildflowers,
mushrooms snugged into trees,
red-winged blackbirds trilling at the pond,
pastel pink petals dancing in the wind,
a goose gliding into pond rushes,
Along a trail we met a soon-to-be Faribault High School graduate and a photographer shooting senior portraits.
and, for Miranda, the memories of elementary school field trips here.
This fort I spied in the woods reminded me of the forts I built as a child in the grove on our family farm.
This blossom covered tree flowers next to River Bend’s interpretative center.
The gnarled branches of this tree drew my eye and interest to compose this image.
The slow pace of our hour at the nature center matched our desire to enjoy every single facet of a glorious mid May day defined by blue skies, sun beating 80-some degrees and a landscape lush with the greenery of spring.
TELL ME: What’s your favorite outdoor nature space to visit/explore in May?
© Copyright 2017 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
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