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 
As usual your photography is superb. More things I am reminded that I miss – columbines and red wing blackbirds.
Thank you, Marilyn.
Beautiful photos 🙂 I love to just get outside in the fresh air and sunshine – sometimes with the sand between my toes and waves lapping at my ankles too. Happy Day – Enjoy!
I would love to feel sand between my toes and lapping waves, something I’ve only experienced once at an ocean.
Continue to enjoy nature!
The Nerstrand woods is always a delight…but the best thing of all is biking the Cannon Valley Trail.
Thanks for those recommendations, Greg.
The Faribault Bike Trail is a delight too. I need to get up there when it stops threatening to thunderstorm.
We do have a great trail system throughout Faribault. Have you biked the Sakatah Trail from Faribault to Mankato?
Oh, beautiful place! I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite place because there are so many in Minnesota and beyond that are amazing in the month of May. I can walk to some of them – Reservoir Woods right here in Roseville offers the illusion of being far away while right in the midst of the Twin Cities, as does the Harriet Alexander Nature Center and the arboretum right across Dale Street (you must have checked these out at some point with a daughter living in Roseville!). So does the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge right next to the MSP airport. Can’t walk to that one, but it is glorious in spite of the fact that airplanes are taking off nearby. I love going to the state parks, too – William O’Brien is not that far away and they have easy walking trails that go through woods and prairie and wetlands and I love walking there. Now you’ve got me thinking about my next hike.
I haven’t explored any of the nature places in Roseville yet. But sometime soon. We drive by probably some of these places on our way to our daughter’s home.
Thanks for all of the great recommendations.
Great Pictures, what a good way to spend an afternoon. We have a nature preserve here with many trails and birds that I take the grandkids to, they love it……….
So happy you take the grandkids to your local nature preserve. They’ll have some great memories of time there with you.
I just love reading your post and looking at your pictures. Such beautiful pictures. Great way to spend a day. Have a blessed day!
Thank you. A most blessed day to you also.
Beautiful pictures. I love that tree in bloom especially since I can’t smell it
Thank you. Ha, ha on the blooming tree image. You made me laugh with your comment.