MID-SUMMER, AND THE MINNESOTA landscape is awash in color, despite the drought.
This is the season to get outdoors and explore. Walk the land. Through woods or across prairie. Around a city block or park or public garden. Along a river, upon a beach. Delight in the essence of Nature in all her summer glory.
Flowers flush color.
Patterned butterflies flit, then pause to unfurl proboscis and drink of sweet floral nectar.
Long-stemmed grasses stretch toward the July sky.
I tend to notice details, especially with camera in hand. And therein, in the part of the whole, is the beauty we often pass by in our hurried lives. I encourage you to slow your pace so as not to miss a solitary dewdrop, the texture of leaves, the deep purple of a plump wild raspberry.
Notice the veins in bright red berries, the dusky moth among thistles, the way grass heads heavy with grain bend toward the earth.
From the daintiest of white blossoms laddering a stalk to the bold gold of a prairie wildflower, there is much to see, to appreciate, to embrace in these summer days.
Fill your eyes, your heart, your spirit, your mind with Nature’s beauty. Ride on the wings of the butterflies. Sway in the wind like blades of grass. Then settle, like a single dewdrop upon a leaf. Quiet. Filled with peace. Calmed in the presence of the land.
NOTE: All photos were taken recently at River Bend Nature Center, Faribault.
© Copyright 2023 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
such beautiful pictures and inspiring words. it’s all in the details
Thank you, Beth. Yes, details, details, details…
Your keen sense of noting small details in nature is impressive. Your last paragraph of the posting is quite poetic and begs to be turned into a poem!
Sue, you are always so good about spotting potential poems. I appreciate your encouragement.
Beautiful Audrey- I concur with your sentiments. Hope your health journey is progressing on a positive trajectory.
Thank you John. I’ve emailed you (two emails) with a health update and a link to a book you need to read.
Makes me want to ESCAPE back out into Nature Again 🙂 We took last week off and even with the hot temps got outside every day and walked miles too. We checked out the Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island areas. We took I-4 aka parking lot past the Happiest Place on Earth (cue Mickey Ears) to get over there and then took the back roads through Central Florida on the way back home. Some beautiful countryside to see and amazing the housing developments going in too. Happy Day – ENJOY!
Good for you to escape into nature during your time off. No way would I visit the Happiest Place on Earth. Rides and masses of people are so not my thing. But to each his own, right? Backroads, now there’s my kind of thing.
Beautiful pictures as always.
Thank you! It felt good to be back out photographing nature.
I’m so glad you felt good enough to get outside and walk! That must have felt very satisfying.
I’m out and about as much as I can be, trying to live my life as best I can. Randy and I take a 10-minute walk every morning. After that I do one of my vestibular rehab exercises with Randy as my spotter. Therapy and meds help with managing my many symptoms. Some days are good, some not. And even within a day, how I feel can vary.
Wonderful photos!
Thank you. I enjoy this type of nature photography. Plant life and butterflies/moths vs animals.
Beautiful photos. We all need to take time to stop and smell the roses.
Yes, we do!