IS IT COLD out there?” I asked before rolling out of bed on a recent subzero morning.
“No, it’s summertime,” he answered.
That sarcastic response from my husband acted as a writing prompt during this week of cold weather advisories and warnings in Minnesota. We’ve experienced wind chills ranging from -25 to -50 degrees across the state. That’s brutally cold.
On the morning I asked Randy about the cold, the 7:17 a.m. air temp registered -12 degrees. With the wind chill, it felt like -29 degrees. That marked the coldest day in six years. I know we are not alone here in Minnesota as frigid air and snow sweep the country, including into the deep South.
Because I can’t flee to a warmer location, I opted to transport myself from the currently cold, colorless landscape of southern Minnesota to a place of beauty. Without leaving the area. For me, that comes in photos I’ve taken of floral-themed murals blooming throughout the area. In the deep of winter, these paintings hold the hope of warmer days, of sunshine and flowers.
I love when communities embrace this form of public art, because murals are accessible to anyone, anytime. They spark joy, generate interest in place, show community pride. I get excited when I unexpectedly happen upon a mural.
Floral-themed murals, especially, have a way of uplifting spirits, of celebrating all that is beautiful and lovely. Bold, vivid hues in the deep of January in Minnesota, offer a welcome visual respite.
I can almost imagine meandering through a flower garden, dipping my nose into blossoms, appreciating each scent, each petal, each stem. Oh, the beauty of it all.
On these frigid days, when I view a drab landscape of muted tones, trees stripped of leaves, snow layering the earth, I delight in sharing the floral murals I’ve photographed. No one ever promised me a rose garden. But these murals hold the promise of spring and of summertime in Minnesota.
© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
An early Spring on your blog post today. Your photos are definitely sparking joy with their bright blossoms. The only good thing about this severe cold is I can wear all my knittied things- at one time!
I love the warm red mittens you knit for me! Stay warm. We’re in an extreme cold warning this morning, which means it’s even colder than yesterday. I stepped outside briefly and then hurried back indoors.
I love this idea 🥰
Those murals are precisely what I needed to see today! Beautiful! We aren’t as cold as you but plenty cold for our area. It’s been an odd winter with temps being lower for longer stretches of time. Longing for warmth — a trip to Arizona and California in February should have been planned for January! Stay warm!
Oh, good, I’m glad those floral murals were what you needed to see today. It’s even colder here this morning than yesterday and we are in an extreme cold WARNING now rather than a WATCH. Most Minnesota schools are closed. Too cold for kids to wait at bus stops, plus diesel fueled buses could break down in this cold. At least you have those trips to look forward to in February.
It’s -17℉ (air temp, not wind chill) this morning up here in The Cities. As much as we’re keen to become “real” Minnesotans, going outside in this temperature is asking a bit much. So, we’re huddling for warmth in the living room. Ironically, it’s now snowing in Houston, Texas (where we were just last week) but not here, where some folks would welcome a little snow. 🙄
No need to spend any time outdoors in these frigid temps. Not even “real” Minnesotans want to be outdoors. Glad you had that warm weather escape. I need to catch up on your blog posts. I’ve been a little preoccupied with the birth of my 10-pound grandson, Everett, last week. Hoping to do a road trip soon to see him.
Congratulations on the newest addition to your family! 😊 By all means organize a road trip to see the little guy – they don’t stay young forever! 😉
We have one planned, weather permitting. In the meantime, video chatting works.
thank you for bringing the bright joy of these murals to our very cold days, and offer a bit of a pick me up from all of the country’s changes taking place. I also wrote about the Minnesota cold today’s and the world’s largest ice maze as a way to use that cold for good .)
You are welcome, Beth. And thanks for featuring the Minnesota ice maze. I’ll scoot over to your site soon to look. I have not been to the maze and don’t plan to visit. And, yes, we need all the brightness we can find right now.
What lovely murals. 💐🌸🪷🌹 (and congratulations on that new grandbaby. 💞)
I agree. The murals are beautiful. Yes, so happy and excited and thankful for the new grandson.
a great day to share all of those brightly colored flower murals. I love the first one in both black & white as well as color. It made me think of The Wizard of Oz 🤣
That’s an insightful observation about The Wizard of Oz. I hadn’t thought of that.
Belated congratulations on your new grandson. I do hope it’s safe and easy for you to travel to see him in the freezing weather you have. I’m feeling chilly here in the UK, but where I am, we rarely get below zero Celsius, or 32 F as you have it. Those floral murals are vibrant enough to warm your hands on- lovely. Keep snug.
Judith, it’s cold again today, but warmer temps are coming. Thanks for your congrats on the birth of baby Everett.
Everett, what a nice strong name. I watch baptisms, read names, wonder what are they thinking?!! Congratulations, my choir partner just became grandma for the 4th time, also video chatting, planning travel. You ladies are so blessed…except for that long haul covid…gotta read your blog daily! It IS gonna warm up! Enough of this. Sure wish there was hope for a colorful mural here.
We just returned from several days with Everett and his family. So good to be with them. I miss my baby already!