These late August days require being outdoors, and I am lucky to have had time available to enjoy our bright, clear, comfortable weather. What better place to enjoy it than at a nature center? I visited Richardson Nature Center in Bloomington, MN today. Everyone was having a great day outdoors: the naturalists, the visiting families, the birds, raptors, turtles, and other critters.

My first stop was the viewing area that overlooks a feeding station for the wild birds. In total there were five wild turkeys, the largest of the visiting birds. Shortly after taking this photo, a naturalist threw a bunch of corn cobs behind the bushes and the turkeys immediately left the viewing area for their treat. (Perhaps they are more domesticated than wild.)



Additionally, I viewed a couple of downy woodpeckers, some goldfinches, hummingbirds, chickadees, nuthatches, crows, and cardinals at the bird feeders. I am not proficient or quick enough with my camera to get their photos, though.

On this beautiful day I hiked the Oak Trail that weaves around a pond, including a little bridge that takes you out onto the water and back to the trail. From the bridge I saw a lone egret and at the other side of the water a heron, both fishing for lunch.

Back on the trail, I came to a clearing where the earliest touch of autumn color already appeared. This sumac is starting to turn its signature deep red color, reminding us that summer is coming to a close as the change of seasons is about to begin.

At another clearing I found late summer wild flowers glistening in the sun. Considered weeds in the garden, these wild ones in the field match the beauty of any cultivated flower. Wild aster juxtaposed against goldenrod have a brilliance that could stand the test of any flower arrangement.

I also came upon a thistle with bee busy at work collecting its nectar while pollinating the flower. Richardson has an active honey bee colony where you can view the formation of the honeycomb in progress.

At the end of the trail I noticed this brilliant yellow flower, similar to the goldenrod in the background but of a very different shape. Then I saw a sign warning not to touch this plant, called Wild Parsnip, because it exudes a chemical that makes your skin more sensitive to sunburn.

Gardening and Winter Gardening

Although it is only August with several more weeks of warm weather for gardening, I am thinking ahead to winter when local and home-grown fresh produce are no longer available. One of the hardest things to do without in winter is fresh salad. In a previous year, I have grown Salad Bowl lettuce in my kitchen window. This winter I am planning to grow pots of fresh herbs. I started them in peat pots. They are a couple of weeks away from being large enough to be transplanted into flower pots. These were started from seeds that I received as a gift: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme. Fresh herbs greatly improve winter salads of store-bought greens and other vegetables.

I am now reading a book about the seasons on a community supported organic farm on Long Island. It is very inspiring, and even my own small-scale organic gardening experience will be enhanced next year from its lessons about coping with weeds and insects, and crop rotation. This book is highly recommended to anyone who manages a garden without chemicals: This Common Ground - Seasons on an Organic Farm by Scott Chaskey.

Some additional recently read books on hobby farming and subsistence farming:

The Rural Life by Verlyn Klinkenborg, essays from NY Times writer on his experiences in upstate NY and also out west and midwest country life.

Loving and Leaving the Good Life by Helen Nearing, a memoir of her unusual life and the 50 years she spent with Scott Nearing on their self-sufficient teaching homesteads in New England.

More August 2007 Photos: Around Town

I took more photos during a walk along Summit Avenue, a long and wide street with historical significance in St. Paul, MN. The railroad barrons who settled and prospered from early commerce along the Mississippi River built mansions along Summit Avenue. At its eastern edge, Summit Avenue overlooks the downtown district of St. Paul. In addition to the historic mansions, Summit Hill is also dotted with majestic churches with art and architectural features.


This bronze statue stands in front of House of Hope Presbyterian Church. The angel is holding an anchor.





St. Luke's Catholic Church is an architectural delight in this neighborhood. Its stone facade is ornately decorated and has an imposing presence on Summit Avenue.

Some additional tree sculptures on Summit Avenue, this first is a woman holding an urn; the second shows a woman with a parasol.

On this August day the weather was perfect for a late summer picnic at Harriet Island in Minneapolis. Adjacent to the lake is a rose garden where all the roses were in full bloom and full fragrance. The landscape below shows just one section of this lovely garden.

With a little photo editing, I am able to show some great detail on some of the garden's best roses and flowers.




One section of the rose garden is devoted to wild and native flowers featuring several varieties of Black-eyed Susan.


We also see these Green-eyed Susan, although they are not as popular as the black-eyed variety.


There are two fountains in the rose garden, here is one of them. At least three bridal parties were having photo shoots around the fountains today.

August 2007 Photos

Panda Bear is a tree sculpture. When large, old shade trees in the neighborhood get damaged in storms, the residents often contract with a tree sculptor for a work of art.

Here is another tree sculpture of the Statue of Liberty.

And another one of Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Christopher Robin.



In our backyard, the sunflowers have attracted goldfinches, cardinals, and squirrels all summer.


This summer our vegetable garden produced well despite severe heat and drought through July and part of August. David kept it well-watered, then rain in the last week have made it thrive. In this view you see our plum tree and an apricot tree, grape vine, raspberry bushes, asparagus, squash, eggplants, carrots, tomatoes and cucumbers. We also enjoyed beans and lettuce this summer.

Our kitchen features finished wood surfaces and an antique baker's table decorated with hand-embroidered pieces in the cabinet windows.



Front porch also features finished wood and is a haven for us during spring, summer, and fall.

Helene has had a productive year for stitching. Three recent finishes: From left, four hardanger motifs stitched on a pillow, needlepoint flowers on a pillow, and finished counted embroidery "Garden Recipe" waiting to be framed.


Haley rests in a usual place on the couch.

A picture of David and Helene during the Hamline University faculty awards banquet in May 2007. David was honored for receiving a Fulbright Senior Scholarship at American University Armenia during the spring semester.