Today we were lucky to see two adult trumpeter swans and their five cygnets very close to the Paul Bunyan bike trail in the Chippewa National Forest. In the videos below the adult swans are seen waddling back and forth apparently stirring up muck from the bottom of the pond. The FAQ page of The …
Category Archives: Minnesota
Jack Pine
Pinus banksiana Three pines are native to North-Central Minnesota, The Red (Norway) Pine, the Eastern White Pine, and the Jack Pine. Jack Pine is somewhat less desirable than the other two, both commercially and aesthetically. However, it successfully exploits its niche as the northern conifer best able to thrive after wildfires. A single Jack Pine …
Northern Lights, 2024
The exceptional show of Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) over the last few days has been covered extensively in the news. The reason for this event is traced back to sunspot activity, specifically in a sunspot cluster designated Region 3664, which is at least 15 times wider than the earth! Solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections …
Scenes of Fall in Minnesota
Geese heading south Reflections Foggy morning on the lake In the woods
Signs of Fall in August
Already in August there are clear signs of approaching fall in North-Central Minnesota. It may be that leaves are turning early this year because of our dry conditions. Alder and hazel bushes rimming the shores of our lake are starting to yellow. Staghorn sumac along roadsides is starting to turn red. This maple was red …
The Lost 40; A Remnant of Old Growth Forest in Minnesota
Because of a surveying error in 1882, 144 acres of forest in North-Central Minnesota were never leased to a timber company and therefore were spared from logging. Today the area is designated as the Lost 40 SNA (Scientific and Natural Area) and features a hiking trail of about one mile winding through huge red and …
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White Wildflowers Predominant in Late June
In late June, around the time of the summer solstice, nearly all the wildflowers in our area of North Central Minnesota are white. This seems unusual because other times of the year I see colorful wildflowers. May and early June have yellow and pink wildflowers, while in July through October you see magenta, yellow, and …
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North MN Outdoors 