We have been finding many distinctive mushrooms lately when we walk the dogs through nearby woods in Northern Minnesota. Scroll down for images and descriptions of some of the more interesting mushrooms. I am not an expert, so identifications of these mushrooms are best guesses with help from online resources like iNaturalist. Deer Mushroom (Pluteus …
Category Archives: trees
Summer at the Lake 2024
Simply a collection of good pictures from this season at the lake cabin in North-Central Minnesota. One of the two islands in our lake. This sunflower was a volunteer in our garden. A better result than in years when I had actually planted sunflowers. Looking east at dusk. Fall colors seemed muted this year, maybe …
Blue Mushroom
Recently we were surprised to find blue mushrooms beneath white pines on our daily walk near our lake home in North-Central Minnesota. Research on-line allowed identification of it with reasonable confidence as the indigo milk cap (Lactarius indigo). We first noticed this indigo milk cap September 5, 2024. You can see that it is right …
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 …
Mardi Gras in Utah
Just images from a great day skiing in the Canyons section of Park City on Mardi Gras day.
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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Mill Creek Canyon, Utah
A benefit to life in Salt Lake City, Utah is the proximity of the city to the Wasatch Mountains. Recently for a hike in the mountains we drove up Mill Creek Canyon to the Upper Big Water Trailhead, just 9 miles east of the 215 Beltway in the city. Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa) Trees in …
Norwegian Maple
When we moved to Salt Lake City the yard of our new house had two mature Norwegian Maple trees. Norwegian Maples (Acer platanoides) are popular shade trees in the intermountain west because they grow quickly and tolerate alkaline soil and an arid climate. Norwegian Maples are native to Central Europe, and were introduced to the …
North MN Outdoors 