Fall Colors

The woods were ablaze last weekend at Banning State Park and Mille Lacs Kathio State Park.  I highly recommend a trip up to the top of the fire tower at Mille Lacs Kathio to see the colors, if you’re not too afraid of heights.  It was spectacular!

A walk in the woods

When I walked through the maple-basswood forests on the river bluffs in Eden Prairie on Saturday, most of the maples and oaks had were still stobornly colored in various shades of green.  The glowing yellow leaves of a group of bitternut hickory (Caraya cordiformis) stood out brightly in the forest.  The conspicuous “sulphur-yellow” bud is the distinguishing characteristic that helped me identify the species.

More on Seminary Fen

This is the location of Seminary Fen, in Carver County.

More good info on Seminary Fen and conservation concerns, HERE.

Seminary Fen

The Strib published a story today about Seminary Fen, located in the Minnesota River valley in Chaska.  The rare calcareous fen has been acquired by the DNR and will become a scientific and natural area.  The fen was formerly privately owned and environmental groups have advocated for its protection for years.  It is still threatened by development in the area and a new bridge over the Minnesota River that may be built on the wetland.

More info about Calcareous Fens:

USGS – Wetland Plants and Plant Communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources – Bogs and Fens

Trees and Shrubs of Minnesota

The new book Trees and Shrubs of Minnesota is now available from the University of Minnesota Press.  It was written by MN NPS member Welby Smith, botanist for the Division of Ecological Resources at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.  Welby was recently given an achievement award and lifetime membership from the Minnesota Native Plant Society at our 2008 Symposium.  I haven’t seen the book yet, but am looking forward to having a look at it soon!