Schools, churches, restaurants, and stores are closed. City streets appear empty during normal ''rush hours''. And who is that masked person who just waved to me from across the supermarket?? So many things around us have changed in the last few weeks. We may need to celebrate the month of May with socially distanced visits with family and friends, but there is definitely one benefit of being in Minnesota in early spring. We can still get up close and personal with the ...
bluebells!
Mertensia viginica or Virginia Bluebells make their brief but showy appearance in the woodland areas of southeastern Minnesota every year in the early part of May. They adorn our favorite bike paths and parks just before the trees start leafing out. Carpeting the forest floor, these tiny bell-shaped flowers provide a calming respite from the current craziness that surrounds us.
Two weeks ago my expert driver found a perfect parking spot close to Rochester's Mayowood Trail which is a popular bluebell viewing area. Parked on the side of the road, we enjoyed a number of afternoons at our peaceful lakeside hangout.
From our parking spot, we took a three mile hike that led us past the Mayowood Stone Barn,
brought us through the woods on the gently winding Mayowood Trail,
and took us past the fairy house hidden in a old log.
Legend has it that fairies are attracted to the bluebells and build their homes in the midst of them. If they sense humans trampling on the delicate stems of their beloved flowers, they will be angered. Doug heeded the warning and stayed on the path. He has learned through the years that it is wise to keep fairies as well as his wife happy at all times ... and he has succeeded wonderfully!
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| ''Happily'' celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary among the bluebells! |
To further promote harmony and peace, Doug suggested a day trip to nearby Carly State Park which is famous for its early spring bluebell displays. As we drove in, the picnic area was bustling with families out enjoying a beautiful spring day. We were a little concerned that proper social distancing would be a challenge along the narrow hiking paths. But as we ventured out on the trail we found only ...
a serene stream,
bountiful bluebells,
and a discerning deer who properly kept her six foot distance!
As we walked along the forested trails, I felt a sense of calm. For the first time in many weeks, our minds weren't working overtime trying to analyze the latest news stories. We weren't trying to figure out what our traveling lifestyle was going to look like this summer. We weren't concerned that a sneeze was anything more than a response to the pollinating flowers that surrounded us.
It felt good to interrupt this pandemic and find our happy place amidst the ...
... beauty of the bluebells!
As society slowly begins to open up, spend some time recharging your soul in the beauty that surrounds you!
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