I visited the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum this morning to see the 40,000 tulips on display. That being said, a volunteer told me the tulips were past peak. But I think I still got some good photos—of the tulips, the various plants, and a sculpture.
I took these 12 photos from 8:24 to 9:19 a.m.
Various tulipsTulipa, ‘Teddy Kollek,’ Single Late TulipTulipa, ‘Yosemite,’ Single Late TulipTulipa, ‘Yosemite,’ Single Late TulipTulipa, ‘Ballade Lady,’ Lily-Flowered TulipTulipa, ‘Belle du Monde,’ Single Late TulipExpansive view of the tulip gardenBeginning of the Three-Mile WalkQuercus rubra, Red OakFraxinus nigra, Black AshMimmo Paladino, b. 1948, Italian, Sud II, BronzeUnidentified pink-flowering plant
With sunny skies and a high of 73 degrees Fahrenheit, my mom and I made our way to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, Minnesota, this morning. I took these 13 photos from 10:47 to 11:43 a.m.
Ginkgo biloba, ‘Autumn Gold,’ maidenhair treePseudotsuga menziesii, Douglas firIn Loving Memory of Dan OhlandPinus resinosa, red pine (both trees)Populus tremuloides, labeled trembling aspen (right) and quaking aspen (left), though both trees are the same speciesPlacard on the quaking aspen in the previous photo reading, “In Memory of our Beloved Friend Gerry Marshall 2006”Austrian pine plantingMalus sargentii, ‘Select A,’ Firebird™, Sargent crabappleForsythia, ‘Northern Sun’Magnolia x loebneri, ‘Leonard Messel,’ Loebner magnoliaThe Peony Pavilion (Chinese: 牡丹亭)Tops of various trees, including hickoryMom with a pair of Nikon 8×42 binoculars, a Christmas gift from me last year
Tonight, I visited the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, Minnesota, to see their Winter Lights walking tour that goes through the end of the month. I’ve never been to the Arboretum in the winter, much less seen their Winter Lights display (though I’m not sure if they’ve had it in previous years).
I took a bus in Chaska to get there, because the Arboretum was sold out of tickets for parking on-site. A SouthWest Transit employee at the park-and-ride facility in Chaska told me there would be 4,000 attendees tonight—with 3,000 people parking at the Arboretum and 1,000 people taking the bus.
As these photos illustrate, there is no snow on the ground. Furthermore, I recall only two days this fall and winter season when there was any measurable snow on the ground, and they were on October 30 and 31. Needless to say, there won’t be a white Christmas this year. In fact, the two main reasons I went to this event tonight was that it was warm (the high temperature in Chanhassen today was 47 degrees Fahrenheit) and that I wanted to document the brown Christmas, which happens much less frequently than a white Christmas in the Twin Cities. The high temperature for tomorrow (Christmas Eve) is 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
I took these 19 photos from 4:49 to 5:37 p.m.
Arb logo at the Oswald Visitor CenterA reindeer guiding a snowman on a sleighAppleFrosted RomanceSteps leading to the carouselThe carouselHouse with a starPollinator PathMiscellaneous lightsMiscellaneous lights IIWinter VillageWinter Village IIMulticolored building (probably the Oswald Visitor Center)Arb logo at the Oswald Visitor Center IIApple II (not the computer)Water Lily WayApple treeSouthWest Transit busSouthWest Transit bus II
I regret the premise of my last article from October 11 titled, “The Last Nice Autumn Day at the Arb?” Minnesota’s leaves are keeping their color longer this year, so I now say the best day for fall colors is yet to come. In the picture to the right, one can see that much of the Twin Cities—including where I live in Chanhassen—is still at near-peak.
I encourage everyone to utilize the Fall Color Finder from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. In years past, I’ve visited some of the state parks, which are denoted by circles on the map. I’m not sure if I will visit any state parks this year, but I certainly would be up to it if my mom is interested in another excursion in the woods with frequent stops.
I took these six photos today from 10:33 to 11:22 a.m. at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, Minnesota.
Grace B. Dayton Wildflower Garden sign at the beginning of the Three-Mile WalkColorful trees near the beginning of the Three-Mile WalkGinkgo biloba leavesAcer rubrum, ‘Autumn Spire,’ Red MapleMaze GardenTilia cordata, ‘Glenleven,’ Littleleaf Linden
Minnesota D.N.R.’s Fall Color Finder map for 2023-10-11
and (2) the next three days will be rainy and breezy, which will likely cause many of the leaves to fall.
Here are seven photos I took today between 10:19 and 11:03 a.m.
Sunstar in the forestFish sculpture in a pondCrane sculpture and its reflection in the same pondLake with fall colorsGinkgo biloba, ‘Autumn Gold,’ Maidenhair TreeMalus, ‘Indian Magic,’ CrabappleAcer saccharum, Sugar Maple
I visited the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, Minnesota, this morning. I took these photos from 9:00 to 10:10 a.m.
Koi in the Japanese GardenWaterfall in the Japanese GardenGazebo in the Japanese GardenMonarch butterfly in one of the gardensImpatiens, ‘SunPatiens Compact Electric Orange,’ Hybrid ImpatiensSalvia, ‘Mystic Spires,’ Hybrid SageBetula papyrifera, Paper BirchWhite Ash, Fraxinus americanaGreen maple leavesVarious pine treesSunstar in a bronze sculpture titled “Sud II” by Mimmo Paladino (b. 1948, Italian)Unidentified shrub roseSculpture titled “Family” by Douglas Olmsted FreemanThree-Mile Walk sign
Less than a week ago, I visited the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, Minnesota. Unlike this prior visit, it was overcast today, which is actually a good time to photograph anything with vibrant colors.
My mom and I visited the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, Minnesota, this evening. I took these photos from 6:24 to 6:39 p.m.
Acer palmatum, ‘Bloodgood,’ Japanese MapleFountain, Donated by Dr. Virgil T. Fallon, 2001Philadelphus lewisii, ‘Blizzard,’ MockorangeBumblebeePlacard that reads “Plants Used for Making Dyes”Placard that reads “Plants Used for Making Tools”Unknown red flower
For one reason or another, I haven’t taken many photos in downtown Chaska over the years. But this says more about me than it does their historic downtown area—because it is charming.
I took these five photos today from 11:34 to 11:50 a.m.
Carver County Justice CenterFormerly known as the “Co-Op,” this is SouthWest Metro High School. I had basketball practice here when I was in middle school and took a film photography course here—which I loved—when I was in high school.St. John’s Lutheran Church & SchoolPine garland in a gazebo, which is at the center of Chaska City Square ParkChaska City Square Park
For the second installment of “Leaf Peeping 2022,” I visited the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum today in Chaska, Minnesota. I took these photos from 8:19 to 9:35 a.m.
Main roadRose Walk signMain road (again)Red flowersHouse with picnic tablesThe beginning of the Three-Mile WalkPond with green algaeBrick pathSignpostPurple flowersCrabapple treeThe Canada goose on the right is eating a crabapplePaul Granlund; American, 1925-2003; Swimmers, 1990; BronzeAcer saccharum, the sugar mapleAcer platanoides, the Norway mapleAcer saccharum nigrum, the black mapleRosa ‘BUCbi’ (Carefree Beauty)Pine Tree Exhibit land artPinus nigra, the Austrian pineMaze GardenDouglas Freeman; American, born 1952; Family, 1989; BronzeSunlight on an oak treeVista over Green Heron Pond