It will be rainy and snowy for the rest of the week (today is Monday), so it’s likely I won’t photograph fall colors again until next year.
I took these photos from 5:58 to 6:16 p.m.; the sunset was at 6:18 p.m.
Dock at Lake Ann (where I took the next four photos)Lake Ann fishing pierSky reflection on Lake AnnSky reflection on Lake Ann IIMoon reflection on Lake Ann
My mom and I ventured out with our puggle, Missy, again today to see Sibley State Park two hours away in New London, Minnesota. As the map to the right shows, the state park is at the peak time for fall colors. (Be sure to utilize the Fall Color Finder webpage with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.)
We spent most of our time driving, but it at least didn’t take long to get some spectacular scenic photos.
I took these seven photos from 3:54 to 4:23 p.m.
View from Mount TomView from Mount Tom IIMount Tom observation tower (where I took the previous two photos)Silhouette of family at Mount TomMount Tom observation tower IIAndrew LakeAndrew Lake II
Today, my mom, my puggle (Missy), and I visited Fort Snelling State Park for the first time (though my mom did once visit the cemetery for a funeral). Because Fort Snelling is spread out over such a wide area and is so integral to Minnesota’s history, the photos below actually comprise three cities and three counties. The first location, Big Rivers Regional Trail, isn’t even part of Fort Snelling, though the trails do connect to it.
Delta hangar across the Minnesota River, as seen from Big Rivers Regional Trail in Mendota Heights, MinnesotaDelta airplane preparing to land at the runway near the hangar in the previous photoDown by the Minnesota River at Fort Snelling State Park in St. PaulFallen tree near where I took the previous photo at Fort Snelling State Park, with my mom acting as the director of photographyCommemorative marker and/or gravestone for Elizabeth R. Snelling, the daughter of Colonel Josiah Snelling and first white child born in Minnesota. It is located approximately 10 feet behind where I was standing in the next photo at Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel in Minneapolis.Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel, with my mom acting as the director of photography again
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
For my third outing leaf peeping this year, I visited Excelsior, Minnesota, with my mom and our two puggles. I took these photos today from 11:42 a.m. to 12:11 p.m.
Small plane that started flying over the Excelsior Commons as soon we got thereScarecrow in someone’s yardLicks UnlimitedPort of ExcelsiorTommy’s Tonka TrolleyStaircase to a pierPier FourMissy, Pugsley, and my mom
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
I am starting a series this autumn titled “Leaf Peeping 2022.” I plan to document various stages of fall colors and the eventual falling of leaves (phenology). For this inaugural post, I went to Lake Ann Park in Chanhassen, Minnesota, from about 11:20 a.m. to noon today.
Trees by a fence for a tennis courtTrees behind a fence, which is the bokehThe same fence in the above photo, but this time the trees are the bokehAmbulance bayMixture of coniferous and deciduous trees by a parking lotTall conifer growing by a parking lotMetal halide lights (or are they LEDs?) above trees by a baseball fieldYellow tree growing by a baseball fieldBirch trees (left) growing on a hillConifer that somehow has red leaves insideConifer with conesLodge overlooking Lake AnnWatercraft Rental next to Lake AnnDock for Watercraft Rental on Lake AnnFall colors are well underway on Lake Ann