Wildflower Walk

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 If you haven't had a chance to get over to Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, there is still time to do it before summer is over.  I did that this past Friday and there were plenty of flowers still in bloom.  It is a little gem of a place located within the larger Theodore Wirth Park.

Half the fun of going to the gardens is walking to the gardens.  Starting with my Car2Go vehicle, I parked at the north end of Lake of the Isles. I left the car in front of the house with all the pink flamingos.  Don't have to come back for the car.  Someone else who needs it will drive it away.  There were a lot of plants still blooming along the shoreline.

From Lake of the Isles, you can cut through a neighborhood to get to the east side of Cedar Lake. Out of all the lakes on the Chain of Lakes, I like Cedar the best because it is so wooded.  I have to get back over here for a swim. At some point in it's early history Minneapolis bought up most of the shoreline of the five lakes that make up the Chain of Lakes, guaranteeing that everyone has access.

There were Pale Touch Me Nots in the woods.

  At the top of Cedar Lake, you can cut across the railroad tracks to Brownie Lake.  The train sitting there had the tallest cars I've ever seen.  It pulled away as I was looking for graffiti.

I had never walked along the west side of Brownie Lake and the trail is quite nice.  I think this lake must be the smallest in the Chain of Lakes.  I saw joggers go around three times while I ate my sandwich in the shade.

There was a patch of American Bellflowers along the trail and I was able to identify them on the https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info when I got back home.

There were quite a few Evening Primrose at the water's edge.

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At the top of Brownie Lake was some Sneezeweed.  Again, I was able to identify this one when I got home because it so unique looking.  That is not always the case with yellow sunflower-looking flowers and telling one from the next is tricky.

One thing I learned from the wildflower website is to start looking at the back side of the flower and take better photos of the leaves.  This is a Smooth Oxeye.  The website will let you do an advanced search if you can just describe a few details.

You have to cross the highway to get over to Theodore Wirth Park.  The wildflower gardens are just a short walk north.

There is a naturalist on site and plenty of signs and books to help you decipher what you see in the gardens.  This is a Groundnut plant and if I remember correctly one could cook up the tubers like potatoes.

 Continuing north from the garden, we decided to walk further and see what the woods along the west side of Theodore Wirth Lake look like.  New territory.  Nice trail.

Eventually after another mile or so you end up at the Chalet.  You could have a cold and overpriced beverage here if you were so inclined.  Otherwise, the #7 bus picks up here every 30 minutes and goes back into downtown. 

Side trip inside the storm drain

Oh no he didn't!

Before I get to the storm drain, I'll start at the beginning.  We took the light rail from the government station downtown Minneapolis to the 46th Street stop and walked to the sign that says "You are Here" in Minnehaha Park.  It was too early for lunch otherwise I would have stopped at Sea Salt in the Park and had some peel and eat shrimp and a beer.

                                    The West River Parkway has great bike and pedestrian paths.

                 But if you want to be closer to nature you should take the more rugged 2.5 mile Winchell Trail.

You'll get some great views of the Mississippi River Gorge.  What's that little cave over there?

 I didn't pick up any trash today even though I saw a few things along the trail.  This was my day off and I didn't bring a bag.  I saw a few styrofoam cups floating down river (probably from downtown) and the usual small items like candy wrappers and Swisher cigar wrappers.

                     I don't know if this beach has a name. That's the Lake Street Bridge in the distance.

                               
                                 And finally we arrive at that storm drain.

                                    

 
 

Ok, that's far enough buddy!

Get me out of here!

                            

If you continue walking along the river you come to the University of St. Thomas Rowing facility.  We took the path that leads up to the top of the Lake Street Bridge. The graffiti on the bridge does nothing to add to the beauty of the river so it really doesn't belong there.  Tough time getting it off of there though.  Time for a walking break and a little lunch at the Longfellow Grill. Yum.  The veggie sandwich with pickled red onions is fantastic.

Back out on our walk.  The view of the Mississippi from the Short Line Bridge.

Back down to the Winchell Trail and a little more nature before returning to the city.  The trail comes up again at Franklin Avenue.  From there it's a short walk to the west bank of the U of M.  One could continue walking into downtown, but instead we saw this and drove it home.