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. 

Walk to Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

Wildflowers in Eloise Butler Garden

Our goal yesterday was to walk (mostly) to the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden from downtown Minneapolis.  By car on the freeway it is about 4.5 miles. We started on the free bus that got us through downtown to the Loring Park greenway.  Loring Park was beautiful and early morning dog walkers and joggers were out.  We crossed under highway 94 on Hennepin Avenue.  That underpass needs cleaning from stray cans and bottles and abandoned clothing and blankets that litter the area.

Cedar Lake Bike and Walking Path

It doesn't take long to get to the Cedar Lake bike path that parallels highway 394.  It is really a bike freeway that is used by bike commuters getting to work in downtown.  When you're traveling by bike you might not have a chance to notice just how much litter is down there.  The area behind Dunwoody College of Technology where 94 and 394 cross is particularly bad.  I wouldn't be caught walking through there after dark.

There's a lot of trash down there!

We crossed the pedestrian bridge over to Bryn Mawr Meadow Park and walked the trail that follows Bassett Creek.  

Past the railroad tracks and homes we came across the Fruen/ConAgra building.  An eyesore for most and a graffiti icon for others.  Site of accidents and death for adventurers trying to explore it.  There is talk of tearing it down and the possiblity of a micro brewery and restaurant replacing it. And finally we arrived at Theodore Wirth Park and a lovely walk through the woods to get to the Elosie Butler Wildflower Gardens.

               

                                          There are some interesting trees in the park.

               

               

 Some folks forgot to read the sign on the entrance to the garden.  So close to the trash can.  Couldn't be bothered?  This was the only trash I picked up today.

See you later, Eloise.  No, we didn't walk home.  We found a Car2Go and drove back!