By Harold Brutlag
Everyone’s lawn was in tip-top shape last week because of the rains with many of them cut. I’m seriously thinking about the states promotion for no mow in May as a way to help the butterflies, bugs etc. find food necessary for their survival. I tried the no mow in May last year but by the fourth week I threw in the towel and mowed because it was getting too unsightly for me to enjoy. I’m afraid that could happen again… If we get some hot humid nights it’s about time for the Morrel mushrooms to pop. Another barometer is when the lilacs are budding or starting to bloom. Shroomers can expect a lot of mosquitoes this year because of the frequent rains. Other things to consider this spring is to take in a Lakers or Twins baseball game, or both. The Twins win streak stopped at 12 Sunday when they were defeated by the Red Sox 9-2. It was a great run for the Twins and hopefully they can put some more together this summer.
It would have been nice to have had that game on TV, or any of the wins, but that’d not going to happen, unless you have cable, which is a downer and something I’d like to see changed. That’s unlikely when there is money involved.
A leisurely road trip through rural Minnesota is another way to enjoy the beauty of our state. I remember the ruffed grouse trips we took in the fall, whether one day or longer, that put us more in touch with Mother Nature as we walked grouse trails or plowed through the brush when we heard one drumming. Getting a limit of five didn’t happen very often, but the scenery made up for it!
A trip to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum near Chaska is another stop that shows the beauty of flowers, shrubbery etc. See what’s in bloom with Garden Highlights. You can also locate a specific plant with their $1 Dog Night Plant Finder.
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum serves as a research center and extension of the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) There is an admission fee with information by contacting them by email at arbticketing@umn.edu or by phone at 612-301-6775. It’s a great place to go hiking or biking. As the saying goes, “Minnesota is the perfect place to make memories with your family, whether your travel companions are 2 or 102”.